Marked in Shadow's Keep Page 7

  “What kind of question is that?” I huffed. “I don’t know what you mean…like what kind of powers?”

  “Energy. Or do you believe mortals are the only lifesource powering this earth?”

  “I don’t know…I’m sure there are mysteries of the universe I don’t understand,” I said sarcastically.

  He nodded as if I were correct in my statement. “That is a good start. Ama is the wonderful energy of this earth; it fuels everything you see. From the towering trees, to the simple insect. And you fell into one of the dark energy veins of Ama. The mark on your hand is like a key to unlock its power. I’m assuming the imp knew this, which is why he urged you to go, threw you inside.”

  I rubbed my hand along my scar, feeling as if I had slipped into an alternate reality. Finn seemed real, I could smell the sweet, masculine scent of his aftershave. He believed every word he was saying, as if it was common knowledge and I was the fool for not knowing.

  “But it was my idea to go back. He never forced me to go.”

  “Any idea you had was caused by the imp manipulating your thoughts with dark energy. He wanted you to find a reason to return. If it was your choice your desires, your strength, the power inside you would all be stronger. The stronger you are, the more powerfully the vein would react, at least this is how I understand it. There are more knowledgeable people than me, and we should go to them now.”

  I closed my eyes allowing the words to enter my brain. I thought of the surprising premonition. As I thought of Justin’s death playing out before my eyes, I admitted it had felt different than before. I’d come up with the resolution to return to the well the instant after the vision had ended. Could it truly be possible the idea was not my own? But how could Justin do such a thing? Unless…

  “Are you saying…Justin isn’t a,” I closed my eyes, not believing what I was going to say, “a man?”

  Finn rolled his eyes and nodded. “He’s a disgusting, floppy-eared, slimy imp. A dark creature which desires dark energy. Imps are tricksters. He may have appeared human to you in every way, but it was a disguise, a ruse, a charade—I don’t know what words you understand.”

  He didn’t say it condescendingly, but sincerely as if he truly didn’t know if we were speaking the same language.

  I closed my eyes and spoke softly. I couldn’t seem to keep my voice above a whisper since my chest felt as if it were being smashed between a heavy stone and steel wall. “I understand what you’re trying to tell me.”

  How was it possible? Justin was real—he was a man. A man who I’d kissed, a man I’d invited into my mother’s home. He’d told me about his past, he had memories as a child. I couldn’t believe it had all been a supernatural charade. But glancing at Finn from the corner of my eye, his face was unmoving and not a teasing smirk anywhere on his features.

  Finn nodded and tapped the steering wheel as if he was bored. The car ignited and then shut off with each tap. “Good. Somehow the imp must have discovered your mark and set out to place you in the vein, but for what reason would he want to unleash such pure dark energy? The imps are wicked creatures by nature, but never have they stooped to such sinister levels.” He tapped his chin, before facing me. My quizzical expression must have caused him to pause and realize I was not following our conversation. “Do you know about your mark?” he asked, as I lifted my palm closer to my eyes. Shaking my head, he sighed. “I expected you to understand everything. I never imagined people had forgotten so much.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you,” I seethed, folding the scar away from my view.

  “You sound upset.” Was he really so clueless?

  “I am upset,” I said through clenched teeth.

  “Well, you must keep your emotions intact, there is much we still have to do. That mark on your hand comes when a person from the human world is touched by a person of Tala. It is a mark of both energies, from both worlds.”

  “You know Finn, you keep explaining things expecting me to understand, but the truth is you’re not making any sense!”

  He released a slight growl of irritation before turning his hips so he faced me. “I am from Tala, the energized realm on this earth. I honor the elements of this planet, and in turn we are blessed with swells of energy from the universal lifesource, Ama.

  “Ama is energy. Pure energy, powerful enough to crumble mountains, create seas, even take a life. Being from Tala, I am fueled by the strength of your realm and mine, but there is no time to go into the specifics. Our worlds have never crossed as they have with you. We are not to interfere with one another’s lives. But someone from Tala interfered with yours. And that mark is proof of the joining of worlds into one energy. You have the ability to see into both realms.”

