Chapter 27 - Unbreakable Bond

Akirexer opened her eyes to the new dawn. She quietly got dressed and went to check on Sharaina. When she opened the door, she saw Sharaina still unconscious and Emelinia sleeping on the carpet. Not wanting to wake Emelinia up, Akirexer slowly closed the door. Sharaina's eyes shot open at the little sound of the door closing and she sprung up in a sitting position.

"Emelinia!" she gasped.

She winced at her sore shoulder. She looked around surprised to find herself in her room. Sharaina looked down to someone wrapped in one of her duvets. She looked closer and took notice of strands of sky blue hair sticking out of the duvet.

Sharaina carefully got out of bed so as not to hurt her shoulder again. She knelt down beside Emelinia and started to gently shake her. Emelinia whimpered in her sleep and lazily opened her eyes. She fixed her hazy gaze on Sharaina and closed her eyes again to sleep.

"Emelinia, wake up." Sharaina said to her and rolled her eyes at the whimper she received as a reply.

Sharaina continued shaking Emelinia and she opened her eyes once more. Sharaina waved her hand in her face and Emelinia instinctively blinked her eyes. Once her vision was clear, she gasped and sat up.

"Sharaina!" Emelinia hugged her and Sharaina groaned in pain. "I'm sorry." she awkwardly apologized as she looked at Sharaina wincing.

Emelinia then recalled Nami's words about Sharaina having a severe headache and broken ribs. She looked worriedly at Sharaina who stared back at her baffled.

"You should be in bed. You are not well." Emelinia told her.

"To be honest, I feel fine. Only my shoulder hurts but the pain is bearable." Sharaina slowly said.

Emelinia was confused by her words but then she thought back to Light's visit. "Light must have healed you. He was here last night when everyone went to bed. I'll forever be grateful to him." Emelinia blurted out happily.

Sharaina blushed with a tucked lipped smile. "Light came over to heal me?" she shyly asked Emelinia.

"Yes he did. He was devastated to see you hurt. We all were." Emelinia explained to Sharaina as she folded the duvet. "You fell unconscious in the woods and stayed that way until now."

Sharaina got back on her bed and watched Emelinia put the duvet back into her closet. She didn't realize that she looked distant when Emelinia suddenly frowned at her. Sharaina didn't waver her low mood but instead asked Emelinia to sit down.

"I don't remember what happened after I was trapped in the crystal cube. Everything went blank after I heard you scream. Can you tell me how we got away from the robbers?" Sharaina asked Emelinia with so much seriousness.

Emelinia was stupefied by Sharaina's words. She looked away with her mouth slightly agape as she thought of what to say. She wasn't sure of whether to tell her that they escaped because she turned into a beast. It puzzled her so much that Sharaina could not remember any of it. Emelinia looked back at Sharaina and saw the impatience in her eyes.

"You snapped and became a destructive force. The two robbers didn't stand a chance against you and they retreated before soldiers came to our rescue." Emelinia said in a low voice.

"What?" Sharaina said.

"It was like it wasn't you anymore ---as if something else took over you. Perhaps this is why you don't remember it." Emelinia explained and Sharaina leaned against her headboard.

"So it happened again." she sighed.

Emelinia looked at her confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"When I was a little younger than Alainara, my grandparents took me out for a picnic. Everything was going great until armed robbers attacked us on our way home. I was scared and my grandpa held onto me. He gave them all his money and grandma gave them her jewelry."

Sharaina paused and Emelinia waited patiently for her to continue.

"They demanded that my grandpa handed over my grandma to them or else they would hurt all of us. They wanted her because she was a seer. My grandpa tried to reason with them but they wouldn't have it. The next thing I saw was my grandpa knocked to the ground and my grandma getting dragged away. Everything went blank after that." Sharaina had a hurt look on her face.

"I woke up days later in my room with my grandparents and parents at my bedside. They told me that soldiers came to our rescue. I soon found out that it was a lie." Sharaina further narrated. "I overheard them talking about how I savagely attacked the robbers. I didn't spare any of them and many lost their limbs. Like you, they said it was like something else took over me."

"Oh Sharaina..." Emelinia held her hand.

"To this day, my parents don't know that I know what happened." Sharaina leaned closer to Emelinia. "There's something strange about me. Whenever I get angry, I start losing myself. I feel myself slowly slipping away while struggling to contain myself. I can't quite describe it but I feel like something is taking over my mind. This is why I try by all means not to get angry when someone annoys me." she whispered.

