Chapter 143: Voice of Tayun (4)
{Music Recommendation: Ancestors Calling Tribal Music by Infinity Realm}
Nova gasped, her hands shooting to her mouth. Pain sliced through her as a roar from the other side of the island made the bark rattle. A crack splintered across the Skyhold. A few of the eagle shifters stumbled back, murmuring to each other, concern flashing across their faces. But the Sky Matron’s attention was on the power now wisping through her body.
Her hands were spread wide, embracing the warmth of the sun as dark shadows formed around her arms like vines, spreading along her body and wings before seeping into her eyes. Her wicked grin broadened as she embraced the power, to be stronger than any other on the island.
The vampiras were stuck in the caves. Only the Oncari were problematic to her and the flock, besides the ancients roaming the island. This was a good thing. An Electa had been brought to the island. Her sacrifice was everything, and already she could feel the power surging through her.
Cold, unsettling power thrummed along her bloodstream with black vein-like magic now spreading down her skin, along her fingertips, creating pathways down her legs and feet. The magic burst from the centre of the tree, stretching out like branches of darkness along the bark. Shadows hovered above the bark and slowly sank into it.
’I will be stronger than ever before,’ the Sky Matron began then blood splattered from her mouth, gurgling, her eyes widening in shock.
The Sky Matron looked down at the fist piercing her chest.
The wind roared around the Sky Matron and her assailant, lifting their hair, billowing along their clothing until the black shadows instantly evapourated, dispering into the wind that suddenly dropped.
Yiska slowly rose from his crouched position, raising the flock’s leader above him, proving to them his strength. He tossed her aside, letting her body fall with a crack into the bark. The crowds gasped, snapping out of their stupor and surrounded their fallen leader.
Nova’s attention wasn’t on Silver Feather any more, and the deceased leader, but Yiska. There was a strange recognition fluttering in her chest as she watched him collapse to his knees before his Serakai, asking for forgiveness as he wept. The skies roared, thunder and hail disrupting the heatwave, following the guardian’s emotions.
Tears sprung to Nova’s eyes as she watched Tayun’s guardian cradle his mate in his arms, fury and vengeance escaping his lips, as the flock started to surround him. He did not care. His life, his love had been taken from him, and all for power.
With a gentle caress to his mate’s cheek, he lowered her onto the bark, safely away from the flock and turned to them. His eyes were not his own. His muscles tense with fury boiling in his veins. His heart had been ripped in two, his soul broken, taken from him by the hands of power hungry eagle shifters.
Nova couldn’t look away as blood was shed that day. The tree was stained in the blood of the flock that dared to break up a Serakai bond, to kill Tayun’s Electa, and his Yiska’s mate, all to gain power not given freely.
Yiska was merciful to the tribe, leaving the young chicks of Silver Feather to remain, along with a few adults.
Yiska collected his Serakai again, cradling her to his chest as he rocked back and forth.
Nova wiped at the tears slipping down her cheeks. She couldn’t imagine facing such pain. The movement snapped Yiska’s head up and their eyes locked. Nova froze, breath halting.
Could he... no... He couldn’t see her...
Nova looked behind her. She was a phantom, a ghost in this memory, there was no way...
Her head moved back around and she released a startled breath.
Yiska stared straight at her, unblinking, a tear streaking his bloodied cheek, eyes flashing golden.
Nova swallowed, the pain in her chest festering as she stared back at his distraught expression. He began saying something, something to her, but Tayun did not allow the words to carry to Nova.
Wind billowed against her and her surroundings blurred, the carnage and blood disappearing. Gravity dragged her backwards again until she was floating among the stars again. Warmth invaded her senses, a golden light tickling along her skin like glitter twinkling and covering her entirely. The blue dress fanned around her, arms spread as the light shone brightly until everything went white.
The pain drifted away as the warmth sank deep into her bones, calming the rising anxiety from not seeing or hearing anything.
Foreign soul...
Untouched...
Before Nova knew what was happening, her weight dropped, and she was guided, almost in slow motion, drifting back to a different reality.
