Eranithia: The Healing River: Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Blinking his eyes open, Mark could barely see. A bright light shined in the center of the dungeon. Mark tried to block some of the light with his hand, but the light seemed to spread throughout the room. It was as if the source of the light was all around him, rather than in one spot. Then the light dimmed and there stood the blue translucent form of Sol. The Spirit of Sol.
“Sol,” Mark said quietly.
“Hello, Mark.”
“Are you here to tell me your plan?”
“I am here to tell you the next step,” Sol said, walking towards him.
“What's that?”
“First I have to give you important information.”
Mark waited patiently, staring up at him from the table. Sol passed his hand over the table, unlocking the shackles. Mark sat up, facing Sol.
“You and Jennifer have a strong connection, it's your blood that binds you. When I brought you into this world, I made it so your bond as siblings, and especially as twins, would be stronger than any who have been born in Eranithia. Even stronger than Seth and Serina.”
Mark sat stone still, staring at Sol.
“I did it because I had it planned all along that Jennifer would sacrifice herself to save you and your friends.”
“Why didn't you ask me to do it?”
“Because your sister has the stronger mind. Although you have a heart of gold, you tend to act before you think. Jennifer, however, was able to protect a piece of her mind, focusing on a specific memory.”
“What memory?”
“You have to learn that on your own. Before I tell you where I'm going to send you, I have to tell you more about your connection with Jennifer. Everything that happens to you affects her, same with what happens to her affects you.”
Mark reached behind him, feeling where he'd been whipped.
“Yes, the wounds you received from Arnath, she has felt. Not in the same way. For her, the slashes on your back appear on hers as scratches. But she knows when you're in pain, although right now, Seilnai doesn't know what's happening. Jennifer inside her knows though.”
“But Seilnai has grown too strong, Jennifer can't break through.”
“Yes.”
“What do I have to do?”
“You will know when the time comes, but you must be ready to face your death to save her.”
“Of course!”
Sol smiled then said, “Your heart is in the right place, but it's one thing to say it and another to do it.”
“I'm willing to die for my sister.”
Sol smiled again, then said, “Good. Now, I'm going to send you back to your own world for a short time, but only partially. You will be in both places. Anything that happens to you here you will feel it in the other world, and anything that happens to you there, you will feel it here.”
“So I should work quickly then,” Mark said.
“Yes. But be careful not to let anyone see you there. Only your parents can know you're there. Jennifer can't be allowed to see you. What happens must happen. If you change anything there, too much could change here.”
Mark nodded his understanding. Then suddenly he was standing on concrete with unfamiliar buildings surrounding him. He heard the sounds of running footsteps coming towards him. He looked back to see an open door. Darting through it, he found himself in a strange room with rows of wooden slabs, extending nearly the length of the room. At either end were rings with nets... His old memories came back to him. He was in the gym at his school. Turning back quickly he watched as a boy ran by. He looked familiar...It was him! He was watching himself run past. Then a girl, Jennifer! This was the day they first entered Eranithia he was witnessing. He stepped out as Jennifer went by, hearing her thoughts of tripping the guys behind her.
He looked back and saw a push broom leaning against the wall next to a large barrel trashcan. Mark grabbed the broom and stepped out just as Rene and his goons were about to pass. He moved quicker than they could see. With Jennifer near he could use her telekinetic powers.
Throwing the broom out, the group of bullies tripped, falling on each other. Then he pulled back the broom with his mind, set it back against the wall. The bullies recovered, then followed their leader around the corner. He followed at a safe distance. When he came to the end of the wall, he saw Jennifer alone with the bullies. Jennifer held out her hand, pinning Rene to the wrought iron fence. Rene's goons walked away, separating into two different directions, looking confused about where they were. He couldn't hear what Jennifer was saying to Rene, but he looked scared. Then she dropped him back to the ground. He staggered to his feet, running away, swearing at her as he left.
