The Realm Protectors - Chapter 49: Chapter 49

The rest of the week in Vesi was uneventful compared to the day of the attack. Carter and I went to check out the Vėnde Kūlū – Vesi's Water School – which was cool to see, but nothing incredibly exciting. Nile took us on a brief visit with his family yesterday. His mom was happy to see me, and Nile enjoyed getting to see his brother Jordan, and his two dogs. We all felt the grim cloud weighing over us, though – Ciana was still asleep, and there was no telling when she'd wake up.
The end of the week finally arrived, signaling the end of our Coronauguration tour. After two months of touring the Realm, you'd think that we'd all be happy to go back home and live a regular life again.
Well, as regular a life as one can live when they're barely an adult and ruling an entire Realm.
"Does everyone have everything?" Tucker asks for what feels like the millionth time.
"Yes, Tucker, we all have everything," Faris calls back, rolling his eyes. He's been especially prickly these past few days, what with Ciana being comatose. Nile said he talks in his sleep too – something about missing his chance.
Poor guy, I think to myself. Nile interrupts my thoughts, wrapping an arm around my waist and kissing me on the forehead.
"Ready to go home?" He asks.
I shrug. "I could use a few more days on a Vesi beach, but it's fine." I give a dramatic sigh, and Nile laughs softly. All of us have been solemn this week, and it hasn't been good for any of us. Even Lyra, who's normally nearly as bubbly as Ciana, has been subdued and quiet.
"Let's go," Tucker says. Lyra chops her hand through the air, opening a tunnel. Faris eyes it warily. Nile told me how green Faris had looked when he and Lyra got back from the Otherworld.
"Traveling between countries in the Realm will not be nearly as physically taxing as traveling between worlds was," Lyra tells him. Faris nods and takes a deep breath, stepping through the tunnel. Avani and Nikolina go next, followed by Carter and Tucker. Nile and I wait for the team of medics wheeling Ciana's bed and machines through the tunnel before we enter. Lyra comes through last, closing the tunnel behind her. We emerge in the lobby of the Center City hospital, where another team of medics is waiting. The Vesi medics trade-off, handing over Ciana and all her life-saving devices. The Center City medics take them with grim nods, wheeling Ciana off to wherever the High Arch Suite is.
"We'll come back later to check on Ciana," I tell the group. "For now, we need to get back to the Arch Residence and get settled in again. The public will be expecting a press conference."
"When do we have to go back to school?" Avani asks.
"Tomorrow," I tell her.
Avani groans. "Can we pretend we're like, jet-lagged or something? Weary from our travels?"
"I don't feel like going to school either," Faris agrees.
"You've already missed two months of in-person classes." Nile rolls his eyes. "Trust me, you'll be glad to get back into Physical Kinesis." Avani perks up.
"I forgot that was a thing," She mutters to herself.
"Tucker, get Officer Alexxi moving on that press conference," I say, turning to Tucker. "I want Realm-wide news crews." Tucker nods.
"Now let's go home," Nile turns to the doors. Lyra opens up another tunnel to the entrance of the Arch Residence. We all go through, Tucker keying in the code to let us in. A quick scan of my eye later, and we're finally home.
Everything is nice and clean, the cleaners having worked while we were gone. The floors were polished, everything dusted, and windows are cracked open to let in the mid-May breeze. I take a deep breath and sigh. After everything that's happened in the last few months, it feels good to be home. Everyone goes their separate ways, dragging bags of clothes into their rooms. The engravings of fire and sparks light up with a soft orange light when I grab the handle of my bedroom door. I smile softly before opening it and going inside. Tossing my bags into the corner of my room, I collapse on my bed, sighing deeply. I barely get settled before someone knocks on my door – three little taps.
Nile, I think to myself. "Come in."
I hear the door open and shut, soft footsteps approaching me. The bed dips as Nile lays down, wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me to him. He nuzzles his head against the back of my neck, his breath softly blowing wisps of my hair.
"What's wrong?" Nile asks softly, his voice deep and rumbling against my neck. It sends shivers down my spine and makes my toes curl. I roll over in his arms, pressing my forehead between his collarbones.
"I'm worried," I whisper. His chest heaves with a sigh.
"Why's that?"
Memories from the last two months burn through my mind. "Everything that's been happening. What if Ciana doesn't get any better? What if she never wakes up? What if the Nox manages to collapse the last gateway? What if everything we've ever known disappears because we weren't strong enough?"
"That's a lot of what-ifs, En," Nile says, brushing my hair out of my face. The motion is so soft, so soothing, that it makes me tear up and want to hide away in his arms forever.
"I'm just so tired," I sigh. "I need some time to recharge before we go do another press conference trying to convince everyone that they'll be okay."
Nile kisses my forehead gently. "What kind of recharge do you need? Venting? Caffeine?" I look up into his eyes, glinting almost mischievously with a third option left unsaid. A smirk spreads across his face when he sees the change in my expression. Nile rolls us over, gently kneeling over me on the bed. Sparks tingle up my spine as he leans down, his breath fanning across my jaw. My eyes flutter closed, losing myself in the sensation of his touch.
