The lost dreamer, p.11
The Lost Dreamer, page 11
part #2 of Fire & Ice Series
“Good morning, Killian,” I greeted him.
“I will never understand the curious bond between a horse and her girl,” remarked Killian. “There are few creatures that truly enjoy the company of a human, and the fox is not one of them.”
“It’s lovely to see you, too,” I replied with a hint of sarcasm. “What are you doing on the shore?”
“Nothing in particular,” said Killian.
The sly fox continued to watch me. A mixture of countless emotions lingered behind his golden eyes, but there was no mistaking the protective glimmer that danced on the surface. I was finally beginning to understand the reason for the assignment of my new Guardian. Killian was a fierce and fearless creature, who dedicated his life to the protection of light. Although he did not care to admit the truth, it was evident the red fox had developed a tender companionship with the Four Elementals.
“Why are you following me?” I inquired. “I know the Elementals are always threatened, but that doesn’t explain anything. You know about the recent gatherings of the Order of Birch at Castle Moss. As my personal Guardian, you do not have the right to keep secrets from me.”
“There is a new darkness in the realm of Aisling,” whispered Killian. “Lachlan has been very concerned about the items you shared with us last month. He believes Orinthia Hanley left these mysterious clues with the intent of protecting you from danger. Although I respect the opinions of the head archer, it is my duty to inform you that your grandmother wished for you to find the Lost Dreamer. Orinthia Hanley was an extraordinary woman, and she trusted you would have the ability to carry out her work. There is no explanation for the knowledge she hid after the disappearance of Fionn MacMillan. The people of Aisling have not dismissed the terrible mystery.”
“We have been unable to decipher the puzzle my grandmother left in her wake,” I whispered. “Several weeks have passed without a sign promising to point us in the right direction.”
My horse was growing restless under the weight of our conversation. The faint sound of horseshoes echoed as we continued to walk down the beach. The little red fox followed with swift footsteps.
“Your sister told me about her nightmares,” said Killian. “She believes the Lost Dreamer is attempting to communicate with both of you.”
“He has appeared in several of my dreams, but my sister has suffered from the worst of the nightmares,” I responded. “Emery believes the Siren Sisters have captured Fionn. The wretched creatures are forcing the dreamer to search for their lost voices. Fionn knows the truth about the location of the conch shell, but he has been lying to the dark mermaids of the sea.”
“The Lost Dreamer is waiting for you to find him,” whispered Killian. “But there is one issue that will keep you from accomplishing this task.”
“What are you talking about?” I demanded.
“I have several reasons to believe Cleo Lennox is in possession of your grandmother’s diary,” responded Killian. “When we were visiting the cottage of Lydia Ludwig, the dark-haired girl stole the leather journal from your saddlebag.”
A harsh wave of realization washed over my mind. The confusion of tumbling water wrapped my racing heart into a shell of understanding. The dark eyes of Cleo Lennox haunted the shadowed corners of my imagination. She beckoned me to wander in search of my grandmother’s precious memory. The menacing girl dared to analyze the secrets the calligraphy concealed.
“The diary has been missing for weeks, Killian!” I snapped. “Emery has been trying to convince me it was lost in the library, but I have not been able to find it. Why didn’t you tell me Cleo snatched the journal?”
“I did not witness the act,” Killian responded defensively. “Your male friend informed me that he has been trying to contact you about the situation.”
“What male friend?”
“Rowan Rowley.”
“You must be referring to Ronan O’Reilly.”
“Oh, yes!” exclaimed Killian. “That was the name of the freckled boy.”
“How did Ronan know?” I demanded.
“Your friend was watching you from the window of the bookstore,” the little fox responded. “He spoke to me when I was delivering a package to his father. I’m quite fond of his unusual Gift.”