Mark darted back to the entrance of the gym, not because he was afraid of Rene anymore, but because of Sol's warning not to let anyone see him. When Rene was out of sight he sneaked along the wall, watching his sister. She was sitting on the ground crying. Crying as much as she had after being in the Cave of Truth. He wished he could go and comfort her, but then he heard a familiar noise. Arrow's call rang out through the air as he swooped down to Jennifer. She looked up, a smile spreading across her face. He was delivering a letter from him. He'd just sent it before starting his training with Garandol and Arland.
He watched her as she read his letter. By the time she was done, the tears had stopped and she was laughing and smiling again. Seeing the drastic change of devastation to elation told Mark he was the only one who could break through to her. The memory she was holding onto as the one piece of light in the darkness of the mind of Seilnai was him. But a specific memory. He had to find that memory.
She started running in his direction, so he bolted for the gym, hiding in the darkness until she'd passed. Then he made his way through the back of the school to where he knew no one would see him. Crossing the black top area where the beat up basketball hoops, used by the P.E. classes, he passed the racquetball courts, then the baseball fields. Once he crossed the track and went through the opening in the chain link fence, he would be home free. He quickened his step in anticipation of a school security guard catching him. Looking in every direction for any guard. It was empty. Not a living soul in sight.
He reached the fence then followed the dirt path towards the neighborhood he always passed through to get to the golf course. After the golf course was the green belt that would take him home.

A half an hour later he was walking up to the home he hadn't lived in in almost two years. The door was locked, so he knocked and waited for his mother to open the door for him. He heard her coming to the door, the lock slid back, then the door opened. There she stood. His mother. He suddenly found he couldn't speak.
“What are you doing here? You should be in School! Just wait-” she paused mid sentence. Something about him looked different to her. “What's going on?”
“Can I come in?” he asked. “I'll explain everything.”
“Of course, come in, come in.”
She led him into the kitchen and got them each a glass of water.
“I knew something was up when I saw you in Eranithian clothes. Are you a soldier?”
He grinned out of the side of his mouth, then shrugging his shoulders saying, “Yeah. Actually, for the past year and a half I've been heading up a small special ops team. Karis and I are the only survivors of our team.”
“Karis? Little Karis? As in Lana's cousin?”
He nodded, saying, “She's my second.”
His mother shook her head, baffled by what she heard.
“What does she look like now?” she asked.
“Beautiful, strong.”
“You like her?”
“I love her, yes,” he said, emotion tying a knot in his throat.
“I'm sorry, honey. Tell me what's going on.”
“Okay, I'll start from the beginning. I'll let Jennifer tell you later what happened when we first entered Eranithia, but right now, just an hour ago, Sol pulled Jennifer and I into Eranithia during lunch. Jennifer is back already. We spent three weeks there, finding Seth and convincing him to stand against Arnath.”
“You were successful?” she asked.
“Yes, but it took taking Broc captive so Arnath would send troops to retrieve him. For the last ten years, he'd been under Arnath's control. He was angry about Arnath murdering you and Dad, but Arnath took control of his mind before he could do anything about it. Garandol put protection over his mind so he could help us rescue Serina.”
“What did he do to Serina?” She asked angrily.
“Right, you don't know what happened in Eranithia after you died. Let's see...” he thought for a minute. “Seth found you dead and Dad dying. Arnath accused him of murdering you both. Then Seth escaped and moved from town to town until finally living in the Blood Mountains, alone for nine years.”
“He lived in the Blood Mountains for nine years?”
“I know. Nobody's lasted more than a few days in history. But Seth is special. Very special.”
“I knew he was strong, but bless him, Sol has really blessed him.”
“Well, Arnath didn't just accuse him of killing you and Dad. He had Engard put Serina in an enchanted sleep for ten years. She contacted me, here, in my dreams. The connection must have been you and Dad. That's how she was able to reach me. Garandol contacted Jennifer the same way.”
