INSIGNIAS: THE REGALIS -
CHAPTER XXXI: TESSA
Tessa woke up with a start. Her body trembled as she gasped for air; her forehead and hair drenched in sweat; her throat dry. When she realized that she was dreaming, she burrowed her face in her palms, still shaking. It was her first nightmare since coming to the Noir. She figured that it was because of what Faz and the rest revealed that her father was on the island. A small part of her doubted Alyssa Roseshadow’s words but a huge part of her couldn’t shake the apprehension of facing her father again.
After taking a deep breath and after the trembling diminished, she slowly sat up; flinching as she did. It took her longer to swing her feet to the side of the bed because her whole body was still painfully aching from the Seven’s training with Homer. She checked the small desk clock, finding that it was two in the morning. The training ended at ten and she immediately fell asleep when her body fit the mattress.
The Seven’s second training with Homer was anything but successful; it was five times harder than the one in the morning. He checked their physical strength and concluded that Tessa should focus on running and dodging swiftly because she wasn’t physically strong. Neus joined the training and he wasn’t as silent and lenient to them as Homer.
“Skhy Elmore Wolfhart,” he shouted, “Use your legs!” Skhy flinched at his full name. “You’re going to choke to death!”
“Nathan Moltentroyd! Why do you keep hesitating before jumping?” Nate frowned but remained quiet.
“Your feet aren’t moving, Lasiandra Arkingrave,” he said with a deep frown. Aria released an exasperated groan and mumbled something along the line ‘your feet too.’
“Do you really know how to punch, Clyne Cadecastle?” Clyne clenched his fists and delivered a heavy blow but it didn’t satisfy Neus.
“Come on! Lei Amethyst Thorneridge, you’re too slow!” Lei paled and paused jumping on the obstacle course which earned a groan from Neus. Tessa sweated as she watch Neus in her peripheral vision go in a circle, intently glaring and watching each of them.
“Althea Savanna Forskleigh.” She startled. “Is that the best you can do? You’re too distracted.” He didn’t shout but his words discouraged her more because she know the reason for her distraction. Faz’s patience, on the other hand, ran low.
“Faz-”
“Don’t,” Faz hissed at Neus with a dangerous glare. “Don’t say my name.” Neus glared back.
“You’re not distributing your strength,” he said finally, “You’ll tire and die immediately.” Without waiting for Faz’s reaction or response, he turned and walked toward Homer who was quietly watching everyone like a hawk; memorizing a detailed report of the Seven’s strengths and weaknesses. Tessa heard everything but she couldn’t turn toward Faz to see his expression.
“Why the whole name?” Clyne mumbled as they walk, wobble or trudge in the forest leading to the manor.
“Saying one’s name gives power over him,” Nate replied. “I think that’s what he was doing.”
“I don’t like it,” Faz hissed beside Tessa in the far back. Her legs were shaking.
“Now we know each other’s full name.” Clyne laughed dryly. “Nice middle name, by the way. Elmore.” Skhy visibly flinched but he didn’t respond.
“I don’t like it,” Nate commented, “I don’t like using ancient surnames. I’m always Nate Ashworth.” He whispered the last sentence but Tessa heard it because she was walking beside her.
By the time they saw the manor in the field, Tessa’s legs were giving up but she pushed through on her own despite Faz, Skhy, and Nate offering to assist her.
Tessa feared that her being distracted would affect her training more than she thought. She kept pushing the thought of her father to the back of her mind but it spread even more, consuming all her other thoughts. When she tried to stand, she bit down a groan of pain spreading from her toes to her waist. Her hand gripped the edge of the bedside table to steady her footing. She glanced at Aria’s sleeping form on the double deck bed adjacent to her; at Lei sleeping on the bed above Tessa’s, before making her way toward the door. When she stepped into the long, dark, and cold hallway, she realized that she had no idea where she was going. After minutes of standing alone outside the room, she decided to check the kitchen for food. Anika allowed them to eat anytime but the Seven were always exhausted to sneak to the kitchen late at night. Tessa was halfway on the stairs when she heard footsteps. When she looked up, she saw three figures above the stairs. The small blue wall lights were too dim to see their faces. For a brief moment, she caught her breath thinking that they were knights.