His hands cradle my hips, sliding up the lines of my torso to cradle my head. One of Nile's hands holds the back of my neck, lifting me up slightly as he presses his lips to mine. Shivers of heat light up my nerves, shocking my system. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling his body even closer. My legs wrap around his waist before I roll us over, me straddling his hips and his back pressed against the bed. He makes a deep noise in his throat, making my insides prickle with excitement.
Nile's tongue slides along the seam of my lips before I open them, his tongue dancing with mine. His hands are firm on my hips, gripping tightly as I shift my weight across his hips. He breaks off the kiss, tipping his head back and sucking in a breath. His hands tighten on my hips, digging in delightfully. Everything about me feels on fire with him, for him. He grits his teeth against the sensations I know are lighting up his body too.
"Enya," He forces out between breaths. It makes my heart flutter in my chest, warmth pooling in my core.
"Nile, Enya, we need to talk about the press conference!" Someone yells from down the hall. Nile and I both freeze. He groans, tipping his head back on the bed in frustration. I huff out a breath, heat leaving my body in waves.
"We didn't even get our clothes off yet," Nile complains. I smirk, tapping him on the nose. He grins, squeezing my hips one more time before I climb off of him. Nile rolls over on the bed, waiting while he calms down.
"Quit making babies, we need to talk about this stupid press conference," Faris calls through the door. Nile growls under his breath.
"I am so killing him later," Nile grits his teeth. I sigh, ruffling his hair before re-adjusting my shirt.
"He's right," I poke him in the side. "We do need to go." Nile groans a complaint before sitting up on the bed. I walk out into the hallway first, leaving the door open behind me. All of our friends are waiting out in the living room. Carter and Lyra are sitting next to each other on the couch, Carter's arm wrapped over Lyra's shoulder. Avani and Nikolina are lounging in the two recliners, Avani with her eyes closed, and Nikolina staring at the ceiling. Faris is sitting in the window seat, staring out the window longingly. His eyes are glazed over, but the rage and frustration simmering underneath are still visible. My heart pangs with empathy for him, knowing that he's most frustrated with himself. Nile says Faris has closed himself off since Ciana's accident, not playing around with the boys nearly as much.
It's like he's lost his spirit, Nile had said.
Faris turns his head, catching me staring at him. He bristles, shoulders tensing before standing up and walking towards the door.
"Finally," He grumbles. "Let's go. Tucker's waiting upstairs." He opens the door to the tunnels leading up to Arch Hall, slamming it behind him. Carter sighs, shaking his head.
"You heard the man," Nile says, walking up behind me. "Let's go."
The glass podium is cold under my hands, which is nice. May has arrived in the Realm, and it is a beast of heat in Capital. I can see all the reporters shining with sweat under the sun. They all watch me expectantly as I start speaking.
"It is with mixed emotions that I stand before you today. I feel victorious because our incredible Civitastella space elementals managed to save their gateway from a vicious attack from Griffin Gray and his group, the Nox." Whoops of excitement go up from the civilians watching behind the reporters. "An impressive feat indeed. However, I also stand here with a heavy heart. While Stellune's gateway was saved, Vesi's was not. The guards in Saari put up a good fight, but they were overpowered by the Nox in the end. Many people were injured, including one of our own.
"You may have noticed that there are only seven of us standing before you today." I pause to let the reporters' eyes skim our line. Eyes widen and gasps echo when they find the hole. "Right Arch Ciana Leonide was attacked from behind by cowardly Nox assassins. She was stabbed with a knife wrapped in darkness and trapped under piles of collapsed trees. She was barely breathing when we found her. Doctors in Saari worked tirelessly to stabilize her, and she is now in unconscious recovery.
"Until Arch Leonide is released by the doctors, Arch Aquino will be taking on her duties as Right Arch." I finish. Reporters stand there with stunned expressions on their faces. I turn over my shoulder, nodding to Nile. I step aside as he steps up to the podium, clearing his throat.
"It is vital to the safety of our world and our future to apprehend the people responsible for these attacks," Nile begins. "The group is known as the Nox, and they're identified with a star and twin moons sigil on their necks. Most of them are darkness elementals from what we've observed, but we also know that they have some other elementals in their ranks as well, one of which being Griffin Gray. Gray is still at large, and we are still accepting any tips as to his whereabouts.
"We have also identified another important individual in this group. She is known as Ravena Crow and is a darkness elemental. She's a pretty famous alumna of the Skole for de Sretk, and her image will soon be posted around the Realm. If you see her or any other members of the Nox, we implore you to notify your local police departments. These vigilantes must be found and stopped.
"Security around the final gateway in Civitastella will be increasing tenfold." Nile continues. "Arch Gipson is in communication with guardsmen all over the Realm, and we hope that many people will volunteer to help. If this last gateway is attacked and collapsed, our home may very well cease to exist."
I step back up to the podium quickly, before Nile terrifies everyone. "Everyone remain calm, but Arch Aquino is correct. We all must do our parts if we want to save our home from destruction. Ever protect us should that gateway collapse."
Reporters raise their hands and microphones, erupting in a cacophony of questions. I do my best to answer the ones I can, but one phrase keeps repeating over and over in my head:
Ever help us indeed.