Chapter Eight

Intrigued (part 1)

Samara

My lungs felt like they were burning up, but I pushed past the pain it took to breathe as we ran straight through the cavern of the Veil. We slowed down just as we saw the mist of the waterfall. But it wasn’t slow enough. Ewan skidded on the slippery ground, causing all of us to fall with him and slide through the careening water and into the effervescent pool.

I didn’t have enough time to take a breath before being dragged into the surprisingly deep pool of the waterfall. And before I knew it, I had taken a lungful of water, and accidentally let go of Aryan. I felt more panic about Aryan being dragged away from me by the pool’s undercurrent than I did about my body working overtime to make me breathe.

I tried with difficulty to resist the urge to search for air but was unsuccessful. Instead, I managed to take in even more water, and before I knew it, I had given in to the waterfall’s desire to drown me. I waited for some sort of dread to overcome me. For that realization that tells a normal person you’re dying. But suddenly, I realized that the more water I took in, the easier it was for me to move around.

Thank goodness for not being normal.

I took the opportunity to look for Aryan and Ewan. Ewan was nowhere in sight, but Aryan was a couple of feet away—the current pushing him farther from me. I swam over to him as quickly as I could and wrapped my arms around Aryan in the water. As I rushed to break the surface of the pool, I realized that the waterfall’s luminescent glow was as vibrant below the water as it was above it. It revealed all the colorful fish that lived in the pool, and the large rocks that were scattered in it. Some so big, it broke the surface of the water. And I realized then that they were the stones we stepped on to sneak into the Veil.

And despite knowing I was in a very grave, time-constrained situation, I couldn’t help but appreciate the beauty of this place. It’s truly lovely.

We burst through the water, and I swam the short distance to the grass, where I could see Ewan coughing up liquid before lying on his back, panting.

I spit out a mouthful of water myself as I laid Aryan down next to Ewan. He coughed up water but remained unconscious. I listened for breath, and once I heard his low, but heavy breathing, I turned to Ewan.

“Ewan…” I started slowly. “Are you alright?”

His hand was over his eyes, and I heard him sniffling. “A-am I alright!?” he huffed. “No! No, Sssamara! I-I am not alright. I-I can’t believe w-we just did that… W-we’re dead! I-I’m…”

He began to hyperventilate then. I rushed to his side, helping him to sit up. I grabbed ahold of his hands, forcing him to look me in the eyes. “Breathe.” I said slowly, showing him slow and easy breath with a calm I hoped would help him.

Ewan seemed to follow my example, his hard panting turning soft.

“Ewan, I want to thank you.” I grinned at him, hoping to take his mind away from his grief. “Thank you for helping me rescue Aryan. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“W-why did you even want to sssssave him?” His brows were pushed together, flustered. “You don’t even know him!”

“You’re right.” I looked over at Aryan, his handsome face revealing the pain he hadn’t shown in all my visions. “But it’s something I had to do.” I let go of Ewan and began to lift Aryan off the ground—draping one of his arms around my shoulders. “Ewan,” he stood, ready to get the other side of Aryan, but I stopped him. “You’re awfully brave.”

He shook his head in denial. “N-no… I’m a coward.”

“You’re not.” His eyes were downcast in disbelief. So, I revealed a truth. “Ewan, I stopped persuading you before we even got through the Veil. Everything at Soren’s fortress… that was all you. You’re braver than you’ll ever know. But…” he looked at me then, confusion present. “I can see that what I’ve asked of you has caused you pain. And I don’t want you to live in fear because of me. So…” I looked down for a second, taking a deep breath before smiling back up at Ewan. “Forget what you have done for me. Forget that you led me to Soren’s fortress. Forget that you helped me save Aryan from his prison. Forget… about me. Go and live far from Soren’s reach. Live happily, Ewan. You deserve nothing less.”

Ewan’s eyes were glazed over, and he no longer held any expression on his face. I took the opportunity to gather what little strength I had to just slightly float Aryan off the ground, so I could move us behind a tree a few feet away. I watched Ewan blink several times before he looked around, baffled. He scratched his head, but then, shrugged, and walked off to the opposite side of the forest. 

