Ch 35: The Reconnection

Calder thought back to the last night he had shared with Astasha before hell had literally been unleashed. She had held his hand over her scar and told him to feel the energy coming off it, the energy that was around it, to pull it to him. She had shown him how to use it to create a magical tether around her wrist. He had seen the flames reaching out for each other as they made love. More than anything, he could feel the connection they shared, the life force that beat inside one another.

The reason he felt despair when he thought her name wasn't because of what he had seen, it wasn't because he hadn't been able to protect her; it was because part of him was dying, the part of him that was her, and he had to find it, to feed it, to reconnect the two halves back into a whole.

They were right to believe she had given up. The last of her memory had been certain death. Perhaps she believed he had died, that death was better than what was awaiting her should she awaken. There was no way he could know, but he did know that he had to show her he was still there, that it was safe to wake up, that he would never leave her side again.

Calder didn't care that everyone was staring, wide-eyed, slack-jawed, as cold fire curled from his fingertips toward Astasha, reaching into her through the scar that matched his own. His only focus was the energy he was sending out to her, on making her know he was there and that he loved her. On trying to pull the fire within her towards himself, to join them together once more.

"Please, Tasha, I'm here." He whispered, but as the blue fire reached into her there was nothing in response, no glimpse of the burning amber of her spirit.

A crease formed on his forehead as he focused even harder. He used everything in him to push and pull, search and find, feel and give. "Tasha, leave death behind. Come back to me, my love. We have so much living left to do. I can't do it without you."

He didn't know if he had actually spoken the words or just thought them so hard they sounded in his head, but for the second time since his return, he found himself pleading with the love of his life to return to the land of the living, to not give in to the darkness. It broke his heart knowing it was because of him, because he had failed her, not once, but twice, and he forced himself to shut away the part of his mind that spoke of brighter days for her without him in them. He couldn’t afford to allow negativity to break his concentration. He couldn’t fail her again.

Something stirred in his stomach, an ache. Was it longing? Or pain? Or fear? It didn't matter what it was, for he was certain it wasn't a feeling of his own.

He knew he was pushing himself harder than he should, but he didn't care. She was in there, waiting for him to pull her from the depths, to help her breathe the air again.

Using all the energy he could muster, he sent every feeling of love and care and peace he could toward his sleeping beauty.

And then he saw it; the tiniest thread of gold reaching back, tasting, testing.

Cal's breath caught. He gently urged the little flicker, and slowly, more emerged. They turned and twisted into his own. He could have laughed with joy.

But it was short-lived.

Astasha's eyes shot open and fear and terror hit Calder like a tidal wave. While her emotions knocked him back, it was nothing compared to what her fire did to the others.

Large arms of golden flames shot out from Tasha's scar and launched themselves at every person in the room save Cal. The other sorcerers, trained for such things, reacted swiftly and countered, shielding and containing and defusing the fiery attack. It was a tornado of elements, havoc unleashed in the small ward.

In the chaos, it took Calder a moment to recover from the wall of emotions that had hit him, and he realized Astasha was hysterical, screaming and sobbing, her body curling in on itself, the fire threatening to consume her. Not thinking about his own injuries or the wrath of her flames, he pushed himself from the cot toward her. She needed to know she was safe, that they weren't still in the clearing with the demon, that he was there.

"Tasha! You're safe! It's ok! I'm here, you're alright. Please!" His hands cupped her face, forcing her to see him. “Tasha. Look at me.” Her eyes found him and slowly the burning rage dissipated. He wrapped his arms around her and stroked her hair. “It's alright my love."

Astasha's erratic breathing began to slow, succumbing to sobs, violent, heart-wrenching sobs. Her hands grasped at Cal, her face buried into his chest. She shook as her cries echoed through the room.

"I'm so sorry my love." Tears came to his own eyes as he could feel the overwhelming anguish radiating through the woman in his arms.

By now, everyone else in the room had recovered from the accidental assault and were watching, their expressions pity, and sorrow, and something Cal couldn't quite discern.

"Your highness, your injuries..." Terrin quietly tried to coax Calder to release Astasha.

"I don't care." He uttered in response.

He could see Errant out of the corner of his eye. The High Sorcerer had his hands out, no doubt trying to feel the damage inside them. He looked to the new earth sorcerer, his brow furrowed before he stepped gently toward the couple.

"Your majesty, we need to make sure the sorceress is stable." Tasha was still sobbing into Calder's chest, clinging to him as if her life depended on it.

He knew Errant was right though.

"My love," he whispered gently into her ear. "I promise no one will hurt you. They're trying to help you. Please, let them, for me. I’ll be right here. I’m not leaving your side.”

He didn't know if she had heard him, but slowly, Astasha's shoulders slowed their heaving. The woman in his arms never ceased to amaze him as he heard her take a deep breath and felt her gently nod her head.

Calder looked up to Errant and gave a gentle nod of his own.

Slowly, Cal moved away from her and let Zephyr guide her with his magic back onto the bed. His fingers were laced with hers, never letting go. Josnen brought a chair to place by her head and Calder sat, his father's hand on his shoulder. He could suddenly feel pain throughout his body, but he pushed it away. Tasha was the one who mattered now.

Astasha looked up at him. She was still shaking, but she was focusing her breaths. Her eyes were full of so many emotions he never wished to see behind them and he clenched his jaw, determined to keep his composure.

The sorcerers went to work immediately, checking and tending to the fragile fire witch. All the while, Cal never broke eye contact with her. It was as if they were seeing each other with a new appreciation, like they never wanted to be out of eyesight of one another again. They had been given another chance. For whatever reason, they had been allowed to live to see each other once more.

*Allowed* to live.

The words came back to him like water released from a damn. Cold, icy water, that sent chills down his spine.

'It seems you shall keep your flesh for now precious Prince.'

The demon had let them live.

But why?

Errant and Talib and the Guard had arrived shortly after that, but the demon could have leveled them all, he knew it. So why did it leave them?

He forced himself to delve back into that memory, to try to pick out any piece he may have missed.

It had been furious after the blast they had created. He was sure they were going to die. But then, it paused, as if waiting for something.

Had it heard the group coming? Was it supposed to kill only them? Or, did it answer to a higher power that had somehow told it not to kill them? The thought that the demon could be working for someone or something even more powerful than it made him shudder.

He was still looking into Astasha's eyes and he realized they were both wondering the same things.

Finally, the sorcerers finished their work and Errant's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"I wish more than anything I didn’t have to ask this of you now, but we woke you both for a reason. The threat is still very real and time is not on our side, and while I know neither of you wishes to relive what happened, we need information only you can provide.”

Calder shared one last silent exchange with Tasha. The nod of her head was so slight, no one else would have noticed. But he knew she understood, that she knew what had to be done.

He broke his gaze with her and turned to the High Sorcerer. "We understand. However, you may not like the answers the information we have to offer gives us.”

Errant nodded and looked to the King.

Josnen tilted his head in agreement and the High Sorcerer took a deep breath. "As soon as Astasha is able, we will need you both to tell us everything that was said and that happened."

"I am able High Sorcerer.”

Calder’s gaze snapped to Astasha. While her voice was soft, there was a determination behind it. It was in her eyes as well.

He had hoped she would take some time to heal, to rest before having to relive the nightmare they had faced in the clearing. Then again, was he truly surprised? If anyone was strong enough it was her.

“The sooner I face what happened, the sooner we can stop the fucking bastard, and the sooner I can watch the flesh burn from its body."

The terror that had been etched into the bruised and swollen face of his love was gone, replaced by something stronger, angrier, firmer.

It was revenge.