Emelinia was taken aback by what Sharaina had just told her. She didn't get the chance to ask her anything because Sharumez and Akirexer burst into the room. They couldn't believe it when they saw Sharaina awake. Akirexer hugged her and she winced in pain. Emelinia couldn't stop herself from thinking about what Sharaina had just told her. She stood away from the bed as both parents embraced Sharaina.

****

Channy sat impatiently waiting for the mail man. She had been doing that every morning after Sharumez and Naian's visit. To her disappointment, all the mailman brought was either mail for Erny or nothing. She, however, remained optimistic and did not grow wiry of waiting.

Channy sat on her verandah cutting vegetables while playing with little Lakki. She caught a glimpse of the mailman delivering mail next door and she got up excited. She smiled happily at him as he loaded her mailbox. She quickly looked through the mail while the man watched her in amusement. He noticed that she had been doing that every morning for the past few days and it got him wondering of what she was expecting. He saw her smile happily and shriek as she waved a white envelope in the air.

"It's here! It's finally here!" she giggled.

Channy got into the house without saying anything to the mailman and he shrugged his shoulders before leaving to continue with his mail delivery.

Channy got into the bathroom and locked the door. She sat on the toilet and looked at the envelope. Taking a deep breath, she carefully tore open the envelope. There was a white wedding card in it. She caressed the part where Emelinia's name appeared and hid her smile with her hand. Her eyes moved to the date of the wedding and then to the address.

Channy put the card back in envelope and got out of the toilet. She yelped when she came face to face with Erny glaring at her. She swiftly hid the card in the belt of her dress and her hair did the rest. Erny pulled her hand and forcefully took her outside. He then pointed at his mail scattered on the ground. Lakki was chewing on an envelope.

"I'm so sorry." she fearfully apologized.

Channy got down and started to pick the mail she dropped due to excitement. She could still feel him eye balling her and she felt tensed. Channy took the last letter away from Lakki and he started to cry. Erny snatched his mail away from her and walked back into the house because the crying irritated him.

Channy stayed outside and rocked Lakki who just wouldn't stop crying. She tried breastfeeding him but he refused. Channy tried singing to him but it only made him scream in anger. Channy sighed at her futile efforts. She took a cloth off the line and wrapped Lakki on her back but it still wasn't enough to calm him down.

"Damn it woman! If you don't shut that baby up I will!" Erny threatened from inside the house.

Channy sat down and tried to breastfeed again. To her relief, Lakki co-operated. He pinched her breast as he sucked. Channy wiped his tears and rocked him as he made soft whimpering sounds.

Erny walked out of the house with a loaded bag to Channy's surprise. He showed her a chewed up letter concerning a job on Earth.

"I will be back in two weeks." he darkly told her and she nodded her head.

As soon as he was gone, Channy smiled to herself. With him gone, she was going to prepare for Emelinia's wedding without any problems. She thought about going to Gemhules to see Emelinia that very day. After all, the day was still young.

****

Due to Sharaina's shoulder injury, Akirexer completely refused to let Sharaina out of the house. She instead forced her to stay in bed and take her medicine like Nami instructed them at the hospital. Sharaina tried explaining to her that she was okay but Akirexer wasn't having it.

Sharaina found the whole thing to be ridiculous. She folded her hands and pouted alone in her room. The thought of her spending all day and night in there suffocated her. She really wanted to see Light but it was impossible with her mother guarding the door.

Sharaina's door suddenly opened and Mayla peeped in. When she saw Sharaina, she held her waist unamused.

"I thought that I was going to find you all hurt and shit but you look fine." she commented.

Sharaina groaned. "Please tell that to my stubborn mother." she said "Where is Liss?"

"She went over to Lano to see Nelex." Mayla explained as she sat on the bed.

"Oh I see." Sharaina said.

There was silence in the room.

"Everyone is talking about what happened." Mayla broke the silence. "You have really shocked everyone. Most of the villagers are happy that you are leaving because they have developed fear of you."

"Can't say I'm surprised." Sharaina responded with indifference.

Mayla started to fear that she may have hurt her feelings by what she had just told her. "I'm sorry for mentioning it." she said with remorse.

Sharaina shook her head at her. "Don't be, I expected it." Sharaina flashed a smile at her and she smiled back.

Mayla's eyes suddenly widened. "By the way, you didn't tell us about what happened with Light. Is he still avoiding you?" she asked and Sharaina squirmed. "Oh my goodness Sharaina." she gasped. "Are you two..."

Mayla covered her mouth smiling before she could finish what she was saying and Sharaina giggled at her.