My mind was racing faster than the speed of light. There is no telling what the Lennox girl was planning to do with my grandmother’s diary. Familiar nightmares of destruction flashed across my vision. The old journal was essential to solving the mystery of the Lost Dreamer. It was evident Cleo was waiting for me to confront her with the flames of my Gift. She wanted nothing more than to witness my downfall, but she did not know the strength that surged through my veins. She was foolish to underestimate me.
The night sky greeted my eyes with constellations of freckled starlight, while my fingertips burned with the hope of revenge. A full moon tossed shadows of darkness across the floor of the ancient house. The wood groaned under the weight of my gentle footsteps.
A pair of identical silhouettes was the only sign of life in the dark corridor. My sister’s deep gaze penetrated through the shield that protected my amber eyes and delicate soul. A spark of anger and concern was settled across her pale brow. She had finally learned the truth about the disappearance of the leather diary.
“We must get it back, Alice!” exclaimed Emery. “There are many trinkets that contain our grandmother’s memory, but nothing compares to the writing she left for us. The Lennox girl has overstepped the boundary that separates the forces of good and evil. She has the nerve to interfere with our mission to find the Lost Dreamer. We have no idea what she is capable of doing to the writing.”
“I’m afraid she plans to destroy it,” I murmured as my gaze trailed across the dusty floorboards.
“We cannot allow her to manipulate us,” said Emery. “Cleo Lennox is known to take action with selfish intentions. I don’t think she plans to destroy the leather journal, but I believe she wishes to taunt your mind.”
“Regardless of her intentions, we must return the diary to our hands,” I responded.
I watched my sister for a moment, waiting for her to meet my gaze. She did not understand the hidden rivalry that had formed in the land of unspoken words. My innocent twin did not know the dark-haired girl was destined to be our worst enemy.
With grave expressions of disappointment, our parents received word of the situation. My unwavering mother, Ailsa Hanley, informed us about her decision to send word to the Order of Birch. Although she did not use it often, the brilliant woman possessed an unusual Gift for telepathy. She was known to step into the thoughts of her children, when the conversation requested a lack of words. The various remarks of wit and irony were a companion to the fanciful reality of our lives.
“Do you believe the headmistress will suspend Cleo from the next semester at the Academy?” inquired Emery. “We both know Zara Hawthorne holds a position of great authority in the Order of Birch, and she will not be pleased to hear of the treason the Lennox clan has committed.”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “There are many situations the wicked family has managed to escape. The Lennox’s hide under the disguise of innocence and misunderstanding, which have been bestowed upon them by the passing of time.”
We eventually retreated to the open window in my moonlit bedroom. The scattered constellations of unfamiliar stars flickered in the distance. A deep silence enveloped the chamber, as we allowed our thoughts to fill the space of our words. The silver night illuminated the pale skin of my sister’s face, transforming her blue eyes into deep pools of enchanted water. Golden threads descended like a waterfall around her shoulders. She watched with a blank expression as my fingers fiddled with the vial necklace strung around my collar.
As we raised our eyes to the dark sky above us, the sparkling moonlight vanished from sight. A familiar figure swooped through the air with grace and precision. A pair of black wings tucked against the back of the short-haired girl, who landed beside us with nothing more than a gentle footstep.
“You have a habit of arriving in an unexpected fashion, Kade!” Emery laughed at our winged friend.
The freckled girl did not smile in response. A small crease had appeared between her full eyebrows, which revealed a strange expression of concern. She swayed with apprehension on the tips of her bare feet.
“Oh, I didn’t want you to be worried! I was just flying over the Academy for Gifted Youth, and I noticed a strange figure was wandering around the castle grounds,” whispered Kade. “Cleo Lennox is attempting to enter the Four Lone Towers.”
“That’s impossible,” I responded. “Cleo knows the Four Elementals are the only individuals who can enter the stone towers.”
“That doesn’t mean she will not try to break through the ancient doors,” said Emery.
“Unfortunately, she seems to be carrying the diary of your late grandmother.” Kade stared at me for a moment, allowing her blue eyes to reach into the depths of my soul. The winged girl, shivering with the chills of the night air, was beginning to understand the realm was not all that it seemed.
