Broken (Disappeared #2)

Chapter Ten

Ahuil sat on the bench at the front of the main platform. His posture was stiff and his gaze fierce. Theodosia realized that he was trying not to appear nervous. From a distance he probably looked confident but she knew he was anything but.

The hall was full-to-bursting with people despite the late hour. The children had been put to bed but everyone else was still up, sipping cups of herbal tea and talking among themselves. But the atmosphere was still subdued, and many people directed sharp looks at Ahuil. Theodosia detected an air of mistrust.

No wonder. Despite the cozy atmosphere — the few candles scattered over the tables and the protective branches of the elm around them — the lights of the half-beings were clearly visible. And coming closer every day. People were getting desperate fast.

Theodosia sat next to Ahuil, dressed in another simple white linen dress. Her curly brown hair was loose with the sides plaited back. She felt a rush of nerves sitting before such a large crowd. In England she was only supposed to dance well, curtsey, and do as she was told. For once, people expected more of her. It was a welcome feeling.

Izel and Tipelli walked among the crowd signaling for silence. Ahuil stood up and recounted exactly what the Ahtle had told him. The crowd began to whisper as he relayed the creature's message that resisting the half-beings was pointless. Xochitl, who was sitting off to the side, frowned at him. Theodosia was fairly sure what she was thinking: Stupid! They really won't like you now!

Yet the whispering died down when he said that Theodosia could buy them time. Ahuil cautioned that there could be unpredictable consequences, but by that point people were whispering among themselves excitedly. Xochitl looked visibly relieved as she cast her gaze over the crowd.

Ahuil opened up the floor for questions and a flood of hands shot into the air. As before, the twin guards strode around the room and selected people to speak. Most wanted to declare that the Ahtle was a trustworthy source and that this message must be his attempt to save the Nextic.

"He's never failed us," said a strapping young man with a dark beard. "The Ahtle has always come to our rescue."

"He's the only one who knows what's really happening and how to stop it," said a plump, pretty woman with antlers sown into her hair.

No one seemed concerned about potential consequences. Or whether Ahuil was fit to be leader. They were far too excited that they had a chance at survival.

After about an hour, Tipelli finally got to the young mother who had spoken at the previous meeting. Her baby lay firmly swaddled to her chest.

"Let's get to the real issue," she said in a loud, confident voice that belied her size. "Is this foreigner going to do what the Ahtle said? We all know Ahuil has been protecting her."

All eyes went to the front of the room. Theodosia looked up at Ahuil. He nodded, though his eyes looked worried.

She removed the sphere from the cloth bag at her side and gave it to Ahuil. It shone a brilliant blue in the dim light. There was a collective gasp.

"The Ahtle gave this to Theodosia today," he said. "It should attract energy from her world that will push back the half-beings and their realm. I have given her permission to use this tomorrow. Please, you must know that there will be consequences. Prepare yourselves."

Every eye in the room was trained on the sphere as if it were a bridge to salvation. Theodosia felt both a rush of excitement and a sickening, sinking feeling.

She was in way over her head.

There was a vote to confirm whether she should use the sphere to draw in energy that could fight off the half-beings. The decision was quick and absolute: she must. The meeting concluded on a high note. People turned to each other immediately with words of hope on their lips, their eyes bright and their gestures excited.

Meanwhile, all Theodosia wanted to do was crawl into bed and hide from the world forever. She told Ahuil as much.

"I'd like some air first. Do you mind?" he whispered. "My head's too crowded to sleep."

She reluctantly agreed. They took the hammock to the ground and walked along under the towering oak. Ahuil reached for her hand and laced his strong fingers through hers. A few fireflies skittered along the ground and over the stream. A subtle, persistent mist filled the space but it felt soft and mild, not menacing.

They crossed a little wooden bridge over the stream and strolled through the leafy ferns on the other side. White clusters of mushrooms glowed faintly at the base of ancient oaks and maples.

It was a sliver of tranquility in a world that was breaking apart by the minute. Theodosia drank it in as if it were her last sip of water before a long hike.

They paused in a little grove where the moonlight shone faintly. This was as far as they dared go from the settlement. Ahuil encircled his arms around her waist and pulled her close, much to her surprise.

"What's this?" she asked. Her throat suddenly felt tight and her palms sweaty, as often happened when she got close to him.

"Me finally having a moment alone with you."

His eyes were gentle as he brushed curly locks back from her face and stroked her cheek. It was delicious to be so close to him. His body radiated heat and she loved the way he pressed his palm against the small of her back.

He cupped her face with both hands and stared at her mouth intently. She felt a rush of sensation through her body like rain suddenly pouring down on parched earth. She bit her lip, trying to exert control. It didn't do much good.

"Let me love you," he whispered. "You keep putting up emotional walls. Let me in."

She swallowed hard. "I'm trying, Ahuil. I will if that's what you really want. If you do love me."

He bent down and fitted his lips against hers while pulling her close. She breathed in sharply as his soft lips touched hers.

"I do," he said, his warm breath mingling with hers.

To Theodosia, who had never been spoken to like that before, who had never been touched like that before, resistance was futile. She was tingling all over, as if caressed by some teasing wind. His hands wound through her hair and he kissed her softly, then harder, tasting her, biting her lip, planting delicate kisses at the corner of her mouth. It was almost unbearable.

As innocent as she was, Theodosia wasn't entirely blind to what was going on. Or where it would lead. She had read her fair share of racy novels, after all.

And yet, what she was experiencing was so different from the violent passions of those novels. Ahuil's touches were soft and the thrills they caused were sweet. She didn't want him to 'conquer her.' Instead, she wanted his closeness, his warmth, and his quiet, devoted love.

To her, that summed up everything good in the world. Ideal leader or not, he was an amazing man, and at that moment, she felt overwhelmed by gratitude that she knew him. It could easily have never happened.

And yet, for whatever reason, it had.