Band of Blackbirds (Book 2 in the Blackbird Trilogy)

Band of Blackbirds

  Book 2

  M.M. Gavillet

  Also by

  M.M. Gavillet

  Gathering of Blackbirds

  Don’t miss book three and the conclusion

  Alliance of Blackbirds

  October 2013

  Band of Blackbirds

  By M.M. Gavillet

  Copyright © 2013 by M.M. Gavillet

   

  For all the late bloomers who still continue to bloom.

  Acknowledgments

  I have to thank all of my village people—you know who you are! I also have to thank my husband who still puts up with my writing obsession and to Kyle for still making me laugh and to Ashley for still being Ashley. I would also like to thank anyone who read the first book and either out of curiosity or are just being nice enough to read the second book—just to let you know there will be a third. And I still hope my dad manages to peek down every once in a while to see I have written another book and didn’t give up.

  Chapter One

  “Too late, we’re surrounded,” said Ian with a frantic voice. “The sharks, they smelled the blood.”

  Suddenly, the boat was hit with an enormous thud causing it to rock side to side splashing salt water onto my face.I wiped it out of my eyes as the bottom of the boat dug into my back.I closed my eyes wishing this wasn’t happening and was back with Gabe in Atlantis.

  My thoughts painfully drifted to him.Gabe had brought me to Atlantis, been the lifeboat in my once chaotic life in St. F and dared me to trust him.I tried to call out his name, but knew he wasn’t with me.We were somewhere else, a different world.I remembered the bright light and breaking the surface of the water with Ian hanging onto me so I didn’t slip into the blackness of a watery grave.The portal had led us from Atlantis, and brought us here, to Eutopia.

  I wanted to get up, but was too weak and could only see blue skies dotted with puffy clouds that reflected the dawn like cotton balls saturated with diluted blood.

  Another thud hit the boat and more salt water splashed onto my face.I didn’t bother to wipe it away.I looked up at Ian who peered at the dark haired boy behind me.I didn’t know his name or who he was, but Ian seemed to know him.

  “Don’t worry, I have come prepared,” the boy said.“Besides, this one is just curious, playing and inquisitive.You’re lucky I was out watching them.”

  I could hear him begin to hum passively as Ian ran his fingers through his hair with a disturbed look on his face.“What are you doing?Humming?”Ian huffed.“These are Alarician Sharks…they can take down a ship ten times this size!And…you’re humming.”

  Another thud hit the boat, and this time it was harder.I feared the sharks were done playing and wanted something more.I closed my eyes tightly as he continued to hum.The tune was slow and calming.I truly hoped it worked on the playful now turned deadly sharks.

  “They’re just playing, don’t fret.Besides, they like to be sung to.”His voice was calm as he picked up where he left off on his tune.“You know, if people would take more time understanding these creatures, they would spend less time fearing them.”

  I then could see the boy’s arm fling something over my head that was followed by a splash.

  “There, now they have something to munch on besides us,” said the dark haired boy. Ian looked behind him more likely watching the sharks.

  “You worry too much Ian,” the boy replied.

  The boat didn’t get slammed into anymore. Whatever was thrown in must have worked in deterring the sharks.I felt relieved of that, but, what now?How far out at sea was we, and what will happen when or if we get to shore?I had so many questions and didn’t want to lie here looking up at the bluing sky and Ian who had fallen asleep for what seemed like hours ago since the shark attack.

  I stretched my arms out and grabbed hold of the side of the boat.Ian had wrapped the piece of cloth tightly around my forearm to keep me from bleeding all over the place.My body was stiff and sore, but it felt good to sit up and look around.Water and sky were the only two things I could see.I rested my chin on my hand that clutched the side of the boat and watched the oar go in and out of the turquoise water.

  “Ah, our pretty little princess has awaken and in time too, we are just about home,” he said as I slowly turned my head and tried to sit up a little straighter.

  “Emily, you shouldn’t sit up and don’t drip any blood in the water…the sharks.”Ian sounded more concerned about sharks than me sitting up.I didn’t listen to him and turned to the dark haired boy.