You know what you must do... Tayun’s whisper guided her forward.
Nova slowly rose from where she had been lying, unaware of those around her. She grabbed First Mark and followed the vibrations of the earth.
Distantly, she could hear whispers, but she did not understand what was said.
"Where is she going?" They asked.
Another voice, richer, deeper, answered. "Do not question it. We are her shield."
Shield?
Nova dismissed the words that floated around her like water, a single dab at it, caused a ripple effect, repeating the words until they became silent.
Her feet started to move, eyes looking vacant, but she saw more than anyone could see. Everything made from Tayun had geometric patterns shifting along it like living, breathing beings. The trees inhaled and exhaled, the patterns pouring off golden light.
With ease, Nova made it to the spiral staircase in the treehouse and opened the hidden door.
"How will she get down? This is dangerous..."
Do not worry tiny voice. Tayun guides me.
Every step she took had a ripple effect, the light pulsing.
"Have faith," the deeper voice answered, and the warmth intensified in Nova’s chest, a small smile gracing her lips.
She lifted her hand, as though she was cupping someone’s cheek, though she couldn’t see anything beyond it.
On the other side of her reality, the dream she had yet to leave, Yoa fought his instinct to take her hand, and hold her in his arms, and taking her to the ground safely. Instead he gently cupped his hand over hers where it was placed on his cheek. He stared back at her vacant eyes, boring his soul into them, and seeing the flicker of golden stardust, the thinnest of lines, circling her pupils.
"Trust her," Yoa whispered to Atia and Aiyana, who’d sensed something afoot from the shifting of the trees and the wind picking up and yet no storms were on the horizon.
Nova dropped her hand then fell backwards.
"Nova!" Aiyana shouted, leaping for her, eyes wide, fear sparked in them.
Atia grabbed her waist, halting her. Yoa clenched his teeth, nostrils flaring, eyes shimmering with his beasts as his heart dropped, and all of his instincts wanted to leap after his mate.
Nova flew backwards, the wind billowing her skirt, arms floating beside her, hair whipping around her face as she smiled. Then last minute, her eyes flashed golden-red, and she flipped backwards, arcing elegantly and landed like a professional gymnast.
Yoa blew out a breath then he followed his mate, leaping from the great height of the tree that should have broken Nova’s bones. He landed with a light thud beside her, but she was already walking away.
In the spirit realm or dream realm that Nova was in, she followed the geometric patterns that were brighter than the rest. She did not know how long she walked, and was distantly aware of how far she ventured on Tayun. But fatigue did not slow her limbs, nor the slight chill now creeping up on her body.
The warmth was there. Power pulsed in her veins, a power unlike any she’d known before, but something was wrong. The patterns on the ground started to grow dimmer the more she walked.
"She cannot go in there!"
Nova tilted her head. ’Why not?’ She spoke aloud, her voice gentle.
"The vampiras..."
"Protect her," his deep voice ricocheted along her body, the command final, silencing the protests of the others.
Nova lost interest in whatever these voices said. Her mission was not over. She watched the geometric patterns, each step along the ground growing duller. Some of them flickered in and out like a dying lightbulb, others had entirely lost their spark the more she ventured forward.
There was a darkness here... A darkness that was growing.
Some of the shapes on the ground had cracked, splintered like a broken mirror, casting shards of light along the cavernous walls.
Distantly she could hear shouts, and scuffling.
"Nova!"
Without blinking, or any emotion, Nova moved gracefully, like a warrior, like someone possessed, slashing First Mark to the side as she ducked and swept her leg out. The invisible opponent landed with a thud and she struck true, the blade stabbing into the ground.
Atia, Aiyana and Yoa stared, breathing heavily, black blood splattered along their features as they just saw Nova outmanoeuvre two vampiras, her eyes bright, mirroring Yoas. She was crouched over a vampira, blade stabbed directly in the heart, hair fanned around them, as the vampira stared wide-eyed in shock, breath wheezing until his chest rose no more.