“So do you both have powers like Seth and Serina?”
“Yes, exactly the same. I just learned recently that I have his healing powers. I'm not very strong in it yet, but I was able to heal Iriand-”
“Iriand?” She asked surprised to hear the Youngliff's name.
“Yes, Lana's cousin. Karis, Lana and Iriand are all cousins. What is their family connection?”
“Okay, Efreal has a brother and a sister. Efreal's brother, Ailen, is Karis's father. Sheilan, his sister, is Iriand's mother. Iriand was probably only two last time I saw him.”
“He was on my team,” Mark said sadly, looking at the counter.
“He's dead?” she asked.
He looked at his mother, tears pooling in her lower eyelids. She blinked, forcing a few tears out. He nodded sadly.
“He was a good soldier. He was a reader you know?”
She tried to smile, but the thought that such a young Elf had died broke her heart as much as it broke his.
“He was a good friend too. He was the first one I ever healed. He read the mind of the Cathian Captain we took captive, but Seilnai put some kind of protection on Armadd's mind causing Iriand to forget everything.”
There was a long silence before he continued.
“Where was I?” he asked.
“Rescuing Serina.”
“Right, after the battle where we let them take Broc back, Jennifer was sent back here, but I stayed in Eranithia to train. Jennifer was far more advanced in her powers than I was at the time. I needed more training than she did. This is what's going to happen. She's going to come home after school and tell you I've run away. Believe her, get upset with her, whatever you have to do to make her believe that you believe her. It has to happen the same way. For me, I'm back in time a year and a half. I'm here to find a piece of me she's put a strong memory around so I can get her back.”
“Get her back?”
“She's Seilnai.”
“What? Who's Seilnai?” his mother asked, shaking her head. She was receiving a lot of information real fast, it was a lot to process so quickly.
“When we rescued Serina, Broc killed Engard, so Arnath was out his dark sorcerer. Jennifer gave herself over to him in trade for our lives. It was part of Sol's plan. She held onto a memory that only I can find. I'm the key to bringing her back. I think Sol is going to ask me to sacrifice myself to save her.”
“Sacrifice yourself?”
“He said I have to be ready to face death.”
She gasped, “You can't!”
“I have to. Mom, I love Jennifer. She's my sister. I'd rather die than see her stay trapped inside Seilnai's mind. And just because I have to be ready to face my death, doesn't mean that I will die. Sol has a plan. Don't forget his prophecy, that twins from another world will have the power to help Seth and Serina to the throne.”
His mother took a deep breath and let it out. “I just can't believe all of this is happening. All because of your father's evil brother. My brother-in-law!” She growled angrily.
“Mom, I have to be able to search Jennifer's room when she's gone. She'll be home in a couple of hours- AHH!” he shouted suddenly.
“What is it?” she asked horrified.
“Arnath has me in his dungeon. He's whipping me again.”
Her mouth was open slightly as she shook her head. He looked at his mother, seeing her wide eyes.
“Mom it'll be okay. I just need to find this memory. Once I do, Sol will take me back to Eranithia. Actually, I never really left. Sol has made it so I'm in both worlds. Whatever happens to me in either world is carried over into the other.”
“Let me see,” she said.
Mark hesitated. He didn't want her seeing the gruesome wounds on his back.
“Lift up your shirt, let me see. I may be able to help.”
He slid off the stool he was sitting on, turned around and lifted his shirt.
“Oh my gosh. Honey, does it hurt?”
“Not as much as it does in Eranithia. But it does make my back a little tighter than normal. It's harder to bend and everything.”
“Can't Jennifer help you?”
“NO!” he said, dropping his shirt.
“What?” she asked confused.
“She can't see me. Only you and Dad can know I'm here. That's the rule Sol gave me.”
“Okay, you can stay in the pool house. We'll pray for Sol to keep it sound proof. Just in case Arnath decides to whip you there while you're still here.”
“Thank you.”