  “So, you’re saying someone like you touched me which is why I survived falling into the well as a child?”

  Finn nodded. “Yes, a Talan saved you, which goes against the Talan laws. A mortal death is important to our energy and way of life, and if we interfere with the natural order, it creates chaos. Since you have the connection to both realms, you can understand why I am surprised you are so ignorant of Ama and her power.”

  His arrogance grated along my skin. “No one would believe anything you’re telling me. In fact, I think you’re insane. I’m going now.”

  I turned and tried to open the door, but the lock snapped shut. I glared at him over my shoulder and tried to manually lift the lock. It wouldn’t budge.

  “Let me out,” I commanded.

  Finn just smirked, hovering his hand over the dash. I furiously tried to release myself from the car, but it was as if some invisible force held me inside.

  “What are you doing?” I shrieked. “Let me go.”

  “I’m from Tala, I harness Ama’s energy, and this human contraption is full of energy. I can power it to do anything I want. Do you need to rest?”

  My chair began folding backward, as the headrest lowered to the back seat. “Stop it,” I cried.

  Finn chuckled, never moving his hovering hand. “Perhaps you would care to listen to music?” The radio blasted to life, singing a somber song of lost love and heartache. Without starting, the car inched forward toward the playset.

  “What’s happening?” I shouted, the blood draining from my face, as the car steadily gained speed toward the swing set.

  “Would you like me to stop?” he asked innocently.

  I wanted to slap the smirk from his face. “Whatever you’re doing, knock it off.”

  “But you don’t believe in such things,” he pouted.

  “Stop it now!” The engine roared and picked up pace, preparing to slam into the metal bars. I covered my face, bracing for impact, but instead I was pushed forward, hitting my elbow on the dash as the car stopped suddenly.

  Angrily I whipped around toward Finn, who still held his hand over the dashboard, his face sullen and arrogant.

  Brushing my hair out of my eyes, I snarled toward him, wishing I wasn’t showing how angry he had made me. “Alright, I will believe you…for now. Tell me what is so significant about breaching an energy vein of this Ama?”

  He lowered his hand from the dash and leaned closer. “It wasn’t just a vein, there are both light and dark energy veins. Tonight, the imp breached one filled with powerful darkness. Imagine, the two worlds are perfectly placed, each feeding into the other, keeping the lifesource of the planet in balance. The shift you experienced inside the dark vein was the beginning of what I’m certain are many repercussions of adding too much pure energy into one vein.”

  “But you said I have two energies.”

  Finn shifted uncomfortably. “Yes, as it was explained to me, you do—both human and Talan. Together they create pure energy from Ama.”

  “Which is the all-powerful universal lifesource, right?” I chirped, hoping he would pick up on my sarcasm.

  Finn only nodded, seeming slightly pleased I was following his instruction. “Yes, well done. Combining too much power warps the pure energy into som
ething too powerful for anyone to control. When that mark on your hand touched the vein, it pulled the dark energy to the surface and created a disturbance. I think I pulled you out in time, and seeing as the energy didn’t touch you it might still be possible to contain the problem. Does this make sense?”

  I shook my head, but Finn didn’t seem to care, he simply continued speaking.

  “Well, I admit I don’t understand everything myself, but I am confident the imps singled you out for a reason. And we must find out why. What purpose would it serve for their benefit to warp the energy of Ama?”

  “Why can’t we see your world? If someone from Tala saved me, it’s like a mysterious shadow did curse me,” I relented, surprised I was beginning to believe his words.

  He rolled his eyes and rested his head back onto the headrest. “Humans have so many explanations about our world and our people. If they would simply open their minds, perhaps Tala would let them see her once again. Spirits, ghosts, shadow people…sound familiar?” he asked, only continuing once I nodded my understanding. “These beliefs of apparitions or cursed demons running amok are people of Tala. Sometimes the veil between worlds is thin, and those with higher perception are able to glimpse our energy.”

  “So, you are the shadow people.”

  “A foolish term, but yes. I am a phantom to your world.”