“Tessa?” She recognized Faz’s voice. Her three friends caught up with her.
“Why are you still up?” Skhy asked as they made their way down the stairs.
“Couldn’t sleep?” Nate asked. She could only nod.
“Where are you going?” Faz asked. The four of them reached the ground floor.
“Kitchen.” She eyed them curiously. “I hope you’re not sneaking out again.” Nate laughed lightly.
“No, we’re also hungry.” Skhy turned toward the kitchen and they followed him.
“And Clyne?” Every step was a jolt of pain but she knew she’d survive. She didn’t want to sleep and go back to the nightmare. The room also suffocated her after the dream.
“Dead asleep.” Faz entered the kitchen as he spoke. Lights flickered open. Skhy stood with his fingers on the switch. Nate and Skhy scavenged in the large kitchen for food while Faz took a seat beside her on one of the ten white long tables in the cafeteria. Tessa stared sleepily outside, through the tall and white glass windows. Some of the small houses had their lights on. The dark sky glittered with countless stars but she couldn’t see the moon.
When she felt Faz’s burning stare on her face, she turned to him. His silk black hair was ruffled more than usual. She wondered how soft it felt between her small fingers. Her gaze wandered at his wide shoulders, collar bones, and muscle arms, all visible because he was wearing a loose sleeveless black shirt. She wanted to touch them, curious about how hard they are. She lazily looked up and smiled at his neck. Further up, his lips looked full and pink; they were parted a bit. Sleep was pulling her but she didn’t want to sleep. Finally, her golden orbs found his silver ones; they were darker than usual. She noticed strong emotions swirling in them. Hunger. Impatience. Desire.
“That’s dangerous.”
She blinked again and again until sleep left her. She quickly looked away after she realized what she was doing and what she was seeing. She felt warmth spreading from her cheeks to her ears and neck.
“Uhm what’s taking Skhy and Nate so long?” Staring at the door of the kitchen, she silently wished that their two friends would appear.
She heard Faz’s ragged breathing. He chuckled softly, low in his throat. I hope the ground swallows me whole.
“Relax.” But she couldn’t.
“I won’t do anything that you don’t want, anything that would hurt you.” She slowly turned to him; her eyes searching his. They were still dark but they were softness in them that made her shiver.
Tessa quickly looked away when she heard the kitchen door opening.
“We cooked a bit.” Nate was beaming.
“We cleaned after.” Skhy and Nate were holding a tray of sandwiches. The food was gone within a few minutes.
“If Lei or Aria gets up,” Skhy started, “Tell them there are sandwiches in the fridge.” After thanking him, Tessa and Faz gathered their trash and threw them on the proper binds.
“How’s your body?” Skhy asked when they sat down again. Her legs stopped trembling but something heavy was weighing on her shoulders. The knights gave them elemental medicines that helped ease the body pain but they didn’t take away everything. Tessa couldn’t heal anyone because they still couldn’t use their elementals in the Shadow Islands. The inability to use her elemental was making her sad, anxious, and scared.
“Better,” she replied.
“I’m going ahead.” Nate stood up and yawned. “Good night.” He smiled at Tessa and patted Faz and Skhy’s shoulders before leaving.
“How about you guys?” she asked. Faz just shrugged, looking distracted.
“The medicine helped,” Skhy replied with a tired smile.
“Sorry I couldn’t-” She choked the words. It had been days since the last time she used her elemental; the day the Seven met the knights-slash-mentors. She lived 16 years without knowing about and using elemental but once it became part of her, its absence left a huge hole in her heart, which had already been thorn because of her mother’s death and father’s betrayal.
“It’s ok,” Faz said, “Everyone understands.” She looked up, realizing that she had been staring at the table.
“You’re probably anxious about… your father being here,” Skhy said carefully. A huge part of her wanted to dismiss the topic and go back upstairs but Skhy and Faz looked determined.