*****

I vaguely remembered the path Ewan had shown me to get to the Veil and followed it back to the main road. It was difficult. Especially since it now seemed darker than it was before. I would have lit the way, but I didn’t want the occasional late-night wanderer to spot us. Not only that, but I was already using most of my concentration to float Aryan just an inch or so off the ground. Well, I guess it could be considered levitation, but that’s not entirely accurate. It’s more like, I can use the air currents around a person or object and manipulate it. It made whatever I thought of lighter, which in turn, made it easier to move. But even though Aryan was essentially weightless, I still had his arm draped around me, just in case, my power gave up on me. I’ve never used it for this long. Or for that matter, I’ve never used that many in the span of one night. But I’ve also never tested its limits. So, all of this was a first for me.

Aryan groaned when I nearly tripped on a tree root, but I quickly righted myself just as I saw the main road ahead. “Sorry…” I whispered apologetically. Even though it was a small hiccup on my end, I didn’t wish to cause Aryan any more harm than he had already been through.

After what seemed like all night, I finally made it to the road that would lead straight to my home. I glanced around speedily, making sure no one could see us. When I was confident there weren’t any prying eyes, I turned my exhausted stranger onto his side in the air—as if he were lying down. I was no longer wearing his arm but holding his hand to keep him close as I used what little adrenaline I had left and ran the rest of the way home—a floating Aryan by my side.

*****

My quaint cottage was certainly a welcomed sight. As soon as we stepped into the door, I turned on the lights and shot a fireball into the hearth. I took just a moment to take comfort in the familiar clean air, the sense of safety these four walls held, and the warmth my fireplace gave to my little home. It feels good to be back.

Aryan was still floating, but now he was bobbing slightly in the middle of my living area. I used one finger to push him down to my chest as I examined his body.

While I knew he wore a glamour, for some reason, I couldn’t see past it now. But that didn’t matter as much as tending to the wounds he possessed. Carefully, I took off his tattered shirt, and placed it on the pillow beside my foot. Before I could even begin to dress his wounds, I found myself intrigued. Admittedly, it was a little more than intrigue. I found my heart skipping a beat as I admired Aryan’s dark olive skin. And even though he was bruised along the ribs and stomach, I could still make out his very defined muscles despite the dried blood trying to obscure them.

Well… he is very well-sculpted. Maybe I could just… I placed my hands by my side and took my gaze away from his body for a moment, embarrassed by the incredibly scandalous thoughts that now crowded my mind.

I lightly slapped my face, trying to get the thought that I found Aryan unbelievably attractive—even covered in wounds—out of my mind. I’ve never had even a whisper of a thought like this before. So, this feeling was very… foreign. I mean I’ve read about the feeling of attraction, but I never thought I would actually experience it. It felt like a magnetic pull—forcing me closer to Aryan, daring me to resist the temptation that his body offered.

The books… don’t quite make it sound as powerful as it feels.

I cleared my throat before resuming Aryan’s examination. Gently, I flipped him upside down in the air, remembering his back wounds. I winced at the sight of the lashes he received from the jagged walls of his prison.

With little hesitation, I went over to the drawer by the sink and pulled out two wash cloths and my makeshift first aid kit. There wasn’t much there, but I had some healing oils I made from the plants in my garden, and some bandages. Those two things alone would be of great help.

Before going back to Aryan, I also gathered a large bowl and put warm water in it. I placed these objects on the floor near the fireplace. Then I lowered my guest closer to the ground, so I could sit and better treat his wounds. I cleaned his injuries, and then proceeded to lightly rub the lavender and basil oil I had into them with a washcloth. I heard him intake breath sharply a few times, but he did not awaken.

Finally, I bandaged his wounds, checking his body for anything I had missed, but aside from a pair of swollen wrists—which would heal itself given a bit of time—I saw nothing else that needed my attention.

“I think it’s time for bed, Aryan. You certainly deserve some good rest.” I smiled and used my powers to float him onto my bed. I tucked him in, carefully, trying not to wake him, but if my treatment of his wounds didn’t stir him, I doubted putting a blanket on him would do it. I watched him breathe easier, his shoulders relaxing and that pain-filled face from before just showing exhaustion.

Just as I was to turn away, I realized his face was dirty. I picked up the cloth I washed him with, and softly went over his face with it. Revealing a much more handsome person hidden beneath the dirt and blood.

I sat on the floor beside my bed, watching him. Quickly, I realized how incredibly unsettling that could be for him. To see some strange woman observing him as he slept, but suddenly, my body couldn’t move. My eyes felt heavy as the day’s events took its toll on me. And I let it happen. Drifting off to a dreamless sleep—which, if I was being completely honest with myself, might just be better than a sweet dream.