Rising Smoke

Chapter Eight

They don't answer right away. Instead, they glance at each other, but their expressions don't reveal anything. They aren't going to tell me anything, at least not right now. But I need to know right now. My arms shake; I'm bouncing on my feet.

Arlen places a robe over my shoulders and I slip it on to cover up my body since my nightgown was practically torn. The nightgown left nothing to the imagination. Lets leave it at that. I already know Arlen and Conran were both sneaking a few glances even though we had just fought the slithe. And I had almost been killed. And I got my abilities back. Men, I swear. These are the two running my kingdom. Oy...

They shift, which brings my attention back to them. I must have zoned out for a bit. I can't imagine why.

I am running on pure energy from the smoke, what my power is called. It's the thing that makes me possible. I am about to pass out soon. Then I won't get the answers I need. I remember most of my past but I missed a lot of years that I should have been here for... This whole thing is complicated and could have been avoided if I had just...stayed away.

But enough of that. Don't let those memories haunt you. I blink. "Please tell me. I need to know." I plead with the younger twin. "Arlen?"

He just stares at me, opens he mouth, then closes it. I glance at Conran. They are both worrying me. What is so bad? What has happened? The questions keep piling up. They aren't being answered. My palms are sweaty and not from the battle I just fought. I am actually cold. It feels like it's getting colder or that's just my dread consuming me, chilling me to the bone.

"Leila," Conran begins, his face a mixture of dread and sorrow, "Adis is turning dark. The Slithe are slowly taking over."

My heart stops. No. It can't be turning dark. This wasn't supposed to happen. I wasn't supposed be shipped away with no memories, I was supposed to be crowned queen on my eighteenth birthday. Obviously that didn't happen. Nineteen and just now remembered who I am or was. I was that person. That person that believed the world was made up of butterflies and rainbows. That little girl I used to be. But now I have a whole new... I don't even know. I guess a whole new perception on things. Everything isn't all peachy like they were. And I guess it's for the better.

"Where's mother? Where's father? Shouldn't I have met them already? Shouldn't they have been here to greet me? Where are they?" My voice got higher and higher as my questions went on to where I was practically shreiking. Arlen and Conran were wincing and I had my arms wrapped around myself, hunched over from the pain that was taking place in my heart. I already knew the answer. The twins' expressions got even more grave. Why is my face wet? I reach up and feel tears. Why am I getting emotional now? My body feels shaky, pinging back and forth from sorrow to exhaustion. I feel the need to hurl. I sway a bit. Arlen reaches forward, but I shake my head.

Conran decides to tell me, "They were already dying. Remember? Your father was sick and your mother went along as well. She couldn't handle his death. You know what's it is like with adillas. The can't handle their other adilla's death." 

Adillas. Yes I remember. Practically soul mates, very rare. But it happened to my parents, the king and queen. Adillas share one heart. That's why it's so rare. To have someone with the exact same heart as you.

It's wonderful for the people who get it, not so much for the people around them who love them. Once one Adilla dies, then the other will go as well, from pain and from the splitting of the same heart. Conran voices brings me out of my head, where I had retreated to and I realize I had been staring at the same spot on floor for awhile now. I tend to do that a lot, it's tragic. Tragic. Everything is so tragic. Wait. Conran is speaking. 

"...be going to bed now." My eyes snap up to his concerned ones, "You look like you are about to pass out."

He couldn't have been more right. The news has sapped all energy out of me. I nod, turn around, and open my door. Arlen and Conran follow me. I hear them close the door and I turn to face them. I hug myself and ask them, "What is going to happen now?"

They look so tired and frazzled, with disheveled clothes. Conran speaks up, "Well, with your smoke back you can start expelling the darkness that has come over our eastern borders, then--"

"No!" Arlen interects. We both look at him, startled. "She can't do that. He'll find her! He already has! He'll come at her when she's most vulnerable. Her power is strong, you can even feel that, but she can't repel the darkness and him or whatever army he sends after you." He says the last part while looking at Conran.

I wrinkle my nose while the older twin looks even more grim. "It doesn't matter. This is my kingdom. I can't have my subects get taken over by the darkness! By his army. I can't put them through that!"

"But--" Arlen gives me a pleading look.ut 

"No!" I stand strong, back straight, energy renewed and say, "I am their leader! I was born for this! And I will protect my people, even if it possibilies endangers me."

Arlen looks defeated. Conran looks a tad bit better, and there's something glittering in his eyes, like he's proud of me. I smile inside. I have always kind of looked up to him; he was like the older brother I never had. Arlen was somthing different to me, but I can't think about that right now.

"I don't want you to get hurt," Arlen reaches for me, but I step away, ready to be able to stand on my own two feet. It's about time, a voice in my head whispers to me. Shut up, I say back.

"It's a bit late for that, isn't it?" Right after I say that, I know I shouldn't have, since his a hurt look crosses his eyes and pain fills them. I wince. Bad Leila. I know he didn't mean to hurt my feelings, but I was young. I had laid my heart bare to him, and he rejected me. Out of honor, to his brother.

"We should let you get some sleep. It's been a long day for you," Conran interjects to ease the tension, but he just shoves it aside not really easing it. Arlen looks like he has retreated inside himself. I wonder if Conran knows the story. Judging by his face, I think he might. It looks awkward and apologetic at the same time.

"Yes it has been," I sigh out. I hold back a yawn. "But we will talk more tomorrow."

"It practically is tomorrow." Conran says looking out the window, which is brightening up every minute we talk. 

"That's okay. I will just sleep a couple of hours. I don't know how long we will have peace before he comes back." I say this while Conran nods. Arlen is staring at me but he looks likes he's not here. "We know he's coming back."

"So we prepare for war." Arlen says, speaking up and surprising Conran and me. No one says anything. We just let that sink in for a bit. All of us knowing that is true. 

I bid them goodnight and go to sleep with his words ringing through my head. So we prepare for war.