“Yes.” She started fidgeting under the table. “I’m scared for all of us.”
“We will find out what they’re doing here.” Faz’s stare never seemed to leave Tessa.
“And we’re sure the knights will protect all of us.” Skhy gave her a small uncertain smile. She knew that her friends won’t leave or hide without a fight, with or without elementals.
“The glowing sphere,” she said, changing the topic, “Clyne said it looked like a Tionem sphere, is there a chance it’s one of those stolen?”
“It looked like Tionem sphere but we’re not sure,” he explained. “Tionem artefacts are used for protection, particularly a wide area.”
“This one releases energy unlike any Tionem objects,” Faz added. “Rather than protecting, it felt like it was giving out power.” Tessa nodded in understanding.
“We have to check it out again.” Faz and Skhy glanced at each other but didn’t say anything. She felt a yawn coming up her throat so she placed her hand on her mouth.
“We should go back to sleep.” Skhy stood up. Tessa was about to follow when she felt a warm hand on her elbow. She stared at Faz who had his eyes on Skhy. After their silent communication that she couldn’t decipher, Skhy bid them good night and left.
“You want to talk to me?” she asked quietly; all thoughts of sleep gone from her mind. Her heart started drumming fast beats in her chest but she maintained her neutral expression.
“We weren’t able to talk alone after…” His voice trailed. After you revealed that Eloise is your cousin. It was hours after their talk in the small town where they pick up Hanne that Tessa thought about the connection. Her father revealed before that he remembered Ellie Hallowedlight because her father and Tessa’s mother were siblings. Faz then confessed that Eloise Hallowedlight is his cousin. Tessa paled when she realized that she and Faz were somewhat connected. He could be my cousin. Eloise and Ellie’s mother must be Faz’s relative. Her head hurt every time she thinks about it. She was scared to talk to him alone because of what they might know about each other. Fortunately for her, there had been no chance to talk except for their short time after she woke up on the ship.
“Yeah.” Her throat was dry again, anxious, but her eyes remained on his. She told herself that no matter how hard the truth is, she has to look it in the eye and move forward. Faz blinked; he looked amazed for some reason.
“I can’t really talk much about Eloise and Ellie’s family,” he stated, “It’s their story to tell.” He knows.
“But we – you and I – are not related,” he added with a comforting smile. She noticed that every time he smiles, really smiles, his silver eyes twinkled.
“Eloise was adopted by the Hallowedlights,” she guessed. He nodded and she silently breathed a sigh of relief. She contented herself with what she knows, respecting his and the Hallowedlights’ privacy. Faz acted as Eloise’s older brother; he had no one but her in his family. She remembered him saying that Eloise is ‘the only one’ and he loved her dearly. She wished she had someone like that; someone to look for her believing she’s alive, someone to hold her dear even when she’s gone, someone to protect her until the very end. Memories of her mother’s picture, father, and Steve flashed behind her eyes. She hadn’t met her father’s family and now she knew why he refused to talk about his family. I have no one.
“I’m glad she has you along with her friends to be there for her.” She smiled, hoping that Faz won’t see the sadness and longing behind her smile. Faz watched her with careful eyes. She glanced down when she felt his warm hand on hers which was resting on the table. There was something comforting in it when he lightly squeezed her hand.
“Can I ask a question?” she whispered, staring as his eyes got darker.
“Anything.” Her heart leaped.
“Your full name-” She stopped when he stilled. Her eyes widened a bit. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. She didn’t want to hurt him any more than what he had experienced in the past.
Faz shook his head.
“You want to know my name?” His voice was low and quiet.
“I don’t want to force you.” Faz stood up and sat beside her. When his eyes asked her a question, she nodded immediately. His arm circled her shoulder; her head rested comfortably against his chest; his chin on her head. She was surprised when she heard and felt the fast and loud beating of his heart. Everywhere they touched was warm and she found herself blushing.
“Fazhiar.” She could feel his warm breath on her hair.
“What?”
“I’m Fazhiar Hunter.” For Tessa, the name sounded foreign but beautiful.
“You don’t want anyone to know?”
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