“She will be waiting for you, Alice,” said Emery.
The night stroked my face with cold hands as the breeze of summer retired to the land of sleep. As we galloped down the path of the dark forest, my fingers gripped tightly to the mane of my chestnut mare. There was no Gifted companion to guide my spirit; I was nothing more than a lone girl in the enchanted wilderness. Reflective eyes peered through the branches of the treetops as we passed through the shadowed wood. The constellations promised to lead us in the direction of the Four Lone Towers.
My sister had remained in the shelter of Macnas Manor, although she did not care to leave me with an expression of ease. Kade O’Reilly managed to convince us the task was destined to be accomplished by my individual character. The freckle-faced girl soared through the stars above us, keeping watch for the approach of strangers. Despite the wavering presence of my friend, there was a distinct memory of loneliness in the depths of the Night Oak Forest.
“You don’t know the horrors that have dwelled between these gnarled trees, Felicity.” My whisper floated through the breeze, until it reached the ears of my horse.
It had been almost twenty-five minutes since Kade last swooped over the towering oaks. The distant sound of footsteps was approaching with haste, and I was beginning to grow quite concerned. My arms suddenly pulled back on the braided reins of Felicity’s bridle.
A bright flame appeared in my left hand.
“Alice?”
“Ronan?”
The brown-haired boy was standing directly in front of my horse. A deep expression of bewilderment was settled below his dark eyebrows. The shadows of the oak trees had managed to hide his approaching figure on the forest path.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded.
“I have been searching for you!” Ronan responded. “I was pleased to learn Killian shared the information of my discovery. My sister has been missing for several hours, and my parents sent me out to find her in the woods. She met me on the edge of the Academy grounds and explained the details of the issue regarding your grandmother’s leather diary.”
“Where is she now?” I questioned.
“Kade is keeping watch over the Four Lone Towers,” said Ronan. “She wanted me to lead you toward the castle.”
A dark horse was waiting near the edge of the forest path. The magnificent beast flicked its ears forward, listening to the details of our conversation. Although the tall mare was not tied to the fencepost, she did not attempt to graze in the green clover.
“This is my noble companion, Niamh,” explained Ronan. “You will find her words lack the sharp and bitter humor of the little red fox.”
My amber gaze darted between my Gifted friend and his extraordinary horse. The dark creature walked toward us with the hooves of an average mare, but there was a spark of curious personality behind her eyes. Felicity greeted the stranger with a squeal of excitement.
“Your equine companion seems to be at a loss for words,” the dark mare spoke with a hint of amusement.
“She speaks?” I stared at Ronan with a blank expression.
“Of course,” replied Niamh. “Although I must admit I’m a bit concerned about the fact that your mare has not verbally responded to my greeting.”
“Felicity doesn’t speak English,” I explained.
“That’s understandable,” said Niamh. “What is her native language? I’m fluent in Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic, Icelandic, French, and the ancient language of Aisling.”
Ronan’s freckled face burned with an embarrassment that resembled the color of budding roses. He grabbed hold of the dark mare’s bridle and leaped over her shoulder. We exchanged a swift glance before riding our horses down the dirt path.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
A dark cloud of smoke was rising in the distance, illuminated by the bright light of the silver moon. The lone tower entrance was consumed in roaring flames. The inferno licked at the green branches of the dark forest that surrounded the stone walls. My chestnut mare threw her head up with the fear that flashed in her deep brown eyes. After Ronan grabbed the reins from my hands, I jumped out of the saddle and dashed through the burning wildflowers.
The flames lifted my Gift from the surface of my freckled skin. A few strands of my ginger hair sparked with the wild freedom of the blazing fire. I allowed my heart to paint with the muddled emotions of fear, anger, and confusion. The landscape was the canvas that experienced the reckless brush of my colorful palette.