  He smiled widely at me.His long, solid looking arms moved in unison as he rowed us closer to a sliver of brown in the distance.

  “Where are we and why are you calling me a princess?”I asked remembering him calling me highness and welcoming me to Eutopia.

  “Don’t all girls liked to be called princess?”He only smiled and gazed at me with his icy eyes that looked unnaturally green.

  “No, they don’t.”I lowered my chin giving him a disgusted look then gazed off in the distance.

  “Well, most girls I’ve known like it.”He continued anyhow.“It makes them feel special, even when they are just common folk.Or actually, one time, I couldn’t remember a girl’s name that I was sort-of-dating and I called her that for nearly a year before I got caught.She liked me calling her princess up until then.”He shrugged his shoulders and gave me a crooked smile.I ignored him.

  “Where exactly are we, Ian?”I turned to him.

  “This is the Alarician Sea and is a wonderful place to observe the water life.”The dark haired boy answered quickly before Ian could even draw in a breath.He almost sounded like a tour guide.I didn’t bother to look at him.

  “What about Gabe and the rest of the Blackbirds…”My voice trailed off and a lump formed in my throat.

  The Blackbirds were a small group of the Alliances Creed—a group devoted to securing magical implements, including a very powerful and mysterious pendant that was planted on me.They kept my ability to hear silent messages secret and included me as their own—even if it meant risking their lives for me.

  I could only guess if they were alive or not.I pushed my pessimistic thoughts away and hoped to see Zach’s animals, visit with Claire and see Alicia’s finished stained glass window she was working on.I was just beginning to know them, the closest thing I had to a family.

  Ian sat motionless.He had his elbow on the side of the boat and supported his head with a curled fist.He looked like a stiff statue made of stone.Slowly he opened his eyes.

  “They are still in Atlantis and we are here, the last place I thought I would ever return.We are in Eutopia--my home.”

  I knew from Claire that Ian was from Eutopia and no one knew it except for the Blackbirds.

  “The portal brought us here even though I tried to make a path back to Kangee.It still led us here anyhow.”Ian rubbed his forehead as I gazed up at him.

  For a moment I could see his face curl with disgust.I felt the anger he had for himself at his own mistake and tried to push it away.I knew Ian wasn’t pleased by his expression and our obvious position, but to feel such a strong emotion radiate through me for only a split second made me wonder if my Receptor abilities to pick up on messages sent by the elements had gone askew.I’ve only recently found out about my secret message sending and receiving, but this was new.I wish I could’ve asked Karinna, she was still teaching me about being a Receptor, but she too, was back at Atlantis.I would be on my own for this.

  I wanted to somehow comfort Ian and even though I didn’t have a clue on how to get to Atlantis, I wanted to tell him that we would get back, somehow.


  “By the way princess, my name is Caleb and it is nice to have you with us,” Caleb said suddenly breaking my concern over Ian.

  “Stop it!”I yelled still feeling the remnants of Ian’s frustration.“Stop calling me princess!”I smacked my hand on the side of the boat accidentally in anger causing blood to trickle down my arm.

  I rewrapped the bandage as Caleb only smiled at me.

  “I’m not calling you that to make you feel special.I’m calling you that because that’s what you are.”His smile faded as he raised his eyebrows at me.

  “I’m not a princess.You must have me confused with someone else.”I started to feel nauseated and leaned against the side of the boat.

  Caleb only smiled widely and started to laugh, which angered me.I felt I had to throw up and as much as I was glad Caleb was there to rescue us, I wish he would be quiet.

  “Well, actually you’re a lesser princess, I believe your mother was farther down the royalty line,” Caleb said so casually as his words shot through me like an arrow on fire.

  “My mother…you knew her?”I could hardly breathe and it took all my breath just to speak.

  “Not personally, most of the family was killed when the Wall was put up by the Council.”The coastline behind Caleb became defined, but I didn’t care now, I wanted to know about my mother.