"I am so happy for you. Light is a keeper." she chuckled. "Liss will be so excited about this."

"I have been waiting for him all morning but he hasn't come to see me." Sharaina frowned and hugged her pillow.

Mayla chuckled softly. "He is here. I found him talking to your mother when I got here." she said and Sharaina's eyes twinkled. "Your mother was telling him about what happened. I'm sure he will come up here."

As soon as Mayla was done talking, a gentle knock on the door was heard. Sharaina permitted the person knocking to enter and she was delighted to see Light smiling at her. Mayla smirked to herself and excused herself. On her way out, she secretly winked at Sharaina and closed the door grinning.

"How are you feeling?" Light asked Sharaina when he sat on the bed.

"I am feeling okay. Emelinia told me that you healed me last night." Sharaina happily replied.

"I didn't do a good job." Light playfully pointed at her bandaged shoulder.

"I'll be fine as long as I take my medicine." Sharaina smiled at him and he held her hand.

"I have something to tell you." Light pulled out a folded paper from his shirt pocket and gave it to Sharaina.

Sharaina looked at him stunned as she unfolded the paper. Her eyes ran through the words as she read. She looked up at Light and he saw that she wasn't happy. She returned the letter to him and leaned back on her headboard. Light moved closer and held her hand.

"But why do you have to leave so early?" she sadly asked him.

"I don't know. We have just been ordered to return to the academy today." he said. "I wish that I could stay a little bit longer. I'm sorry that I'll miss Naian's wedding." he softly lamented.

"What time are you leaving?" she asked him again.

"I'm leaving in the next two hours after I'm done packing." he said and she frowned. "Come on, don't be upset. We will only be apart for a few weeks. Remember you are going to the Warrior Academy soon. We will be together again." he gave her hand a squeeze.

"Can I at least see you before you go?" Sharaina asked him, her spirit still wasn't lifted.

"I'll return here in two hours. I know that your mother won't allow you out of the house." he said and Sharaina chuckled softly.

****

Nelex was tensed as Liss growled at him. The both of them were naked in the solace of a brown duvet. Liss held it up to her perky breasts and slapped Nelex. He desperately tried to calm her down with sweet words but it only made her angrier.

"How come you are leaving for the academy today? You told me that you have eleven days left to be here!" she screamed at him.

"Babe, it is what our superiors have decided. There's nothing I can do about it!" Nelex yelled back.

Liss gritted her teeth. "You better not be lying to me just so you can go and see some bitch!" she threw a pillow at him.

"I'm not lying. I would show you the letter but you tore it up before reading it." Nelex panicky told her.

"I don't believe you!" Liss screamed.

Nelex pulled her and pinned her down on the bed. He had his hand over her mouth and she angrily screamed at him. He didn't let go until she calmed down. Nelex slowly took his hand off and pecked her lips.

"Stop this screaming before the neighbors report me to my mother when she returns home from work." he softly said to her.

"I hate it when you leave Nelex." Liss replied in a sad tone.

"I only have a few more years left. After that, no one will separate us." he assured her and kissed her.

****

Channy got out of a cart and set her feet on the land of Gemhules. She paid the cart owner and wrapped Lakki on her back. As she looked around, she took out the wedding card and looked for someone to help her with directions. She spotted a kind looking man and asked for assistance. He took one look at the card and pointed at the direction Channy had to take. She thanked him and went down the road.

Channy walked for several minutes before finally locating the house. When the address matched with the one on the mail box, she sighed in relief. Akirexer walked out of the house with a dish full of wet laundry. She immediately recognized Channy from her resemblance to Emelinia. She quickly went to open the gate for her.

"You must be Channy, Emelinia's mother." Akirexer extended her hand in greeting.

"Yes I am." Channy answered with a smile.

"Oh please, do come in."

Akirexer ushered Channy to the living room. She then served juice to Channy and made a milkshake for Lakki. Akirexer asked Alainara to call Emelinia and she ran upstairs.

"How was your journey here?" Akirexer asked Channy.

"It was okay although the bumps irritated the little one." Channy kindly answered.

"Aw the poor baby. Traveling with little ones is never easy." Akirexer sympathetically remarked.

Emelinia walked into the living room and when Channy saw that she wasn't wearing her headband, she was shocked. She was even more astonished to see that neither Akirexer nor Alainara were bothered by it.

Seeing that the two women needed some privacy, Akirexer excused herself and took Alainara with her. Channy stood up to face Emelinia who was clearly still upset with her.

"What are you doing here?" Emelinia coldly asked her.

"Can't a mother visit her child?" Channy sadly asked her back.