  “Then why can I see you?” I pressed again.

  “I petitioned Ama to allow me to help. I could sense something was going to happen and knew something must be done. I was granted my request, and the veil surrounding my energy was lowered.”

  I rubbed the sides of my head, feeling as if my mind might burst. “You speak of this Ama energy like it’s alive.”

  “Ama is a pure lifesource. It is the power in everything, including you and me.”

  “Kind of like mother Earth?”

  Finn truly smiled for the first time the entire night. I was shocked how handsome he was, it seemed as if his skin were made of smooth porcelain in just the right light. “Exactly. I knew humans had a specific name.”

  Growing up in Shadow’s Keep, I was bound to hear stories, but I’d convinced myself they weren’t real. Now, a man, a gorgeous man, was telling me the grandest story I’d ever heard. I probably would be running away screaming if I hadn’t experienced the shift in the earth at the bottom of the well, and if I hadn’t seen the cryptfiends with my own eyes. It was unbelievable, yet it somehow explained the mystery my sensibilities were trying to solve.

  “How did you sense something was going to happen?” I asked quietly.

  Finn’s smile dropped, and he looked away, notably uncomfortable. “I just did. It would overwhelm you if I tried to explain everything at once. The imp knows what the consequences are for combining energies. I warned him at your dwelling, but he did not listen. It causes me to think someone is using the dark creatures for a more sinister plan.”

  “What did you do to him?” I asked, wondering where Justin had disappeared.

  Finn reached into his jacket and withdrew a slender blade. The hilt was pure silver, and it seemed to gleam in the night. I jumped back, surprised at the sudden appearance of such a weapon, but cringed at the oozing, black spot on the edge of the blade.

  “I destroyed his disguise. He won’t be able to hide his true form now I smote his hand with the Blade of Lore. It is the strongest blade in the universe, forged from the oldest minerals in all of Tala. It can break any ruse a creature of darkness tries to create. You’re fortunate I had the blade.”

  I rolled my eyes, somehow sensing Finn was creating himself to be more important than he was, though I didn’t know why I would think such a thing; I knew nothing about daggers, swords or any kind of blade apart from kitchen knives.

  “You cut off his hand?” I asked. When Finn used such language like ‘smote,’ it was almost believable he wasn’t from our world. “Was that claw thing back in the forest his…real hand?”

  Finn nodded. “Imps are not attractive beings. He must be strong, or have the backing of someone more powerful to have formed such a deep disguise.”

  We sat in silence for a long moment, watching the leaves drift lazily through the dark playground. The houses slept around us, and the night was quiet. I opened my palm again, stroking the scar which still pulsed in warm energy.

  “Why would a Talan break the laws of the universe to save me?” I whispered, not certain if I was talking to myself or to Finn.

  Finn paused, his lips pursed. “I don’t know. But, I know who does.”

  Finn tapped the dash, and the car roared to life. Without waiting for me to protest, he sped out of the quiet suburban streets straight for the twinkling lights of Shadow’s Keep.

  Chapter 9

  I leaned my head on the cold window as fatigue overwhelmed my body. Finn was stern and silent as he pulled onto the main road of the city. The shopping center and the bank sped past. How was I supposed to go to work on Monday? After a night like this, there was no way I would ever function normally again.

  We turned along a slight curve, and I couldn’t help but fight back tears as Tony’s restaurant came into view, the fluorescent sign lighting the street in the night. Justin’s betrayal cut deeper than anything I had experienced, and I could sense myself losing control, unable to process everything anymore. Finn’s ability to make things move by touch. His story of another dimension. A life-giving energy controlling everything. And Justin—could I really accept Justin was an imp creature?

  I slapped the dash, feeling my neck warm with a nauseous heat, and the blood drain from my face. “I need you to pull over,” I commanded.

  “No, I cannot. There is no time,” he said, without even glancing my way.

  My lips pulled tight, trying to keep the sick from erupting. “Pull over. Now!” I cried through clenched teeth.