  “You mean my mother…is from here, not Earth?”I asked.

  Caleb looked past me to Ian.“She doesn’t know?”

  I turned to Ian who grew pale upon my gaze.

  “I just found out myself.How do you know this Caleb?” He crossed his arms.“This isn’t some come-on-to-girls technique, is it?”

  I looked back at Caleb.He had a dumbfounded look on his face.“It’s written in the Prophecy Book that a girl of the lesser will come to destroy the Wall and free all who are burden to its separation.I can’t believe you of all didn’t read about it.”Caleb looked at Ian who only shrugged his shoulders.“I read about it, studied it and then roughly calculated the timing and then, bam, there you were.”Caleb looked at me.“Or, I hope it’s you, because time is running out for you to destroy the Wall.”

  I shook my head as Caleb’s words spun in my head like a carnival ride twirling with screaming people.

  “How am I supposed to destroy some Wall, free people, when I never knew this place existed?”I asked overwhelmed with my head aching as the boat skirted to a graceful stop along a dock.

  “You’re the princess, you’ll figure it out.”Caleb smirked, taunting me to the point that I was exhausted of words.

 

  The dock looked almost to be abandoned.Through the broken boards, I stepped carefully watching my watery image as I passed to the safety of the shore.

  I wanted to ask Caleb the questions that piled inside of me about my mother, but he kept looking around and told Ian to hurry to not be seen.I can only wonder what we would be seen by.

  Caleb and Ian pulled the boat to the sandy shore as I stood in the coarse sand thinking of Gabe and my first time at a beach.I closed my eyes for just a second trying to capture the brilliant blues of the Sanudra Ocean of Atlantis.We had walked for what seemed like miles with his hand in mine. The sand there was fine in texture and warm, but nothing now but a memory.I wondered how or even if I would get back.

  “We have to move quickly, or the Rangers will arrest us.”Caleb looked at Ian then into the distance.

  A dense tree line framed the beach.Thick, green vines curled around the tall, long needled trees and in some places, crept onto the sand in a thick, green carpet.The dead trees leaned against live ones like a drunkard to a brick wall encased in the choking vines like a death shroud.

  “Here, princess.”Caleb knelt with his back to me and his broad shoulders resting about hip height.

  “What are you doing…and quit calling me princess!”I felt my stomach churn as I pulled my hand through my hair.

  “You don’t look well and I thought a ride would be nice.”Caleb stood up, brushed his hands off and looked at me with his striking green eyes.

  “Not to mention quicker,” Ian chimed in. “We need to move and if I remember right, there are still secret passages.”He looked at Caleb with an inquiring voice.

  “Of course-- even some things that are good don’t change.”Caleb smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

  “Emily get on Caleb’s back and let’s go.”Ian demanded before he tromped off towards the forest.

  I stood with gaping mouth and looked at Caleb who only smiled and shrugged his shoulders at me.

  “Wait, who made you in charge?”I asked catching up with him.

  I gazed into his eyes challenging his self-proclaimed authority when I realized something that either came from my Receptor abilities or something deeper.I felt I should listen to him, but didn’t want to.Just as I thought of retaliating, I felt his concern for me, which in turn made me feel like a spoiled brat.

  Ian looked at me as I stood baffled unsure of what was happening.He then let out a sigh.

  “We don’t have time for this, and we have to move quickly to safety.” Ian scanned the area with a distant look in his eyes before they focused to mine again. “Look, we are in a very dangerous spot, trust me I know…and Gabe would want you to be safe.”His words shot through me as I thought of Gabe.

  I looked down at my blood stained cloth that was securely wrapped.My stomached tightened the more I thought of Gabe and the rest of the Blackbirds.I could only hope and wonder if they were alive or not.Suddenly, Caleb’s arm was around me and I looked at him with squinted eyes.

  “Don’t worry. I don’t bite…of course only if you want me to.”His words were playful and made me sick.

  “Caleb, let’s go.”Ian barked dismissing Caleb’s comment.

