Moonbloods Season 1
Rest and Reserche

When Emris had been missing in the Negera woods, something inside of me gad changed. I had come to care for him. I wasn't sure what or how it happened but something inside me had shifted and now I felt this odd sense of priority when it came to him. I had felt anxious when he had been away and now, even more so.

Jon's unconscious body had been found near the Mosswood Temple- a place that had been searched high and low- and since the distance between Mosswood and Summer Summer Crest was so short, Emris had portled his body straight to the Den only to discover that Jon was indeed still alive. The Priest arrived seconds later to treat Jon.

That had been two weeks ago.

The rains had come to Summer Crest early, the harsh and dangerous weather conditions were not ideal for travel of any kind.

Thunder rolled across the sky outside as heavy rain thrummed against the library and windows. The fire place had been light hours ago and Emris said beside me, our discarded dinner plates to the left of us. Open books and scrolls littered the tables, along with ink blotches on the parchment I had used to scribble down the use of herbs and oils. Emris flipped through some books with me, his face not particularly interested. "You don't have to read with me," I reminded him. "I know you would rather be elsewhere-"

He smirked. "Yes, you are right," he assured me as his damp hair hung swung forward as he moved closer.

He had been riding around the island when the rains had picked up again, forcing him to have to double back to return to the castle. Arriving wet and looking rather annoyed, Emris had vanished off somewhere to one of the rooms to change. When he had returned, he had changed his wet tunic for a silk shirt and soft leather trousers. He smelled of the salty sea air and fresh island rain. Two of the things I now realized I loved but didn't miss as much as I did the fresh, crisp air of the mountains in Vendera. I was ready to leave this place. I was ready to go home.

Emris wrapped his arm around my middle, reeling in my circling thoughts. "I'd rather be in bed, resting."

I nodded, his face thoughtful but guarded. I was getting tired.

"When was the last time you checked on Jon?" he asked me in a low voice. I sighed.

"Just a while ago," I told him as I leaned over the spell in a book. “Emris this is a book of Magic," I said in a low voice. He leaned forward, his eyes scanning the pentagram on the page.

"You think Magic could save him?" he asked me. I looked up at him.

"The healer from Mosswood is at a an end on how to help him," I reminded him as I looked back down at the page. "I have have this power I know nothing about. I can't help anyone like this. But I can't do nothing either!"

Emris pursed his lips. "What did you have in mind?l he asked me. "Perhaps I can help in someway. I am Magic after all."

I blinked. "You would do that?" I asked him. I hadn't even thought to ask him. His face turned thoughtful for a moment. Almost conflicted.

"Why does that surprise you?" he asked me in a low voice. I shook my head. Two weeks ago, when Jon had been found, Emris had been ready to return to Vendera but the storms were keeping him land bound. I knew he was worried about leaving Vendera unattended for so long. I felt for him.

And I felt guilty. I was Lady of Vendera now. I was supposed to be caring for the Manor, planing and hosting balls and gatherings. Yet I was here, in Summer Crest, surrounded by a constant reminder of the past I was so desperately trying to leave behind.

"I suppose I figured it was my problem," I admitted. "One I had to deal with- I didn't want to burden you-"

Emris' hands turned hard as he turned me to face him. "Your burdens are now mine," he reminded me. Longing washed through me- suddenly and quickly- and my legs wobbled, quickly followed by confusion. Emris smirked as he looked me up and down once. I was still in the soft pink dinner dress from this evening. "Thank you," I whispered.

I meant it. Emris had been amazing the last few days. He had been by my side, attentive and helping me research herbal medicines that could help Jon.

"You know, you are of Magic, just like me, Nalia, you could probably heal him yourself," Emris told me as he snapped a book shut and placed it on the table. "Your are Moonblood after all."

I felt my heart sink. I hadn't used any magic since before Niko arrived to collect me for Emris.

"I know," I said. "Yet I can't seem to access it."

He smiled and pulled me closer, sliding me along the bench we sat on. His hand curved my hip, pulling me closer, pulling me in so that his breath now warmed my shoulders. "Let us retire for the night," he mumbled against my skin. I felt my eyes slide closed. "Your brother is on the mend and we agreed that we would leave once the weather clears."

I nodded. The rains had stopped this morning but the sky's had remained dark and unpredictable. The skies remained dark, rumbling woth thunder and kighting, almost taunting us to sail out yonsea. As mucj as inwanted to atay here with ny brother, I knew we had to return to Vendera soon. Yet I begged Emris if I could stay until Jon was walking.

"Yes but-"

He shook his head. "He is Lord of Summer Crest," Emris reminded me. "He needs to get passed this. He needs to lead."

I nodded. "I know," I assured him. "He just needs time to adjust." When the healer from Star Hill arrived, he had been able to save Jon's leg but the damage was done. Jon would forever walk with a limp, a cane to help steady himself. The healer had said he was ready to walk, that he was more the capable only he refused to get out of bed now. "You can't coddle him!" Emris reminded me. I sighed.

