Ch.30 Desert Rose

Chapter 30

Wren could hear the rush of the water falling down the mountains before he even opened his eyes. The golden light from the balcony illuminated the throne room as his family's banner swayed in the cool breeze.

"Wren," came the soft gentle voice of his mother.

Wren slowly opened his eyes and found Antonia waiting for him. Her kind smile lit up her eyes as she held out her hand.

"Come, your father is waiting," she said.

"Father?" Wren asked.

"Yes," Antonias's eyes watered with happiness. "We can all be together now."

With caution Wren reached for his mother's hand and placed it against his face, "Where's Darrian?'

"Don't you remember?" Antonia asked. "You saved us all from him. He's gone."

"Where did h-"

"Wren."

The deep familiar voice of Talon pierced through Wren's chest, making his breath catch in his throat. His heart began to pound in his ear as he looked over his shoulder.

"Come," Talon, a tall fey with graying hair and navy blue eyes, held out his hand.

"Father," Wren squinted. "How is this possible?"

"Anything is possible when you do the right thing," Antonia said, taking Wren's hand and leading him towards the throne.

"I am so proud of you, son," Talon said, smiling down at Wren. "You have saved the people of my kingdom. I knew I left them in good hands."

"I promised you I would take care of them," Wren said.

"Yes," Talon nodded. "But you forgot to save your mother."

"What?" Wren frowned.

"You were not strong enough," Talon sighed. "I should have known. It was my fault for always encouraging you towards the books instead of training you like a proper soldier."

"No, father," Wren shook his head. "You were right about all the stories. Earth is real."

"Doesn't matter," Talon said. "You couldn't save your mother from Darrian. You were supposed to protect her."

"I'm sorry," Wren's chest tightened as a heavy burden descended upon his shoulders. "I'm so sorry."

"She has suffered so much to keep you out of harm's way."

"I know," Wren said. "I know. I owe her the world."

"Then give her the world," Talon said.

"Wh-" Wren's head swayed. "What do you mean?"

"Give her the world, Wren," Talon said once more, looking into his son's eyes.

"Wren!"

Suddenly, Birdie's scream filled Wren's ears.

He spun around to find the guards dragging her into the throne room with her wrists cuffed with brass and shackles dragging from her feet along the floor.

"Birdie," Wren stepped down the steps of the throne and tried to rush towards the girl when he was stopped by his father's voice.

"Wren," Talon said, his voice calm and collected. "Here, son. Take this."

Looking over his shoulder, Wren spied the dagger in his father's hand.

"Show me you can protect your mother," Talon said, handing Wren the dagger.

As if he had fallen under the thundering downpour of the Splendid falls, Wren felt his heart grow heavy and his mind jumble up with the echo of his father's words.

"I trust you, my love," Antonia smiled. "I have given you everything I can."

"I know," Wren looked at his mother. "And I swear I will keep you safe, mother. But I can't kill her."

"I can not trust you to lead our people if you can not carry out your responsibilities, Wren," Talon said.

Wren looked back at Birdie.

She had stopped struggling with the guards. Her hands were pressed against her chest as she stood with those big silver eyes wide open and filled with tears. Her full bottom lip trembled as she took a step towards him.

"Wren..." Birdie spoke his name, her voice a simple whisper.

"Do it, Wren," Antonia said.

Wren's hands wrapped around the dagger.

"Show your father you can save his people from Darrian," Antonia said once more, her words pushing Wren forward.

"No," Birdie shook her head. "Wren, look at me...please..."

"Go on, Wren," Talon said from the throne. "Protect your mother. Protect your kingdom. Protect your name."

"Do it, Wren," Antonia joined in.

"No," Birdie shook her head. "Please, I want to go home."

"If you send her back, she will only bring darkness to our world," Talon was suddenly behind Wren. "Save your people."

"She won't," Wren whispered, unable to look away from Birdie's eyes.

"Yes, she will," Talon said as he grabbed Wren's hand and plunged the dagger into Birdie's chest.