Emelinia faced away in disgust. "Where was your motherly love when I needed it the most?" she asked in anger.

Channy's tears dropped. "I will never forgive myself for what I did Emelinia. I had been crying myself to sleep worrying about you until the day Mr Sharumez came to my house with your fiance."

"Do you honestly expect me to believe that mama? Please just go away." Emelinia said, unmoved by her mother's tears.

"I know that you are angry with me and I honestly can't blame you." Channy wiped her nose with her handkerchief.

"You could have wrote back to me mama! You could have told me the truth but you didn't. You chose to let me die everyday worrying about you." Emelinia's tears of anger fell. "I don't want to look at your face. Just go away."

Channy broke down crying again. "I am truly sorry Emelinia. I honestly didn't receive your letters because Erny tore them up before I could see them. He threatened to hurt Lakki if I kept in contact with you. I had no choice."

Emelinia said nothing but angrily wiped her tears while her back was turned.

"I know that you hate me but I am your mother and I always will be. You and I have an unbreakable bond therefore I will always love you. I did what I did for the benefit of both my children. I will bear this punishment of rejection for as long as you will see fit." Channy picked up her purse. "I'm leaving now. At least now I have seen your new home and I am relieved that it is a good one."

Channy turned to leave when Emelinia called out to her. Emelinia threw herself on her mother and they both emotionally embraced each other.

"I really missed you mama. I was angry with you but that didn't stop me from missing you." Emelinia sobbed.

Channy kissed her forehead and they both sat back down happily holding each other's hands. Lakki crawled to Channy and she picked him up. Emelinia stretched her hands to him and he went to her.

"He is cute." she happily remarked.

"He looks more like you." Channy rubbed his sky blue hair. "So you are getting married huh?" she chuckled as she admired the ring on Emelinia's finger. "Why is the wedding happening so fast? Are you pregnant?" she asked.

Emelinia vigorously shook her head. "No mama, I am not. The oldest daughter is going to the academy so they decided that the wedding takes place soon so that she is part of it." Emelinia hastily explained.

"Oh I see. Where is the charming son in law of mine?" Channy asked in anticipation.

"He has gone out." Emelinia simply answered with no emotion.

Channy leaned closer to her. "Do you love him?" she whispered.

Emelinia sighed and explained everything to her from the time Sharaina found her at the market to when she was attacked by the mob of women.

"My child, you have suffered so much." Channy said after Emelinia was done explaining. "I am so happy that you have come across a good family. You are so fortunate child." she gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I know that you and Naian are getting married out of helplessness but perhaps one day you will learn to love each other."

Emelinia thought back to the previous night when she told Naian that she wanted to leave. She wanted to tell her mother of her decision but the happiness in her eyes made her tongue heavy so she just simply smiled lightly at her.

Emelinia heard Light's voice as he talking to Akirexer. Soon, she saw him walking up the stairs in his uniform and a bag in his hand. She looked away as he got into Sharaina's room.

Sharaina looked at Light in admiration. It was her first time seeing him in his uniform and she ogled at how handsome he looked in it. His uniform consisted of a maroon shirt and matching pants that were tucked in black flat boots. A long black jacket with golden buttons draped over them and on his hands were white gloves.

Sharaina hugged him and rested her head on his hard chest. Light dropped his bag and hugged her back. He had his hand over her shoulder and the other on her head.

"I'll miss you." she said as she tightened her hold on him.

"I'll miss you too." Light gently pulled away from her and gave her a little piece of paper. "That's my apartment on campus. I'll be expecting a visit from you."

Sharaina slowly nodded her head and Light held her chin. He lowered his head while she stood on her tippy toes. Light pulled her waist closer and their lips locked in a kiss. Sharaina wrapped her arms around his neck as she got taken by the feeling of his tongue in her mouth. The kiss went on for a little while when Light pulled his lips away from hers and kissed her forehead. The both them then hugged each other in silence. Neither of them wanted to let go.

After a little while, Sharaina let go him. "You should go. It won't be right if you're late." she sadly told him.

"Yes, you're right." Light sighed and tore open a portal. "Please take care of yourself for me."

"I will as long you assure me that you'll do the same." Sharaina told him with a smile.

"Anything for you, babe." Light winked at her and left.

Sharaina sat back down on her bed with a heavy heart. She felt so out of place but the note in her hand calmed her a little. It was only going to be a few more weeks and then she was going to be with him again.

Dear Reader,

There's being some changes in my schdule, so I will provide updates every Mon - Fri until further notice. Thank you for reading.