"I know," I assured him.

Emris shook his head. "I gave him Summer Crest because of your blood line, because he is your brother!"

"I will speak with him," I assured Emris. He nodded, his face tired. "Let us rest," he told me.

I nodded and looked back down at the scattered books. "I hope this works. I need rest before I try this."

Emris nodded. "We both do."

"Do you think this will help me understand my powers better?" I asked him. "Healing my brother?"

Emris shrugged. "Perhaps," he mused. "Perhaps not. Until we figure out what it is that triggers your powers we won't know how to control, regulate or expand your powers."

Emris was eager to teach me but he was also worried about me. He told me that since my powers had not really broken the surface, it would be extremely easy to lose control. "How can you be so sure that I would lose control?" I asked him. Emris stood to his feet, a thoughtful look on his face.

"As Demons, we are prone to pick up on another Demon's presence, power or intentions. We call it aura reading. It is a skill most Drex are born with."

I raised an eyebrow when he didn't elaborate. "And, you think I have this ability?" I asked and laughed aloud. "Emris, I assure you I don't."

He frowned. "How would you know?" he asked me

I opened my mouth but no words came out. Emris leaned back on the bench, a leg on either side now. His black eyes bore into mine as he leaned forward, his eyes closing incontrsnt as he breathed deeply through his nose. "You won't know until you try," he reminded me in a low and soft voice

I chewed my lower lip for a moment. I didn't want to be put on the spot. I wasn't ready to fail in in front of him yet. "Still no word on what it was that attacked him?" I asked him, trying to change the subject and distract myself from the immense heat radiating off of him. Emris stared at me for a long moment before he sighed.

"It's almost as if it just vanished, whatever it is. Nothing was left behind to track," he told me, deciding to allow me drop the topic. We had more important things going on around us then the current state of our marriage. And how we were searching for the creature that attacked and almost killed my brother.

I knew Emris was at a loss because even a most skilled tracker such as himself, had not been able to pick up the trail- an oddly shaped, sharp toed trail had been found but vanished from the riverbanks near Mosswood Temple. "It can't have just vanished into thin air!" I said.

Emris shook his head. "With Magic it could have," he reminded me.

I raised my eyebrows. "Yes, there is that," I sighed staring down at his out stretched fingers.

"Besides," he reminded me in a low voice as my finger slid into his. "We are linked-"

I leaned away from him. I knew what he was thinking. Yet why would he care? I was his wife. He could do as he wished. "But we didn't do-"

He laughed at me and pulled me closer, his lips brushing my forehead. "I know," he assured me. "I can’t explain it either . This connection goes beyond normal, physical touch… so, when you are ready, I will be to," he assured me. I felt my heart beat into my chest as his fingers traced the curve of my collarbone. "You know," he whispered as his hand found my waist, his fingers gripping the flesh at my hip. "I do have other means of indulging you in matters of pleasure."

My heart beat into my throat as I opened my mouth to speak but only a small, raspy breath left me before I was able to stop myself. Emris leaned forward and pressed his lips to my neck, his touch soft and warm. Awareness rippled through me at the touch of such a sensitive spot. I felt him breath out a laugh against my neck as goosebumps rippled over my skin.

And then ice washed through me, staring from my middle as Hiram's laugh echoed through my mind…

“Nalia…” My name left his parted lips as his tongue stretched out and touched my my lower lip gently. The hand on my neck was Emris… but it fekt like his. Like Hiram. I squeezed ny eyes shut as tightly as I could.

The memories from the night before flooded through my mind, my heart pounding in my chest. I didn't want him to touch me now. Emirs reached to touch my face, his lips replaceing mine, his warm breath caressing my lips. A sigh left my lips as I fought the urge to cry. My hands had been resting on his chest; now they turned hard and defensive. "No!"

A fierce growl rippled through my chest and my eyes flew open, a blue, rippling light erupted from the palm of my hand. Everything seemed to slow down. I watched the reflection of the powers light grow broghter and beighter in his wyes as a shocked expression creased his face. In amazement as Emris was lifted off his feet and thrown across the room. He crash into a heavy bookcase with thick, leather bound volumes that collapsed under his weight, the weight of heavy books falling on top of him. He growled, the sound of it filling the room.

I immediately felt drained as a tired gasp left my dry, chapped lips. I stumbled forward, crashing into the row of drawers to my left, as my arms slid on the scrolls and books as I fell to my knees. Emris stood to his feet, roughly shrugging the books off of his shoulders. I watched his hand come up and my body froze in time with his movements of his hands. The bright, pulsating blue light that warmed my palm slowly dimmed as Emris stood there, glaring at me, waiting for my heart to slow.

"You caught me by surprise," he growled in a low voice. "That won't happen again!" His eyes had turned black, his face had gone incredibly pale, sharp teeth gleamed from behind his parted lips. The warning in his voice was real. "And I won't wait forever! Know that!"

Struggleing to sit up, as I wait for the room to stop soinning. I watched him lower his hand and the pressure on my body eased until I was able to move again. “Are you hurt?” he asked me.

