Cavalry Has Arrived

I drifted.

The world had narrowed to a slow pulse in my ears, like the waves of headaches and nightmares back on Earth.

Somewhere far away, voices were calling my name, but the heavy crying on my chest drowned them out. But it wasn’t me who was crying, it was someone else. I felt the tremor of someone’s hands on me.

Who is crying this much over me?

‘I have searched for you for years, Ina. I was twisted with love and hatred. I was obsessed. Yet I genuinely cared for you. That much is true.’ Marik held me tightly. His voice cracked as he buried his face against me like a pillow.

My body was no longer wracked with convulsions. No more foaming, no violent seizing. But I was still pinned, immobilised by poison. I couldn’t even open my eyes. I could only endure. The pain was slowly starting to become bearable. However, Marik’s wailing wasn’t.

Who cares for the poison in my veins, when there is Marik in my nerves?

‘I have overheard the new recruits talking about your arrival in this world and that my mother will continue what she had failed in doing before, erasing you completely.’

From the vision of little Marik crying over Raiona to waking in the sound of his real sobs. When does it end?

‘To think the reason for the disappearance of the person I longed for was just beside me.’ Marik sniffled and held me tighter.

Goodness me. All of Marik is pressed against me.

‘No matter how much I hated you, I couldn’t allow it. So I thought I would kill you myself. Kill you here in Meu and send you back to Earth. Where my mother’s reach is limited.’

What did I ever do to her?

‘I tried.’ His voice splintered. ‘I tried. But I couldn’t poison you completely. When you were passed out, I gave you the antidote. I had to.’

You’re a prick.

‘When we ate, I couldn’t do it. Not that you needed more poisoning from my dangerous cooking.’ He laughed weakly through tears, then broke again. ‘Ina, you’re not Raiona anymore, but I wanted to protect you anyway. Would you ever forgive me? For everything?’

If you stopped crying and smothering me, I actually would.

‘In your sleep, while you were inside my mind through the stone, you kept saying my name. As if you were afraid that you would forget me again.’ Marik said while looking at my face for a reaction. I couldn’t see it but I felt it.

Now that’s straight up lying.

‘I have always looked for the stone that will allow me to see into other people's feelings. It wasn't fool proof. The red stone worked like the promise bond. I couldn’t see into other people’s hearts unless they allowed it. And you allowed me Ina. You showed me your heart. I didn’t have to ask you, you just allowed me to see into your soul.’

Did he truly see something in me I couldn’t remember myself?

‘I saw it. You’re Raiona. And Ina. Both. You were lovely then. You are lovely now. On Earth, in this world, always.’

Wow. Hence he never had to ask anything about me. Cause he’s seen everything. That's why he was so sure that me giving in to his charm was inevitable. He knows I find him hot.

‘I would do anything to be the one beside you. Until we are both old.’ Marik said as he smushed his tear stricken face into my palm. His laboured breathing and strong hug sandwiched my almost lifeless body.

Perhaps Marik thought he could quickly confess to me before I died. Perhaps he didn’t hear it over his cries and sniffling. The incoming chaos. Footsteps. Voices. Roars.

‘That won’t be necessary. That position is already prepared for me.’

‘Prince Marik. Hand her over.’

Two very different and unknown voices spoke in unison. One demanding and clear. The other, soft and pleading. Even though my eyes were closed, the blinding light seeped in through my shut eyelids. I forced my eyes open just enough to see Marik. His face was pale, wet with tears all over his face. He was kneeling on the cold stone floor. His hands clutched me as if I’d vanish the moment he let go.

‘Ina, please,’ he whispered, voice cracking. He didn’t look at anyone else. Didn’t even flinch when he got surrounded by strangers. He buried his face on my neck and whimpered some more.

I don’t think I deserve this much love.

‘Get off of her!’ A sharp voice commanded. The stranger's claw was already swinging.

Marik moved without thought, shifting me aside just as his pincer came up to catch the sharp claw mid-swing. The clash rang out like a bell, shaking me into consciousness.

In that brief instant, the more gentle sounding person was suddenly there. Ripping me from Marik’s hold. My body slumped against him, my cheek pressing into the steady thud of his heart. Before I could blink, his hands were glowing faintly. A tingling warmth flooded my skin. The area where I was stabbed two times felt a bit numb, then tingly, then tender.

‘She’s alive!’ The gentle person said with a shaken voice, but it was full of relief.

I took a deep breath, as if holding it underneath water for a few minutes. The colorful stranger and I locked eyes.

’Raiona!’ He said as his eyes lit up. He shook me lightly. ‘You’re going to be ok!’

’Who are you?’ So I tried to say, but only puffs of air come out.

