Silent Sound

By Michelle Louring

Life is much simpler when myths are merely fairy tales . . .

Selissa hardly thought her life could get any weirder, but the gods appeared to have developed a sadistic fondness for proving her wrong. A request for her help with solving a series of mysterious attacks at a temple seemed fairly simple. But everything suddenly becomes far more complicated once Selissa is told who she needs to protect from the unknown assailant.
Because the target just happens to be the son of the archangel Arnath . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle Louring
• Release date: May 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301224883

Michelle Louring

Wayward Dane, writing high fantasy in English!By now you have probably read hundreds of author bios showcasing various fancy awards and such. I won't bore you with that (mostly because I don't have any...), so here's a few things about me:1. I'm a total geek2. I'm into gaming3. I own an owl4. I probably mostly own an owl because no one would sell me a dragon5. I do archery6. I do cosplay7. I'm really not nearly as interesting as the above facts would lead you to believe

Book preview

Chapter 1

The sound of her footsteps echoed against the walls as she walked through the gates. It felt like an eternity since she had last set foot in this place, but in reality it had barely been a year.

As she looked around, she noticed how nothing had changed. The temple still looked exactly as it had when she left it. Exactly as it had looked in all the years she lived there.

But still it seemed foreign to her. The hallways she had walked through thousands of times seemed unfamiliar and strange, even though they hadn’t changed in the slightest.

The temple might not have changed, but she had. She was not the same person who had left a year ago.

Selissa pulled her hood closer as she walked through the nearly empty halls. Twilight had already fallen and only a few sleepy priests passed her on her way. None of them paid her any mind.

It didn’t take her long to reach her destination. She stopped in front of the heavy oak door and hesitated only for a second before knocking.

She heard a faint voice telling her to enter, and she pushed open the door. It creaked loudly as she did so, and the sound might as well have been a roar against the walls of the quiet hallway. She entered silently and pulled the door shut behind her.

So you decided to come after all? Selissa shot a hard look at the old man behind the wooden desk.

You didn’t expect me to? she asked calmly.

Actually, I didn’t. I hadn’t expected you to return at all, no less at my call. His lips pulled into a wry smile as he returned her stare.

Selissa suspected the High Priest of Issara had been an impressive man in his day, but age had not been kind to him. Years of worries showed in the lines on his worn face. It was set in a permanent stern expression that made people instinctively think they had done something wrong. Thick hair that might once have been black had long since turned to gray and was thinning at the temples. Only the sharp gray eyes watching her calmly had not been affected by the years that had gone by.

He gestured to a chair opposite his desk. Please sit, he said.

Selissa crossed her arms over her chest. I’d rather stand.

The old man sighed. I guess you’re curious as to why I have called you here. Selissa raised an eyebrow at the obvious question, but kept quiet.

I assume that after the whole ordeal with the Demios clan, you now know about the powers you possess as the host of Cadeyrn, he said, watching her carefully.

She stiffened as realization sunk in. You knew, she said accusingly.

Selissa, let me— he started, but she interrupted him.

"For years I tried to find out what that mark meant. I asked everyone. And you knew all along," she said coldly.

I thought it was safer if you didn’t know, he said. The remorse in his eyes didn’t touch her.

Safer? You thought they wouldn’t find me? She almost laughed at the thought. Well, that plan certainly worked out fine.

You were protected here. I knew you would be going after them if you knew, he said. Selissa scoffed.

Well, I went after them anyway. I might as well have known what I was getting into, she said.

The old priest hung his head in apology. Suddenly, Selissa wanted to laugh at it all. How often had she been the remorseful child being reprimanded by the High Priest? Now the roles were reversed.

As much as she enjoyed watching him grovel, this was not why she was here.

You didn’t call me here to tell me this, did you? she said.

He hesitated. No, I didn’t.

She said nothing, waiting for him to continue. He seemed unnerved by her steady stare, silver eyes boring into him unwavering. He closed his eyes, as if deep in thought, before speaking.

What do you know about the Nephilim? he asked, opening his eyes to watch her reaction.

Her eyebrows rose in surprise at the word. She faintly recalled coming across it in some of the books she had studied relentlessly in an attempt to figure out the meaning of the mark she carried on her back. She narrowed her eyes, trying to remember what it meant.

The Nephilim, she said slowly, racking her mind for the information she needed. The children of angels who mated with humans.

The High Priest nodded, and she continued thoughtfully, I have heard of them. But what do those myths have to do with anything?

The old man folded his hands in front of his face and looked at her intently.

Do you believe they are simply myths, Selissa?

The way he said her name made her frown. Of course they are! They are fairy tales made up by people who wanted to believe angels walk among us!

To her surprise, he chuckled. She had never seen the old man display any sign of humor, so his sudden amusement only made her shoulders tense up. She watched him warily.

Wouldn’t you have told me the same if I had told you about an archangel using a human as his host? he asked her, a slight smile on his face.

She hesitated, unsure of what to say.  She was quite sure she would have been just as skeptical about the idea a year ago as she now was about descendants of angels residing on earth. But the past year had shown her that some myths were very real.

She scoffed in annoyance when she realized that he had backed her into a corner. Admitting defeat, she reluctantly went along with the idea.