Startled by the terror that zapped through his system, Wren's eyes flew open. His heart was beating too fast, his throat was dry as the desert and his head throbbed painfully. With a groan, Wren rolled over and buried his face into the pillow beside him. It was only then did Birdie's scent remind him of the night they had shared and the horror gripping his heart loosened up just a little.

Wren could still remember the way she tasted, the way she looked up into his eyes, the way she moved...

Rolling back around, Wren lifted his head and found the girl haunting his dreams sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Tau was here," Birdie said, sensing the fey stirring behind her. "He said sunrise is in a few minutes. We should get ready to head out."

"What's wrong?" Wren arched his brow. He reached across the bed for the girl's hand, "Birdie..."

"We need to go," Birdie said, getting up from the bed before Wren could touch her.

Suddenly, as he caught sight of her face, Wren felt the sticky guilt pierce through his chest. He stared at her, stunned and baffled.

"You feel guilty about what happened last night," Wren concluded, feeling Birdie's emotions.

"Of course, I do," Birdie muttered, turning away.

"Why?" Wren scuffed. "You don't even love him."

"I do!" Birdie snapped, whirling around to face the fey. "I love Adan! I love him so much. And I fucked up so bad."

Rejecting the foreign guilt in his system, Wren climbed out of bed and glared at the crying girl in front of him. His own anger clouded his eyes as Birdie ran her trembling hand through her hair.

"Keep telling yourself that, sultana," Wren snorted, yanking his shirt from under the blanket and pulling it on.

"Why are you angry with me?" Birdie asked.

"Because I was right about you," Wren spat. "You're fucked up and a damn liar."

She will only bring darkness to our world....

Talon's words rang around Wren's mind like a blaring horn. He was still reeling from his dream and having to deal with Birdie's lies and guilt along with the strange burning sensation at the center of his chest was pushing him over the edge.

"And what about you?" Birdie asked, her tears running down her face. "You knew about him and you still -"

"Hey!" Wren shouted. "I am not the one with a lover waiting for me back home while I fuck some other guy because of some weird twisted trust bond I have with him."

Birdie flinched and took a step back. Her eyes narrowed as her mouth twitched with anger.

"And there is it," she gave a harsh laugh, wiping her puffy eyes. "Your true colors. Grandma was right. You're all monsters. Cynical and hellish."

"I never tried to hide that from you, darling," Wren shook his head, laughing. "If you want to make me the bad guy for last night so you can satisfy your guilty lying conscience then go ahead. Be my fuckin guest, Birdie!"

"I hate you," Birdie whispered.

"Are you talking to me or about yourself?" Wren asked, stepping into his shoes. "Because if I were you I would really be hating myself right now."

"I do," Birdie sobbed, feeling the guilt in her heart sink its claws into her. "I hate myself for what I just did to Adan."

"Yes, yes. Because you just love him so much," Wren rolled his eyes.

"I do!" Birdie cried. "I love him s-"

"Stop saying that!" Wren jumped up and shouted. "I don't want to hear you say those words ever again! I don't care if they are a lie or the fucking truth. Just stop! Stop saying those words!"

Birdie turned away from the fey. She couldn't look at him as he stood attacking her so brutally with his words. She knew she was just as guilty, if not more, for whatever happened last night but she hadn't expected the conversation to turn into such a mess.

But she should have known. Wren had a way of doing that to her. Pulling out those sharp words she knew better than to say aloud. When it came to him, she didn't care about pulling the punches.

"You want to know what the worst part about all this is?" Wren asked after a while as they both dressed in silence.

"No," Birdie shook her head, buttoning up her shirt and pulling her hair out. She could feel the fey's eyes on her but she refused to turn around.

"No, you're gonna hear it," Wren said stubbornly. "The worst part is that you liked it. You liked what happened last night and that's the part that makes you feel guilty."

"Yes, well we already established that I'm fucked up so what are you trying to prove?"

Wren didn't reply as he tore the knots he had made on the tent flaps last night and walked out. His blood boiled with poison as he clenched his jaw and tried to drown out Birdie's words.

I love him so much. I love Adan.

_______________________

"Thank you, Tau," Wren said as he shook the man's hand at the gates of the cave. "We owe you a great deal."

"It was my pleasure," Tau smiled. "Our people believe trust and bonds make family. I trusted you, you trusted me. And now we are family."

