I tried to peel open my eyes, but the pain that engulfed me had been unbearable and I could feel the charred skin continue to flake off.
I sensed someone come closer, but luckily, they had the sense of mind to not try to touch me.
I opened my mouth, and felt the skin crack open adding to the unsurmountable pain I was already enduring.
I tried to say chain, but even I couldn’t understand the weird noise escaping from my lips. It was getting to the point where I had almost given up hope, on ever getting my message across. It was terrifying knowing my body would not let me die, so instead I would have to stay living in this torment indefinitely. But Ishira deserved more credit than I had ever given her as I felt Marcelle pierce through the fog in my head, trying to get to my thoughts to discover what it was I required.
I used that moment to scream out I needed my chain to be placed in my hands, having no idea just how painful that feat was going to prove.
It turned out my chain had in fact melted to my skin, and no one dared try to remove it, but even with Marcelle’s warning I still gave the go ahead, knowing it was my only chance of recovery.
The scream that followed was hoarse and animal like, as the chain was torn free from my skin and placed within my charred palm. The dog tag was placed central and the power flowed from the jewel, into my body.
The one positive thing was my jewel could never run out of energy. It was a relief, going by how quickly my body was devouring the power that was surging through me, jump starting my healing process and making the burnt skin fall off of my frame.
I heard someone gag and then proceed to vomit, as the smell of putrid flesh hit their nostrils. It was a necessary evil, something that had to happen before new skin could form and begin to weave itself across my bones.
I had to do one limb at a time at a time, and my torso would take the longest. Not just because the area was larger but also because of all the organs that had sustained damage as well.
Now let me elaborate on one of my previous comments, the reason why my jewel could never run out, was because there was no actual power held within it. It was enchanted to make it so I would never age, but it could not heal me or make me stronger.
That power was already within me, but it became unruly when my father died, and even more after my mother and Alistaire. The only way I could control it was to channel it through my Jewel first, that way my power would never grow stronger than what I felt I could handle.
It took a week for my body t
o rejuvenate and another couple of days before I could open my eyes, without passing out from utter exhaustion.
By the time I opened my eyes and held on to my consciousness, Ishira was standing there waiting, the only thing was I had no idea who she was in that moment.
She had bright orange hair that was braided at the back and fell over her shoulder with orange eyes that seemed to glow. Her face was pale as was the rest of her, and she was wearing light brown leather trousers, with ankle boots and an orange tank top. Her body was willowy, but she could never be mistaken for weak. Not with the fire that was burning within her eyes and that was when my memory caught up with me. This was the exact person I had seen when Ishira released her flames for the first time, more than likely causing quite a stir amongst the other rebels.
“Ishira, I can’t believe you let go of your flames for me,” I stated, rather dumbly.
“I did you a great dis-service Marcus, I could not allow that to continue. I should never have lost control like I did, and I am eternally sorry.”
“It’s okay, although I think I have earnt the right to know what caused it in the first place,” I stated, seeing her eyes cloud over with unspoken grief.
“As you know there are many different types of Nymphs, even those that spend their time ‘down there’ and we often have problems with the others of our kind. We rarely associate with the others, it’s not hostility, more preservation. But it is different for the ones who are a part of your faction, we work together, and we have realised the harmony and joy that comes with that.
Before I came here, I never thought a death of a water Nymph would affect me so strongly, but now I know better. Pearl was found Marcus; she had been tortured. The worst part, is she was boiled alive, she never had the chance to escape. And I know who did it, I may not have proof but it is too much of a coincidence for it to not be her.”
I didn’t even give Ishira the chance to explain as the name, Nyakesh, fell from my lips and her eyes zeroed in on mine. It was clear we both suspected the same person, seeing as it had been Pearl who tricked Unya into walking into a trap, and then not long after disappeared into thin air. None of the water Nymphs had been able to connect with her, I was loathed to admit I had figured she had left with Nyakesh and the others who had been loyal to her. Never for a second had I guessed the truth had been a lot more sinister.
The hardest part was with Pearl gone, retrieving answers as to why she tricked Unya in the first place and why she had been murdered, was going to be next to impossible to do.
I was thoroughly relived when Janelle returned from her trip to London, if not for any other reason than David driving everyone crazy with his worrying.
“Please take him with you next time,” I said, as I pulled her into my arms, giving her time to get over her shock at seeing me alive and better than ever.
“David is many things, but stealthy is not one of them. His gift makes him a little cocky, it’s well deserved don’t get me wrong, but some approaches fair better when subtlety is involved.”
“Why would you need stealth?” I asked, feeling rather suspicious, and I hated that I had become someone who couldn’t trust in the people who had always been there. But with Nyakesh being left alone to lead these people for so long, it’s no wonder they hadn’t all stayed loyal to me, especially those she recruited once I left.
Those were the ones I was finding the most difficulty in trusting, it really was infuriating, but I knew I had to take it slow and somehow work out the traitors who were amongst us.
“It’s personal Marcus, but I was trying to find a way to help you, I don’t feel anywhere quite as bad as I did when I failed in my efforts. I can’t believe how well you healed; I can’t even tell you were ever knocking at death’s door.”
I gave her a lopsided smile before moving away, I could tell she was puzzled up until David wrapped his arms around her from behind and lifted her off the ground. She let out a shriek and he dropped her, unceremoniously, so her backside hit the ground.