The Mark of Arella(Book One of the Dragonfly Chronicles)

Chapter Twenty One

Rhylan was pacing the room where Lilly had just left them. He was devastated at the way things turned out. She was so heartbroken when she found out how everyone knew about her friends and weren't telling her about it. He suspected she had portaled away to find her friends in the human realm and had no doubts she would find them. He tried to locate her but he couldn't figure out how to use their bond to get to her. He was worried that she would get hurt trying to help them. He could sense anger and rage coming from her emotions along with a little bit of panic. He felt a surge of magic coming from her and knew she was in a confrontation. It drove him crazy to not be able to find her and help. He felt this anger and rage for several more minutes, then her emotions quieted and calmed. He tried to think about where she would go if she was able to save them. Would she stay in the human realm and hide away from everyone? She was certainly angry enough to do this. He was deep in his thoughts when Ashley said, "William is back".  He looked up and followed Ashley down the hallway.  William walked into the room, he was bloodied and dirty. His eyes were wide and he instantly began pacing the room. Aeron came into the room and said, "tell us what happened".

William stopped pacing and ran his fingers thru his hair. "How did she find out about the pictures? She was so angry, I've never seen such a, a display of power like that. She killed them all, except one and she took him with her." Rhylan said, "Are you talking about Lilly?" William looked at everyone and said solemnly, "Yes". Aeron spoke up first and said, "She overheard us talking about it and portaled out of here very angry with everyone. She must have gone straight to you. Where did she find you? At one of the human's homes?" William shook his head, "No, we followed the hunters into the woods and that's when they came across the kids. They had been out searching for Lilly and the hunters had somehow found out thru their family. We got lucky when we followed them but how did Lilly know where to go? Portalling is a difficult thing to do and she never would have known where they were." Aeron and Colvin looked at each other and just nodded. Colvin said, "She is a very powerful magic wielder, this is just the tip of what she can do with her powers. You said she killed everyone, how did she do it?" William scratched his head and grimaced. "We faced down seven hunters, two she killed with her vines by crushing them to death, two more she snapped the necks and the final three she smashed their skulls and did it all without touching them, it was over in a mere minute."

Rhylan felt sick, he had seen her use her vines and blasts of wind to stop the soldiers after him but this was a much different way to kill. He said, "After the battle, what happened?" William replied, "She gathered her friends together, grabbed the hunter she held captive and portaled away. If I had to guess, I would say she took them home to Brighton. She knows it is safe there and two of her friends were badly hurt. She would want to get them help. I think we should look for her there." Rhylan got up to move and Colvin grabbed his arm. "I think you should wait before you go to her. She was very angry with all of us and finding her friends injured could only make things worse." Rhylan reached out with his mind to find her and said, "Lilly? Lilly where are you? Please, please let me explain. Don't shut me out I love you." He heard her thoughts but they were mere whispers of pain and betrayal then he felt her make a decision to shut him out permanently he said to her "No!" and she put up her mental shield. All he felt was silence, utter and complete silence. He fell to his knees and put his hands over his face. Ashley walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder, "What is it? Are you OK?" He looked up at her with a pained expression and said, "She blocked me with her shield." He got up and said, "I'm going to Brighton. I need to see her." He walked down the hallway and disappeared. Colvin looked at Aeron and said, "I'll get Logan and we will go to Brighton to help. The hunters could get bold enough to try and take her from there."

Lilly woke up with a sore neck realizing she had slept with her head on Sams bed while sitting in her chair. She tried to self-massage her shoulders to get the cramp out. Her movements must have been stronger than she thought because Sam opened his eyes and stared at her. For a long moment they just looked at each other. Then it was like old times, they both smiled and started laughing, she nudged him on the shoulder and said, "Are you really OK?" He smiled back to her and said, "Are you really alive?" He looked at her ears and scrutinized her skin. "I think my eyes are messed up cause your skin is glowing and your ears are pointed." Lilly grabbed his hand and said, "Yes, I look different but it is still me Sam, I have so much to tell you but I think I should say it front of all of you. I need to go get Robyn and Shannon." She got up to head to the door when he grabbed her hand and said, "Wait".  She stopped and looked at him. He said, "I just want to look at you some more. I really missed you Lilly, you have no idea" She moved up to him and fell into his arms hugging him fiercely. She whispered into his ear, "I do have an idea Sam, I was in pain every day thinking about you. I wanted to get a message to you, to tell you I was OK but they wouldn't allow me". She pulled away from his embrace and smiled halfheartedly.  Sam said, "Who would take you here and make you abandon your friends?" She sighed and said, "Let me go get the girls. I'll be right back".