Give me back to Marik.

‘Marik… I’m so sorry. I broke your heart. I didn’t mean to.’ I managed to say it clearly enough.

At least Raiona didn’t mean to.

Marik’s head whipped toward me too fast. I felt so bad for him. The huge man with a lion looking paw went to strike again, but Marik didn’t even raise his pincer this time. He just stood there, looking back at me. Then at something else.

A prickly sensation over where I was stabbed took everyone’s attention. I tried to peek as well. The stab wound was closing up. Marik’s stringer’s jab on top of it was also healing slowly. The skin on top of it shimmered faintly before settling into a strange, intricate mark. A scorpion mark.

A promise bond mark. Marik’s bond mark.

The lion man swung his claws again, catching Marik across the shoulder, sending him to the wall. Marik didn’t even try to block it. The cut tore into him, but his gaze stayed on me, locked and unblinking.

‘Don’t even worry about your mark,’ the lion growled. ‘If you die, it dies too.

‘Stop.’ I said but it came out as an exhale.

The lion man went to strike again, but Marik didn’t even raise his claw to defend.

The moment I breathed again, ‘Stop!’ My voice was ragged, but it carried.

It froze everyone mid motion. Marik stood there, horrified, eyes locked on the mark as though it cursed me.

Ouch. I thought you wanted this outcome? I thought you wanted to know what’s inside my heart all this time?

‘It’s ok.’ I mustered all my strength to say it. A whisper came out instead.

’It’s fine.’ I tried to say in between laboured breaths. ‘You saved me.’

Marik’s expression lit up. Life flooded back into his face. He took a step toward me, then another. Then the lion man’s hand shot out, shoving Marik so hard he crashed into the next room.

‘Leave. Don’t come back,’ the lion man growled.

Silence. Then a soft, familiar sound from the other room. Crying. Not loud. Just enough to carry a strange mix of sorrow and relief.

Marik’s shadow shifted in the doorway, and his gaze found mine. His teary face was full of everything. Sorrow, apology, love, longing.

‘I’m sorry,’ he whispered. ‘I’ll see you again Ina,’

His eyes flicked briefly to the mark on my skin, then back to my eyes. ‘I will take responsibility for that. For now, you’re safe.’

And then he was gone.

Marik…

‘Don’t worry, Raiona. Persistent fellow, that one. He’ll show himself again,’ said the more gentler man, the one holding me. He looked barely older than a boy, yet carried strength like a man.

I grabbed weakly on the fabric of this person’s shirt, my mind still spinning from the abrupt, significant scenarios unfolding one after the other.

‘Who… who are you?’ I whispered, my voice barely audible.

The two newcomers exchanged glances. The gentle person’s grip on me shifted just enough to glance down.

‘I’m Pan,’ he said gently. ‘Royal healer. And your friend. You can trust me.’

The lion man, massive and imposing, stood nearby, scanning the scorpion guard’s corpse.

‘Riye,’ he said after a pause, his rough voice now a bit more calmer. ‘Captain of the Guards.’

He looked up and our eyes met. It was like something inside him ached for half a second. His expression softened in a way, pained and almost longing. Slowly, as if fighting himself, he raised his hand toward my face.

’And I am your…’

I thought he’d brush my cheek. But at the last moment, he pulled back, closing his fingers into a fist instead.

What? You’re my what?

He tore his gaze from mine and scanned the room. The smell of the potent poison still lingered faintly in the air.

‘Marik was innocent. I saved him,’ I whispered, forcing air through my lungs. ‘Then, he saved me. He must’ve done everything to save me.’

Riye looked like he was about to say something jarring about Marik but he held his tongue after Pan gave him a disapproving look.

‘Let’s get you outside,’ Pan said, tightening his hold.

He started forward, but Riye stepped into his path. ‘I’ll take her.’

Pan shook his head. 

‘She’s stable. I can carry her,’ Pan replied firmly.

I’m surprisingly quite comfortable. No need to pass me around.

Riye didn’t hear anything else. His arms were suddenly around me, warmer, strong and certain, lifting me from Pan’s hold as if it had been decided all along.

Pan’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t stop Riye. Pan relented and went to inspect the fallen scorpion soldier for any items.

So everyone listens to Riye.

After leaving Pan’s healing aura, I felt a sudden wave of fatigue overcome me. As if Pan was the source of my energy. Maybe he was.

I rested against Riye’s shoulder, feeling the measured rhythm of his stride and the faint heart beating from his chest. He didn’t look down at me, but his hold was secure and snug. Like I was just the right fit for his arms.

This is also comfortable.

I closed my eyes and drifted off.