Chapter Twelve

Arcanum (part 1)

Samara

Once again, the night of Arcanum captivated me.

The air was crisp and clean. The forest was lively and vibrant as all its living creatures—plants and animals alike—carried on as if Aryan and I hadn’t just come from another land. The night sky was cloudy, blocking most of the light the moon offered, but as impossible as it seemed, I could still see some of the stars shining through the darkness. And although it has only been a few days since I was last here, it feels like it was eons ago.

I was once more confident that this was a place my heart longed to be, and now, with nothing holding me back, this is a place I could stay. The possibility for a normal life soared within me but was quickly squelched as Aryan reminded me of our situation.

“This way,” he whispered beside me. “Soren’s palace is too close to stay out in the open like this. He’s sure to have his soldiers about looking for us.” Aryan’s gaze was stony as he said, “Soren’s not one for giving up just because something doesn’t go his way.”

“I’ve noticed.”

The way Aryan stiffened just the tiniest bit made me want to grab ahold of his hand and assure him that he was safe, but I knew such an action would cause him to be suspicious of me. I can’t say that I blame him after everything he’s been through, but I have to believe he must trust me a little. I did, after all, save his life, but more than that, he’s stood by me since he awoke. He brought me to safety in the forest, indulged my farewell to my home, and told me the story of the Veil. A story I felt very… connected to.

I didn’t have enough time to think on this though as Aryan forged ahead, gesturing me to follow him.

We did not venture on the path, but beside it. Hidden by shrubs and trees, we made our way some distance with little light to guide us. Aryan tripped a few times in front of me. The last finally causing me to crash into him roughly. We both fell with a thump to the cool ground.

“Sorry,” I tried to look at his muted form, but found it difficult to discern whether or not he was injured as we sat on the ground behind a rather large tree trunk. His dim figure became nothing but a dark outline as the cloudy night completely blocked out our only lantern. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

It was almost undetectable the way he winced, but I took note. “I’m fine. Just a scrape.”

I wasn’t sure I believed him and wished to the powers that be that I could see better in order to help him—that the clouds would seize obscuring the moon’s beams.

Suddenly, this sharp, stabbing pain came through me. My temples throbbed as I did my best not to whimper from the pain, but it seemed that was not meant to be. I closed my eyes tightly, a ringing in my ears now. I faintly heard my companion calling me. Asking me if I was alright. He placed his hands on my shoulders, shaking me some and then, just as suddenly as it had occurred, the throbbing pain in my temples—as well as the ringing in my ears—disappeared, as if it had never happened.

“I’m alright,” I managed to get out, opening my eyes to find I could see clear as day! Everything was all at once vivid and dim, but somehow, I could make out every single thing in the forest clearly. Every miniscule detail was revealed to me, including Aryan’s concerned yet confused expression. “Actually, I can see.”

Aryan lifted one brow like I was being peculiar. “Good job, your eyes work.”

“No, I mean—” Frustration seemed to roll off of him, and I thought it better to save my discovery for a later date. Before we got off the ground, I did manage to look at his knees to find, he truly had just a scrape. It was quite raw, but not anything I couldn’t fix once we got to a safe location. “Where are you looking to go?”

“We have to get out of the—”

We both went silent at the sound of twigs cracking nearby on the path. Aryan and I stood against the trunk, waiting to hear anything more. I dared to take a peek around the tree to find two of Soren’s soldiers silently making their way towards us. Their torches were small, but their brightness nearly blinded me. I had to bite my tongue from hissing.

“Soren’s men.” I nearly mouthed.

Aryan nodded his head, looking ready to pounce when they got nearer. And while I had no doubt we could take them, a feeling in my gut told me that was the wrong move. As he got ready to attack, I looked around, searching for cover.

I was quite intrigued by my new sight and found that I didn’t just see good in the dark. I could also see much farther than I would naturally be able to. And thanks to this newfound gift, I was able to spot a cave that was blocked by long, dangling vines.

I grabbed Aryan’s hand and pulled him after me as I ran as swiftly and quietly as I could towards the cavern.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he hissed at me.

“I’ve found a place to hide.” I whispered back, noticing that we did not yet draw the attention of the soldiers.

I took a moment to stare at Aryan’s face. And while he did not speak a word more on the matter, I could tell he was ready to give me his two cents once the opportunity arrived.

We were nearly there, so I took the chance of glancing back. The stone men continued the way they were heading—their gait suggesting that they had no idea we were so close. I slowed down just as we made it to the vines. Both of us were panting, but I barely had time to catch my breath as I slid the vines aside like a beaded curtain and went inside. As the vines closed behind Aryan, I noticed they were thick, and there would be no way light would be able to slip in and give away our location. I peered in deeper into the cavern to discover it wasn’t as shallow as I believed it to be.

Taking a moment, I leaned against the wall for a second, trying to remember how to breathe. Aryan seemed to be doing the same, but it appeared he was quite good at multitasking as his angry questions assailed me. “Why did you make us run away? I could have taken cared of those two, and probably got some information out of them in the process.”

His scowl was growing on me. “Yes, but then what?”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s say you could have knocked those men out. What do you think would have happened if they did not report back?” My guide glared hard at nothing. So, I continued. “As you said, Soren is not one to give up, and from what I have seen of him already, he’s also a clever man. He would have put the pieces together, and if I had to guess, he’d send even more soldiers to this area, and then we would truly have nowhere to hide.”