My long arms whisked through the air as the raging fire disappeared from the edge of the dark forest. I watched with satisfaction as the tall oaks escaped the fatal touch of the orange blaze. The glowing flames vanished with the simple turn of my hand.
“Lennox!” I shouted through the frightening turmoil. “What have you done?”
As Cleo stepped around the side of the lone tower, a bolt of lightning cracked in the night sky. My eyes raised to meet the cold gaze of the dark-haired girl. Her electric Gift threatened to strike my body to the ground.
“I’m not a foolish girl, Alice Hanley!” snapped Cleo. “You have successfully ruined the legacy of my ancestors, but I will not allow you to continue to tarnish the name of my family. After you vanquished the Creatures of the Night Oak Forest, my father blamed your grandmother for the end of the curse. He did not realize the true blame rests on the actions and abilities of the Four Elementals.”
“You have the power to make your own decisions,” I spoke. “If you believe in the peace we have brought to the realm, you don’t need to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors.”
“You will never understand!” Cleo shouted through the blinding fog. “I’m a rarity in a family of people with common Gifts. The prejudice of Wolfgang Gregory continues to live in the heart of the Lennox clan; my father believes I’m a terrible disappointment. This is the only way I will be able to earn the acceptance of my family.”
“What are you talking about?” I demanded.
Two deep pools of sadness swirled in the depths of Cleo’s eyes; however, the emotion swiftly transformed into a cold anger. She reached into her dark cloak and retrieved a familiar leather diary. Time did not require more than a second to reveal the intentions of the teenage girl’s actions. There was not a spare moment for me to shout a warning or plead for mercy. A single flick of her hand tossed the ancient journal into the depths of the inferno that surrounded the tower door. The flames swallowed the book with a single burst of light, as though they possessed the jaws of a ruthless lion.
“Stop!” I gasped with horror.
But it was too late.
My legs carried me through the grass with the strength of despair. I fell to the ground in front of the doorway, forgetting about the fire that never dared to burn my skin. My throat choked on the presence of salted tears. I reached my hands through the deadly flower, searching for the surface of the book. Although the tower was unable to burn with the element that it signified, the flames climbed like vines on the cobblestone.
“I know what you are planning, Alice.” An unreadable yet strong spark of emotion crossed the face of Cleo Lennox. “The mystery of the Lost Dreamer is destined to fall into the hands of oblivion, and I will not allow you to change such a fate.”
“What do you know about the disappearance of Fionn MacMillan?” I demanded.
“More than you could ever imagine,” she whispered in a haunting tone. “The Siren Sisters are not the only creatures to blame for the vanishing of the Gifted child.”
Cleo raised her hands to her heart, summoning the electrical energy of her Gift. Silver sparks cracked between her fingers. She seemed to freeze as her gaze wandered over my left shoulder. Her palms closed as an expression of fury flushed across her ivory cheeks. A sudden movement appeared in the corner of my eye.
After turning around, I was greeted by the figure of a familiar red-haired man. A pair of golden eyes glistened above his freckled cheeks, revealing the truth of his identity. I had never seen the Guardian in his human form, as I knew he preferred to remain in the body of a red fox. His presence sent a wave of confusion through my mind, although my attention was swiftly refocused on the bow in his right hand. A sharp arrow was aimed at the heart of my enemy.
“I don’t miss,” Killian spoke with a daring voice.
A strange silence settled over the interaction. The remaining flames flickered in the darkness, occasionally cracking with the explosion of a little spark. A new force allowed my legs to stand with fleeting courage. Although my life was in danger, there was no reason to use my friend as a shield.
As I stomped my right foot to the ground, the final traces of bright flames disappeared from the doorway of the stone tower. The dark-haired girl did not reveal an expression of defeat, but she met my gaze with a sickening smile. With one swift movement, she lifted the hood of her heavy cloak. I watched as she turned and walked away through the midnight gloom.