  Caleb was stronger than he looked and moved through the underbrush like he had carried many girls this way.I finally got tired of the low limbs scratching across my cheeks, and rested my face onto his back.I could feel his muscles flex as he stepped over fallen logs and ducked under low hanging tree limbs.

  “You’re not falling in love with me are you? Because if you are, I’m afraid I will have to break your heart one day.There are many others who are in line behind you.”Caleb’s playfully jabbing voice irritated me.

  “Quiet Caleb, and tell me if we’re going in the right direction.”Ian more or less spoke my thoughts.

  “You have a memory like an elephant and unfortunately the footsteps like one too.”Caleb stopped, lifted me up because I had started to slip from his hold, and with a sudden jolt caused my head to smack into a very hard tree limb.

  I let out a yowl and he dropped me to the ground as I held my bleeding forehead.His emerald eyes met mine as he bent down.

  “Are you alright princess?’ he asked with concern.

  I rubbed my forehead and glared at him.

  “I’m fine, but you’re not going to carry me anymore.”I stood up pushing away the assistance of his hand and felt the goose egg sized bump forming above my left eye.

  He shrugged his shoulders.“Most girls like it when I carry them, but I’m not usually carrying them through a tangled jungle.”

  I gave a huff.“I’m not most girls,” I said through slightly clenched teeth.

  Caleb looked at me like he was reevaluating me and then gave a smug expression.

  “Of course,” Caleb said quickly brushing me off as he turned to Ian and I let out a huff that I know he heard. “We need to head towards the pillars.We are starting to head more towards the dunes.”

  Ian followed Caleb’s pointing finger when from out of nowhere a large, fur covered animal pounced in front of us.Caleb quickly pushed in front of me causing me to loose balance and fall to the forest floor.I couldn’t keep my eyes off the creature.Ian stood beside Caleb and drew out a long, black dagger.He held it to his side glaring at the dog-like creature with glowing amber colored eyes and sharp, pointed teeth.

  They stared at each other for a few tense moments.A rumble vibrated
in the creature’s throat as it continued to glare as us.Caleb shifted his weight, glared at the creature and waited for it to make the first move.I could see through Ian’s and Caleb’s legs the creature hunch over, drop his head, and in the matter of seconds transform into a boy no older than Ian and Caleb.

  He lifted his head, looked at me with his now tawny eyes while supporting his weight on one bent knee, like he was almost bowing to us. His black shirt and pants covered nearly all of his body in a thick, flexible shield that also hid his strength.His short, spiky, variegated, brown hair framed his porcelain-like skin, so smooth that it looked like it had been carved from stone.He then looked up at Ian and Caleb, sprung to his feet and stood in front of them.

  “You’re trespassing Outlanders.”His voice had an authority to it as well as an underlining softness.

  “We got lost, and we are not causing any harm.We will be on our way,” Caleb said as he started to step away from the boy.

  Ian reached for my arm and grabbed it tightly as he stood in front of me.

  “I could smell her blood for miles.”He pointed at me.“She is different from you.”His voice was inquisitive.

  His thin lips curled upward into almost a snarl and his disturbingly enchanting, golden flecked eyes peered at me.

  “Well, that’s true…she is different…because she is what you call a girl.”Caleb leaned forward with wide eyes and tilted his head to the side.

  The creature held my gaze and his eyes shifted warily to me.The gold flecks in his irises flickered like flames. I could only peer at the human-like creature.His spiked, brown hair mimicked the fur that covered his whole body just moments ago.At the same time I feared him, I felt drawn to him in some terrified awe.

  “No,” his voice turned inquisitive.“She is more than just…a girl.”His white hand grabbed my injured arm as he pushed Ian out of the way.

  I flinched upon his touch that was delicate, but strong like a magnet to metal.He looked at me and then my arm before letting it go as if he didn’t want to hang on to it for too long.Ian stepped in front of me again.

  “Something reeks in her blood.She is not one of you.”He protested.