"Thank you," Wren laughed.

"You two are welcome to come back anytime," Veera said as she stood by Birdie. "But I hope you will stay out of the desert."

"Won't be long now," Tau sighed, stretching his arms over his head. "Once the sunlight covers all the sand, we can head out."

"Thank you both for everything," Birdie said.

The camels behind her rustled restlessly, making their bells ring. Birdie looked at them with weary eyes, making Veera laugh.

"Have you never been on a camel before?" she asked.

"No," Birdie shook her head.

"They are gentle," Veera said. "Do not worry."

Birdie nodded. She let her eyes flicker up to the animals once more before stealing a glance towards Wren standing by the gates.

"Everything alright?" Veer asked, her voice lowered so the men could not hear.

"Yes," Birdie smiled.

"May I fix your hair?"

"My hair?" Birdie reached up and touched her tangled locks.

"As refreshing as the spring water is, it's terrible for the hair," Veera sighed. "Let me fix you up before you go."

Birdie nodded as the woman began to lead her towards the back of the seven camel caravan waiting for the gates to open. Wren caught sight of her from the corner of his eyes and called out to gain her attention.

"Birdie," he frowned. "Where are you going?"

"Relax, lover boy," Veera teased. "Just fixing up her hair."

Birdie didn't look back towards Wren as Veera walked her over to a small boulder and sat her down.

"Aissia, pass me my comb and ribbons," she said to one of the girls.

Birdie sat quietly, kicking the small pebbles on the ground as the woman went to work. Her eyes were dry from all the tears she had shed and her shoulders felt tense and tight.

"I don't mean to pry but some of the other tents were telling me this morning they heard you two arguing," Veera started slowly as she brushed out the knots.

"It..." Birdie felt her stomach knot. "It was nothing. We don't really get along most of the time."

"Hmm," Veera hummed with a soft laugh. "Men are impossible to get along with."

"Veera..." Birdie's thoughts began to shift. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course," Veera said.

"I know you and your people carry magic," Birdie said. "I can sense it. I was just wondering....do the springs have any kind of magic?"

"Not that I know of," Veera said. "Why do you ask?"

"I was just curious," Birdie said. "You're certain that they are not magical, correct? Like it doesn't sway you to do things?"

"What?" Veera laughed, finishing up the braid she had made. "No. The only magic the springs have is the ability to look beautiful and be warm."

Birdie nodded. She felt Veera lay down her braid over her shoulder and comb back the small pieces of baby hair.

"Oh you look almost perfect," the woman said. "Just this little touch is needed."

Birdie looked up as Veera opened her palm and sprinkled some sand. She used her finger to swirl it up and create a mini tornado that settled into a beautiful pink flower.

"A desert rose," Birdie smiled.

"Our people believe the desert rose brings luck, prosperity, and peace," Veera said as she tucked the flower behind Birdie's ear.

"Thank you," Birdie smiled. "Thank you so much."

"You're very welcome," Veera squeezed Birdie's hand.

"Veera," Tau's voice called for his wife. "The sun is out.'

"I better go find Wren," Birdie stood up.

"Be safe, baby bird," Veera took Birdie's hand and placed a small kiss upon it.

"My..." Birdie's throat tightened. "My baba calls me that."

Veera smiled warmly before turning and heading over to her husband. Wren looked up as the women approached as his eyes caught the pink flower in Birdie's hair. He arched his brow but did not say a word.

"Alright, up you go," Tau approached Birdie and tried to swing her onto the howdah on the camel's back.

"No, no," Birdie backed away, startled by the man.

"It's alright," Wren stepped forward and assured Tau everything was okay. "I got it."

Birdie's heart started to beat like the drums deep within the caves as she lifted her lashes and found the fey taking a step towards her. His navy blue eyes were unreadable as he scooped her up and lifted her onto the howdah. Birdie quickly moved aside as Wren climbed on and Tau signaled the camel to rise.

"Hold on," Veera laughed as Birdie jerked forward and grabbed the railing.

She could feel Wren's arm hooked around her waist as the animal stood up on its long legs and prepared for the long trip. Birdie held her breath as Wren slowly removed his arm and stared straight ahead.

