It wasn’t instantaneous, the pull feeling like a rush of wind as we were hurtled through the brilliance surrounding us, everyone gasping, including me as I hung onto their tethers, or risk losing them, and I shouted, “Don’t let go!”
A brilliant flash of white light erupted, like a sonic boom…and our feet were suddenly on the sands of the Temple, the ocean’s waves rolling, sounding behind us in the twilight of the early night, brilliant stars twinkling overhead. Guardians standing on either side of us, staring avidly, but not attacking. The deep, tall white stairs lifting a few yards in front of us. The majestic white Temple lit with the fire of the stars, appearing ethereal in its glow above. Leric, Roselle, and Reese already at the top of the stairs, looking down on us, waiting patiently, a small smile playing on Leric’s lips as he eyed the men’s responses around me, and I whispered on a tired pant, “Welcome to the Temple, gentlemen.”
Chapter Seventeen
Luckily, they hadn’t forgotten about the game face comment, their expressions quickly blanking as they released their death grips on me and their Vizoacs.
I waved a hand at King Collins, when he continued gripping my arm.
“Step back for a moment.” I shooed them all away. “All of you.”
I placed Isolde on the sand by my feet.
As one, they stepped back, instantly moving into the roles they had been afforded, doing as I bid without me having to ask twice, which I was eternally grateful for with the powerful Guardians watching. Inhaling heavily much needed oxygen, I let my head tip back, keeping my Core open and lifted my arms…and the brilliance of the stars shone down on me, all my Lajaks eyes instantly glowing, some shading their eyes as the pure rightness of the stars filled my Core to overfilling, revitalizing it, instead of depleting it dangerously from my body. Sighing heavily, I shut it down, relinquishing the stars gift, my Core closing, and I stopped glowing. I was still tired, but it wasn’t draining on me anymore. Cracking my neck, I ran a hand through my hair, and tilted my head to the stairs. “Let’s go.”
As I moved forward, Elder Merrick and Elder Farrar were instantly on either side of me, Sin and Elder Bridges directly behind, the other four walking side-by-side behind them, and I watched as the Guardians instantly dipped to one knee as I started to move past. I faltered for a moment, never having experienced that before, but I quickly put my feet back into motion, and took the steps, dipping to pick Isolde up when she had trouble.
Leric smiled when we reached the top, stating softly, formally, “Welcome, Elders, Kings, and friend, now Lajaks.” He tilted his head forward, saying even more quietly, “Remember to pass through the entrance at the same time as my Chosen.” He straightened, and held his hand out to me. “Ready?”
I inhaled, and nodded, and accepted his hand, allowing him to pull me beside him. “What are we going to do first?”
“We’ll go to my study for a meeting.”
“Alright.” I moved slowly letting my Lajaks quickly spread out, their pace even with mine. I hovered a foot right before the entrance, and they followed suit, mimicking my motion, stepping over the boundary, the entrance to the Temple, safely before they quickly pulled back into rank, Elder Merrick standing directly on my left now, Elder Farrar next to him with Leric taking his spot, their impressive eagles behaving and resting on their shoulders. Walking over the white tiles of the first foyer, the sanded walls brilliant with the spattering of stars fire, I knew my Lajaks were having to keep their expressions wiped clean…especially when they saw all of the spirits milling about in their scantily clad beautiful white attire, probably more in this one large foyer than they had seen in their entire lives, the soft music of the fountains our backdrop.
All conversation stopped inside the room, heads swinging toward us. The spirits didn’t mask their shock, though, their fear and confusion clear. Their eyes widened enormously as they watched us move, their jaws gaping the barest bit. Hell, I even saw a kid run behind his mom’s skirt and hide, plus, it sounded like someone dropped their drink, glass shattering somewhere on the left, and I muttered under my breath, “That’s about the norm.”
Leric’s shoulders shook the barest bit, but they stopped a moment later, muttering under his breath, “Hope you’re ready for that French silk pie.”
Mrs Damon pushed through the crowd of gawkers and smiled beamingly at us before rushing forward. “Finally, you’re home.” I hadn’t seen her since Leric had used the Primal Diamond and been shot to hell, so I was sure she was excited, but she came at us in a flourish, both of us stopping. She hugged her son fiercely, then turned that all-encompassing hug on me, and I actually felt my Lajaks shifting closer, even felt the brush of Shithead’s wings on my shoulder, but I only hugged her one armed, Leric not releasing my hand.
And then, she let go…and dipped down on one knee, head bowed before me, murmuring respectfully, “Chosen.”
It was like the gong was sounded, or some other wacked out shit, because instantly, everyone’s eyes widened even further, and they all dropped to one knee, bowing their heads, an instant, resounding hushed, “Chosen.”
I stared, just as wide-eyed as they had been, squeezing Leric’s hand brutally, hastily asking through our connection, “What the hell do I do?”
“Tell them to arise.”
I stalled. “Arise or rise?”
His shoulders shook. “Either.”
“Not funny.” I cleared my throat, and stated clearly, letting my tone carry steel I wasn’t feeling, blanking my expression, “You may arise.”
Thank God, they did.
“It’s good to see you again, Mrs Damon,” I stated softly, now peering into her twinkling eyes.
She winked, and whispered, “Always enter with fanfare, Chosen.” Her brown gaze went to her son, and she stated clearly, “Don’t keep your father waiting.” And with another head dip in my direction, she left with the same type of pizzazz she had entered with, clapping her hands at the boy hiding behind his mom’s skirt, lifting him into her arms, talking to him quietly.
As we moved through multiple different atriums, down thin hallways, twisting then going straight, and curving again, the response was the same in each opened area…because I quickly realized Leric had strategically placed a lone individual in each room to greet us, then bow before me, announcing who I was as if we were old friends, so I made damn sure to hold my head up when I entered into the third atrium.
Finally, after a half hour of walking, we reached his study, but unfortunately, the show didn’t stop there. It didn’t just hold his father as I had assumed, but was crammed with spirits who wore white flowing pants and white ribbed vests over their bare chests or ribbed strips for the women tied around their chests, each with a small black tattoo of a tiger on their right arm, all moving with a grace that was almost frightening, and as one, they all bowed when we entered, murmuring, “Chosen. One.”
I swallowed, and let Leric tell them to “arise” that time, since they had mentioned him too.
Leric’s voice entered my mind. “They’re the elite Guardians of the realms.”
“Oh,” I responded a bit grumpily, “That’s good to know…now.”
Mr. Damon greeted me kindly, putting my fears to rest as I watched the spirits who were so obviously deadly move to take their seats at the table. I took my duffle off, dumping it on the couch in front of his darkened window, my Lajaks doing the same, the items cumbersome, their Vizoacs moving eerily to sit around the room, while they themselves took up stances almost the same. Elder Merrick and Elder Farrar stood directly behind me when I sat at the table next to Leric, our hands still clasped and resting on top of the table for all to see…which they did glance at covertly.
Leric wasted no time, demanding, “Bring us up to date.”
Mr. Damon took the lead. “It’s Cullo and Jeria.” He glanced about the table. “The two cities have been having riots, and Eski and Nosa are on the verge of the same.” His brows puckered. “Where the hell is the remote? I just had it.”