  “Maybe it’s her perfume…maybe your dog senses are picking up on that.It’s easily mistaken, practically happens all the time,” Caleb said.“Now, if you will excuse me, we Outlanders must be going.”

  “You Outlanders aren’t going anywhere.”The boy bent down, glared at me with his topaz eyes and just as quickly he had changed to a human form, he changed into beast form.

  Caleb slashed at the beast with his dagger slicing him across the shoulder blades.He then twirled around the beast almost like he was dancing with him. Caleb’s movements were fluid and his eyes were focused on the beast.The creature hardly flinched at the gash that was expelling black blood.

  “Run Emily!” Ian yelled. He charged at the beast only to be swatted like a fly by the creature’s massive paw and knocked to the ground.

  Like with Gabe when we were attacked by the Alfheim during the tornado that destroyed my life in St. F, I didn’t listen.

  The beast held Ian down with one massive claw as Caleb lunged for him. He swung at Caleb with the other sending him through the air to land in a curtain of thorns.His dagger flung through the air and landed in front of me.Without thinking, I picked it up.Everything was happening like flashes of lightening and at the same time in slow motion giving me time to think.Caleb was sprawled out like a scarecrow, as Ian yelled at me over and over to run.I didn’t, and then the beast’s eyes met mine for only a second.He hit Ian on the side of his head rendering him unconscious, and then he looked at me with glowing eyes.I stood frozen as the beast lunged for me.

  Instinctively, and as if the dagger had a mind of its own, I slashed the beast across the chest.He yelped, as though he wasn’t expecting me to fight back, and backed off slightly letting his gazed entangle with mine.Confused, I stared waiting for the beast to come at me again.I held the dagger defensively in front of me and waited for him to pounce. He didn’t, but I knew he could have.He turned and let the darkness of the forest swallow him whole.

  Everything fell into a dead silence as I stood with aching arm, Ian unconscious on the ground and Caleb tangled in twisted vines that seemed to curl around him slowly.I tried to move my legs, but they were frozen to the ground as if becoming part of the forest.

  It took me several moments to realize I was lying on my back and looking up at what looked like several twigs interlaced into tight irregular patterns.

  “It’s about time.”Caleb looked down at me.“There is nothing the matter with you now and I think you have slept plenty.”

  Slowly, I propped myself up and glared at him.Caleb smiled as he leaned closer to me.

  “Where’s Ian?”I asked trying to gather my thoughts together that felt more like a puzzle with missing pieces.

  “He’s fine and waiting for you…we all are.”His voice trailed off.

  I glared at him and he looked as though he was caught off guard.I was getting tired of Caleb’s attitude and comments.

  “Well I’m so sorry I nearly got diced into little pieces by that…whatever it was in the forest,” I scoffed.“So, I won’t be destroying the Wall anytime soon for you.”

  “You weren’t the only one in danger and by the way, it was a Ranger that we ran into.”His vivid green eyes pierced me.“He wasn’t very nice was he?That is what has become of Eutopia…”

  “Caleb,” Ian’s voice broke in followed by his quick footsteps.“Is she up?”

  I sat up and pulled the thick blanket around me as our eyes met.His pale face had fading bruises and cuts framed in his dark hair.I looked into his eyes and started to say something when I noticed an apprehension of disbelief that quickly faded upon seeing me.

  “Good, you’re alright.I thought you were going to die,” he said with relief as my eyes darted back to Caleb who only shrugged his shoulders.

  “She’s the princess. She isn’t supposed to die…at least not yet.”Caleb’s words were teasing.

  I only rubbed my head and wished they both would leave.

  “Where are we anyhow and how are we going to get back to Atlantis?”I asked as they both looked at me.

  “Missing your sweetheart already?”Caleb asked in a baby-like tone.

  “Can’t you be serious?”I yelled.

  Caleb stiffened slightly and then leaned closer to me. He looked at me as if summing me up and then met my irritated glare that put a smirk on his face.He sat back in the chair and folded his arms.

  “I am always serious, and I think it’s time for you to see the lost side of your life, princess.”

  .