  Finn eyed me curiously and slowly pulled over near Tony’s. I flung the door open and darted to a garbage can with brown and gray pebbles decorating the sides. The trauma of the night spilled out, and once I pulled my head back, my stomach tightened in uncomfortable cramps. I sat on the curb, allowing my stomach time to settle.

  I rested my head on my knees, when I tucked them against my chest. Finn’s plodding steps came closer, and I could practically hear the annoyance in each slap of his shoe against the pavement.

  “What is wrong?” he asked, failing to conceal his irritation at the delay.

  I glared at him through messy strands of hair. “Imagine you didn’t know my world existed. Then imagine someone who is supposed to care about you tries to kill you so you can upset a power which will unleash who-knows-what onto my world…but remember, you don’t know it exists. I’m feeling a little overwhelmed and don’t know what to do. I’m going to need a minute.”

  Finn joined me on the curb. He ran a hand along the trim stubble along his chin, and looked up at the stars. “I do not understand your emotions.” I rolled my eyes, debating if I should say something snarky, but he continued. “But if it will help, I can try to explain again.”

  I glanced out of the corner of my eye, slightly surprised. It seemed as if he were trying to help instead of subtly blaming me for what was happening. I admitted it was refreshing. Lifting my head, I looked up the street and released a long breath. My heart seemed to drop to my shoes when I saw Doctor Stewart’s building. A light was gleaming on the third floor, where his suite was.

  “Finn, I know who can help me. Come on.” I clamored to my feet, tugging on his leather jacket.

  “No, we should go to Clement,” he responded.

  “There are people here who I trust,” I said, whirling around on him and seeming to catch him off guard. “Doctor Stewart knows everything about me, and I know he can help.”

  I spun on my heel, leaving Finn to decide whether to follow. His hand shot from behind me as I pulled the heavy office doors open, blocking me from going inside.

  “Laney, we should go to where I am taking us,” he pleaded.

 
I was taken back when he used my name. I hadn’t been certain he knew my name. “I promise I will allow you to take me, but first let me see if Doctor Stewart can give me guidance. He always wanted me to return to the well.”

  I pushed by, and Finn reluctantly stepped back. “I’m coming with you then,” he muttered. My eyes widened as he pulled out the silver dagger and clutched it in his hands.

  “What are you doing?” I snarled.

  “I don’t think you understand how dangerous this situation is. I’m not going in there blindly.”

  I shook my head and sauntered to the elevator. Finn kept his eyes closed as the glass box drifted up through the floors. He rested his head against the back of the elevator, and I noticed his jaw was clenched tightly.

  “Are you all right?” I asked, finding his nervous behavior slightly humorous after what we’d just been through.

  Clearing his throat, he attempted to stand with more confidence without much luck. “I do not enjoy these things. They are confining.”

  I chuckled as he clutched the bar surrounding the car once the elevator jerked to a stop. “Okay, noted. Elevators scare you.”

  Finn looked affronted. “I am not scared.” Though he rushed out of the box once the doors dinged open.

  The front office was empty, and Vanessa’s desk was left orderly for the weekend. Her pens were stacked in a sweet flowerpot filled with dried pinto beans. The paint on the outer rim of the small pot was surely crafted by a young child, and the blocky letters spelling ‘MOM’ in all caps made me smile.

  Light crept from beneath Doctor Stewart’s door. I checked the clock, marveling at the late hour. It was one o’clock in the morning, how could the man stay so late and function with his kindly mannerisms each day?

  Finn stopped me with one arm, glaring from beneath his furrowed brow. “I’ll go first,” he insisted. “I sense two people inside. Laney, I think there are Talans inside.”

  “That’s impossible,” I argued, pushing past Finn and shoving the door open despite his protests.

  Doctor Stewart was hunched over his desk, his voice hissing at whomever sat in his black office chair. At the sound of the door opening, he turned over his shoulder, and Finn stiffened. Doctor Stewart glowered when he realized we were standing in his doorway. His eyes were dark and hateful. The glasses he normally wore just above the tip of his nose were resting on the desk. His hair was slightly unkempt, as if he’d ran his hand through the gray curls several times.