Aryan sighed as if the fight was out of him. He rubbed one eye, his exhaustion finally taking its toll on his body. “Alright,” he grumbled as if agreeing with me was more painful than getting tortured. “I see your point.”

I glanced back towards the inside of the cave. Perhaps there is a better spot than this inside. I smiled at Aryan, whom I suddenly remembered, was completely blind in this darkness. His hand skimmed the rough siding of the cave as he slowly moved forward.

“Come on.” I told him, grabbing his hand yet again as I took him away from the wall. “This way.”

“Where the hell are we going now?” he questioned gruffly. “How can you even see? It’s pitch black in here.”

I held in laughter as I said, “I told you, Aryan, I can see.”

He didn’t say a word, just gave that thoughtfully confused face I’ve grown very used to seeing in our short time together.

Now that the adrenaline was taking a back seat, I couldn’t help but focus on the feel of my hand in Aryan’s. His hand was big and rough and warm. It sent little shivers of electricity up my arm and made my heart feel like the reverberating pounds of a knock on a door. I wondered if he could hear the loud drumming my heart exuded. I nearly thought to ask when a noise pierced the silence.

“Do you hear that?” I asked him.

We paused to listen further. The sound tinkled softly. Familiarly.

“Water.” Aryan announced matter-of-factly. “There must be water in this cave.”

I nodded, despite knowing he couldn’t see me. We walked farther along, turning at a bend when we noticed a faint blue light glittering ahead of us. We walked towards the opening and discovered a hidden watering hole. The brightness from the area caused me to wince. So, I closed my eyes hard, and when I opened them again, I could see normally. And what I saw was simply lovely.

The faint blue light was the reflection of the now uncovered moon that pierced through a wide skylight and into the flowing pool in front of us. The same vines that covered the entrance to this place came through the hole and nearly touched the water below it. There was a small stream that entered into the pool on the other end of the cavern, keeping the water fresh and circulating. The back of the cavern walls was not bare like the siding we came through, instead it was covered with green leaves and showed patches of the stone behind it. It nearly reminded me of the waterfall concealing the Veil.

“How beautiful Arcanum is.” I smiled, looking at our hidden oasis.

“Yeah,” Aryan started, looking around. “It can be. Sometimes.” He paused before saying, “Uh, Samara?”

“Yes?” I turned to him, my grin still in place.

“My hand?”

“Hmm?” I looked down to find that I was still holding onto him. Embarrassment seized me as I quickly released him. “Oh… of course.”

He smirked at me, amused, but didn’t say another word as he went to the pool, crouched down and took a handful of water to his lips. “Well, looks as good as any place to rest for the night. Better get comfortable.”

I nodded, clutching my hands together, and finding I could still feel Aryan’s warmth radiating off of it. It was such a weird sensation. I’d never held anyone’s hand before. Well, I suppose this isn’t the first time I’ve touched Aryan’s hand. I did grasp it when I floated him to my home, but this was an entirely different experience from that. This was…

For some reason, I couldn’t find the word for it, but I knew it was unlike anything else. That, I was sure of.

I walked over to the pool, letting my hand play with the water as droplets slipped through my fingers just before I put it to my lips and drank. I hadn’t realized how truly thirsty I was until I felt that cool liquid glide down my throat and coat my tongue. I took in two or three handfuls more of water before I simply sat beside the calming pool and stared up at the partially cloudy sky.

I put my hands under my head as I lied back and watched some of the stars peek through the thick night. My eyes were growing heavy, and I was nearly about to sleep when Aryan’s deep voice echoed around me.

“How were you able to see in the dark?”

I yawned just before I said, “I just did.” Quickly, a thought occurred to me, causing me to sit up and scoot closer to Aryan. “That reminds me, let me see your scrape. I caught a glimpse of it in the forest and want to make sure it doesn’t get infected.”

“I’m fine.” He grumbled, turning his face away from me.

I ignored him as I grabbed his leg gently to take a look. His scrape was healing rather quickly. It was raw in the woods, but now, it looked like it was over a week old and on its way to being nothing more than a memory. “It appears you heal very fast.”

He watched me—an unreadable expression on his face. “What are you?”

His boldness caused a sudden giddiness to arise in me as I laughed, but quickly bit it back. “You are quite abrasive in your straightforwardness.”

“Does that bother you?”

“Not at all.” I replied, putting my hands back underneath my head as I lied back against the gray stone ground and looked back up at the sky. “It’s very refreshing, actually.”

I felt my fatigue flow through my whole being as he said, “So, you’re not going to tell me?”

I stifled another yawn. “Would it matter if I did?”

“No, but…” Aryan’s voice was no longer callous. He spoke softly; an almost innocent curiosity coating his tone. “I’ve seen some things in the last couple of hours that leaves me wondering.”

“About?” My eyes started to close, hiding the sky like a heavy curtain at a play.

“Why exactly someone as powerful as you would need the help of someone like me. Or even better, why you would make yourself known to someone like Soren just to help me out.”

“I don’t know…” It came out in one breath.

“Don’t know what?”

“I don’t know what I—” I couldn’t finish my thought as the tiredness overcame me.