"Safe journey," Veera called to the pair as the doors opened and one by one the camels began to walk out.

"Thank you," Birdie looked down at the woman and thanked her with all her heart.

She wanted to say more and tell her how she would never forget her kindness but there wasn't enough time. The camel walked out of the dimly lit cave and into the blinding sunlight. Birdie threw her hand out in front of her to shield her eyes as they moved through the dunes. The scorching heat of the sun burned her pale skin, instantly making her shoulders and the tip of her nose red.

"Here," Wren pulled out an umbrella and handed it over to Birdie.

"Thank you," Birdie said.

Wren turned away. His sulking features did not change as they rode through the heat with their eyes scanning the sand for any sudden attack from Ira or her people. Their anxiety was high and their eyes alert. But things only got worse as they entered Deserati and were suddenly thrown into a crowded city.

"This is the farthest we can take you," Uba said as he brought the camels to the docks. "You'll be able to find a ship that's sailing east from here."

"Thank you," Wren said as he hopped down and helped Birdie.

"Stay safe," Uba, the young boy, waved and climbed onto the empty howdah.

"Stay close," Wren said, pulling Birdie to his side. "Put your cloak on."

"Or I can do a cloaking spell," Birdie suggested. "My baba taught me h-"

"Just do it then," Wren's tone was clipped.

Birdie shrank back as she raised her hand and summoned the shimmering veil to fall over them.

"Why couldn't you do this last night when we were being changed by a vetala?" Wren asked.

"It doesn't work at night," Birdie muttered.

"You have my magic," Wren said. "You could have used that. Our magic doesn't have limitations like that."

"I didn't know!" Birdie glared. "It's not like the high bloods share so much about their magic with the rest of the world. You don't even tell your own kind. You gatekeeper information from the common blood all the time."

"Not everyone needs to know everything," Wren said.

"I disagree. I think it's completely selfi-" Birdie stilled as her eyes caught sight of Omar and few of the other jinns from the compound in the crowd.

"Go one," Wren turned to look at her. "Tell me how we're so selfish."

"Wren..."

"I'm listening," Wren sassed.

"No, Wren," Birdie grabbed the fey's hand.

Wren turned and looked at Birdie. He pulled her closer as he followed her eyes to where the jinns gathered outside of a cafe.

"Will they be able to see us?" He asked.

"No," Birdie shook her head. "But they will be able to sense me if they come near us."

"Let's get out of here," Wren took Birdie's hand and began to lead her towards the ships.

I know you're here, Ira's voice suddenly appeared in Birdie's mind.

Birdie's feet stumbled as she gasped and stalled in the middle of the crowd.

"What?" Wren looked back. "What is it?"

"Ira can sense me," Birdie said. "She knows we're here."

"Shit," Wren began to move faster as he pulled Birdie behind him.

Their eyes began to desperately search for any ship headed east. Birdie forced her mind-link close as she scanned the crowd, praying Ira wouldn't jump out at her from the crowd. When the pair finally found a cargo ship headed to the east docks, Wren ran ahead to find a way onto the ship.

"This way," he took Birdie's hand just as Ira forcefully opened her mind-link once more.

Do not make this mistake, Birdie, Ira warned. You are trusting the wrong person. He will turn on you as soon as you get him to the key.

Birdie bit down on the inside of the cheek as Wren pulled her onto the ship and the sailors began to reel in the anchor.

You don't know them, Sweet baby, Ira continued.

Birdie stepped closer to Wren as the eerie feeling of being watched came over her. She took his hand as her eyes scanned the people on the dock, growing smaller and smaller as the skip pulled away and sailed into the open sea.

I know where you're going, Ira said. I'll see you soon.

Birdie stilled, knowing with a hundred percent certainly that Ira had her eyes on her. Her mind started to run wild wondering how the jinn was able to keep such close tabs on her when she suddenly felt the dragon scale cuffs on Wren's wrist brush up against her.

"What's wrong?" Wren looked at Birdie as she lifted their joined hands.

"She's tracking us," Birdie said.

They are so mean to one another, goddamn