I shook my head and ket him help me to my feet.

"We should check on your brother,"he told me as he stood to his feet, his hands gripping my hips as he slid me gently to the ground.

The searing longing that washed through me throbbed in my middle as he stepped forward, his body pressed to me for the briefest of moments as he pressed passed me. "Shall we?"

I swallowed. Emris knew exactly what he wanted and he knew exactly how to get it. And that really worried me because I had seen him lose his temper over less then not getting what he wanted. I didn't fear him. But I didn't care to see that demonic face of his either.

Emris offered me his arm and together we set off down the hallway. We were leaving tomorrow and before we left I wanted to make sure Jon understood that his title was at risk if he didn't start to act the part. I stopped in the dining room doorway and watched as my brother sat at the table, slouched in his char, picking at his food with his fork. I sighed and Emris shook his head. "I tried speaking with him last night. He has taken on quite the attitude."

I shook my head. "I'm sorry-"

Emris is aged his hand. "It's not your fault," he assured me. "Jon is a fighter. He is young. Coming to terms with the fact that his fighting days are behind him when his life had just started?" Emris shuttered. "That is a hard truth to face, even for one as strong willed as your brother."

I sighed and looked back at my brother. "I just don't think I can reach him."

Emris sighed. "You fixed his leg in a matter of days, Nalia, something not even the Priest could do-"

I nodded. "Yes and look what good it's done him. He is crippled for the rest of his life because of me!"

Emris gripped my shoulders and turned me to face him, his fingers pressing angrily into my skin.

"He lives because of you, Nalia Halcro," he reminded and I rolled my eyes. Emris frowned.

"I crippled my brother... I could have done more- tried another spell-"

Emris shook his head. "No, not after what happened," he said flatly, leaving no room for debate.

I sighed, my mind racing with the events that had taken place just four days ago.

I had everything ready. Hali had gather everything I had asked her for, having set it on the table in the infirmary beside Jon's bed. The spell it's self seemed simple enough so when Emris offered his help at the last second, I accepted because I figured it couldn't hurt to have a little bit of extra power to make sure the spell worked.

I passed the sage and lavender through pestle and added the few drops of oil and water and then applied the muddy looking mix on Jon's torn leg.

Then I had to do the spell. I wasn't really sure what had happened. I couldn't remember anything from after I started chanting the spell. When I came to, Emris told me that I had been out for the better part of the last three days. He said the spell had worked, only when I began the spell I had gone into a sort of trance and nearly drained Emris of life before I fell unconscious. I had used his life force to complete the spell. I had used his life forces and I hadn't even been aware I was doing it.

That had been four days ago. Jon had recovered remarkably, walking with a cane now and only a slight limp. The only problem was that Jon didn't see it that way.

"He hates me," I disagreed as I looked back at my brother who sat, picking at his food. "I did this-"

Emris reached and gripped my hands. "Speak to him," he reminded me. We leave at dusk."

I nodded. "I know," I told him as I watched Jon wave a Maid away.

"I hope he doesn't end up like Hiram," Emris sighed.

I frowned at him, suddenly offended that he would think so low of my only brother. "Emris, he is not Hiram."

He looked down at me. "That remains to be seen," he said and glanced at Jon who had now taken notice of us.

"And there she is, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Court-"

I sighed, folding my hands in front of me as I walked into the room. I didn't want this to me the last time I spoke with him. I didn't want to part in on bad terms. Jon had been a mess since he learned he would never walk probably again or be able again after take part in battle. He had just completed his training and before he could arrive in Star Creat for assignment, this happened. Now, as his only living relative, I would be expected to help his. I had no problem doing that. But Emris had a point. I could coddle him anymore.

Emris didn't follow me as Niko had grabbed his attention. "Jon, that is quite enough of that!" I told him.

He scowled at me. "This is my Court now!" Jon hissed at me. "Get out!"

I watched his splutter the words, slurred with wine and drink. "You're drunk!" I noted. "You shouldn't be drinking-"

Jon slammed his cup down. "You lost the right to tell me to do anything, you bitch!"

I herd Emris walked into the room behind me. I turned to face him and he stopped. His eyes were fixed on my face. No.

His eyes tightened a little and then shifted back to Jon. "Niko will be here shall you require anything. I will be back before sunset to collect you."

Jon's face went slack with surprise. "What?" he demanded. "You can't leave! I forbid it!"

Emris laughed and I sighed. "Jon-"

"Good thing it's not up to you then, My Lord," Emris said as he bent down to press his lips to my cheek. "I was just informed that there is a few hours clear skies in about an hour. The high-tide is coming a in a few hours.l and we will be taking it back out to sea. Thank you for your hospitality and I wish you well on your recovery."

Emris didn't give Jon a chance to answer. I watched him bow before me, bending at the waist; a show of respect. Then Emris turned and without another word, walked down the hallway, the guard he had introduced before at his wide. I was happy for the moments alone. It gave me a much needed break to think.