“Let's go, I think there may be bandages in the pool house.”
She took him through the sliding glass door into the back yard. Everything was just as he remembered. The kidney shaped pool; the trees and rose bushes; the wide open lawn of soft, green grass; and finally the small, white pool house. It only had a sitting area with a television, couch and love-seat, with a glass top coffee table for furnishing. But there was also a bathroom and small kitchen. It doubled as a guest house when family came from out of town. The children typically stayed out there together as Mark and Jennifer would give up their rooms for parents.
His mother searched the cabinets for the first-aid kit while he took a tour of the pool house. It'd been so long since he'd been in that little house. He saw eight-year-old versions of himself and Jennifer running into the pool house, followed by a big group of friends. There were decorations up; it was their birthday. They looked so happy playing together. It was a time when they shared the same friends. Some of those friends split off into two different groups by Middle School. He recognized two girls and a boy who were a part of Jennifer's popular friends. They were the only ones who didn't make fun of him at school. They also didn't say hello to him in passing either.
Then there were two boys, Ryan and Bryan, who were his two best friends. They had joined that club together and trained to fight with swords and spears as if it were the Dark Ages. He remembered when they had started their clan together. The Makielski Clan, named after Mark's last name. He smiled at the memory. Such a free and innocent time of his life with no worries about whether people thought he was cool or not. The only worry he had was to have as much fun as possible.
Mark missed those days and wondered if they would ever be a possibility in Eranithia. Would he and Karis get married and have children of their own one day? What kind of father would he be? What would his children be like? Would Jennifer be turned back to their side and have a family of her own one day as well? Would their children become more than just cousins, but great friends as well?
“Here we go,” his mother's voice said, invading his daydreaming.
He looked up at her startled, like he had forgotten she was there.
“You okay sweetie?” She asked him.
“Yeah, just daydreaming.”
“Oh? What about?” She asked as she got the disinfectant ready on a piece of cotton.
“I was thinking about our eighth birthday, then I started to wonder if my kids would have fun times like that.”
“I'm sure it'll happen, honey.”
“I guess we'll see, if this war ever ends. Ow!”
“Oh, it doesn't hurt that bad,” she said. “If I don't do this, the wounds will get infected. You don't want that do you?”
He smiled at her, “No Mom, of course not.”
Mark hadn't realized how much he had missed his mother. Life had become so distracting in Eranithia, he was beginning to forget about the life he once had in his own world. Everything in Eranithia was so extreme and had become such a normal part of his life, it made him appreciate the relatively quiet life he once had. A part of him also knew it would bore him to death now, but he was enjoying this small break from the war and the torture he was going through in–
“OOOWWW!” He screamed at the top of his lungs.
“I barely touched you... oh my,” his mother said.
“That wasn't from a whip,” he said.
“No, that looks like a sword or knife wound.”
Mark's mother immediate applied pressure to the wound with a towel to stop the bleeding. It wasn't nearly as bad as it would be if it had happened directly to him in this world, but there was still plenty of blood dripping down his back. The cut was from his right shoulder blade down to the left corner of his lower back.
“Honey, you better lie down until this seals up. You won't be able to do anything until Arnath leaves that dungeon,” she said.
As he laid down on the sofa, his mother began to close the blinds. She muttered prayers as she did. Mark recognized them as the same prayers Garandol prayed when he had first saved them from the jail cells in Trondil. Everything reminded him of his new home in Eranithia, and, of course, every thought took him back to Karis. He missed her more than anything in the world.
Another slash mark appeared on his back as he laid there on the couch. He screamed out in pain even louder than before. He was thankful his mother had finished praying the prayers, or else the neighbors would have heard and called the police by now. His mother ripped more strips of cloth from the extra towels to place on the wounds until new ones finally stopped appearing. Mark was grateful for his mother's help, but he couldn't let this stop him from doing the work he needed to do. He had a limited time before he would be brought back into Eranithia.