So you believe the Nephilim exist? she asked.

I not only believe it, I know it for a fact, he said. Selissa stared at him with disbelief.

Don’t tell me you actually know of one? she asked in amazement.

I do. And not just any Nephilim, but the son of one of the archangels, he said.

Selissa wanted to ask him if he was kidding her, but then again, she didn’t believe he had ever kidded anyone in his life. She was at a loss for words, unsure of what to make of this information. Luckily, she didn’t need to fill the silence.

Twenty-three years ago, Arnath, the archangel of healing, fell in love with a human woman, and she bore him a son.

She wasn’t quite sure how to react to that, so she addressed another issue.

What does that have to do with me? she asked.

The child was taken in at the temple of Arnath, the High Priest said. The priests of Arnath see it as their duty to protect the son of their guardian.

Selissa summoned all her patience and waited for him to tell her which role she played in all of this.

Lately, several residents of the temple have been attacked. The problem is, no one has seen the attacker. But the priests agree that it’s nothing human.

A demon? she wondered out loud. A demon would have been able to attack someone without their victim ever seeing what hit them.

Everything about the attacks makes it seem like the work of a demon. There’s just one problem . . . At that, the priest hesitated.

What problem? she asked curiously.

The attacks happened inside the temple’s walls. A demon shouldn’t be able to enter holy ground, he said, his face deadly serious.

Selissa nodded slightly in understanding, but there was still something she couldn’t figure out.

Where does the Nephilim fit in? she asked.

The priests think he is the target of whatever is attacking the sanctuary, he said.

And you want me to do what, exactly? she asked, eyebrows raised. As fascinating as all this was, she still didn’t understand what it had to do with her.

The High Priest rested his chin on top of his folded hands and met her eyes. I want you to protect the Nephilim and find out what is after him.

And why would I do that? she asked, frowning. Her voice came out harsher than she intended, but the High Priest didn’t even flinch. I don’t owe you anything.

No . . . You don’t owe me anything, he said slowly. But I can’t think of anyone better suited for the task, and I know you won’t turn your back on people who need your help. 

Don’t talk to me like you know me, she said, anger seeping into her voice. A lot has changed since you last saw me.

The look that passed through his eyes at that moment almost made her regret being so harsh. The usual stern look faded completely and only sadness was left on his face.

I know, he said quietly, voice filled with regret. I wish I could have done something to prevent it from happening, but you can’t run from who you are. And you can’t deny your connection to the archangels.

Selissa crossed her arms over her chest and looked at the floor. She was beginning to realize she did not have a choice in the matter.  She closed her eyes and sighed.

When am I leaving? she asked in defeat. She might as well give in and save herself a lot of grief.

You can stay the night and leave tomorrow. Your old room is still empty.

She shook her head at herself, wondering what she had just agreed to.

Chapter 2

She was standing in an empty garden. But somehow she knew she was not alone.

She looked to the other end of the garden where he was standing, watching her.

He was beautiful. His face was elegant, yet masculine. It was framed by long blond hair, so pale it glistened white in the evening light.

His graceful frame emitted an otherworldly glow, making it clear he was not human. He was watching her from across the garden with piercing gray eyes.

She smiled as she crossed the garden towards this beautiful being. Though she had never seen him before, she recognized him immediately. How could she not? He was part of her, after all.

Where are we? she asked and spun around in a circle, feeling oddly giddy.

In my temple, he said, smiling at her childish glee. His voice was light and deep at the same time and sent pleasant shudders down her spine.

She stopped spinning and looked around thoughtfully. The garden was beautiful and well-kept, and the walls surrounding it showed no signs of decay. This had to be how it looked in his memories.

Is this a dream? she asked, still feeling strangely elated.

No, it isn’t. He was still smiling.

But it isn’t real either, she said lightly.

What makes you say that? he asked quietly.

She turned around and gently placed her hand against his cheek. His skin was cool against her palm, and she smiled at him sadly.

Here I can touch you, be close to you, she said quietly. If this had been real, you wouldn’t feel so real to me.

He smiled at the irony, the sadness in his eyes mirroring the look in her own.

I’m always close to you, he said and leaned into her touch.

And still so far away, she answered with a smile. She let her hand drop from his face and stepped back. She started spinning around herself again, dancing to a melody only she could hear. Cadeyrn watched her quietly.

You’re troubled, he said finally. It was not really a question.

She continued dancing, her feet ghosting over the grass. Her hair flew around her face and got in her eyes, but she didn’t care.

You can feel it? she asked.

Of course I can, he said smiling.

She didn’t answer, and he simply watched her dance in silence. The only sound in the garden was the muted sounds of her feet hitting the grass. Finally, she decided to break the silence.

I don’t know where I’m going, she said, a small frown crossing her face. She stopped moving and let her arms fall to her side.

Maybe you don’t need to, he said softly.

She turned to look at him, the frown melting away to reveal the doubt in her eyes.

What if I get lost? she asked, hating herself for sounding so scared.

Then I will bring you back, he said. He stepped closer to her and placed both of his hands on her face. He lifted her head, so she could look into his eyes. They reminded her of the hazy mist over a lake, and she felt like she could let herself drown in them.

I will hold you to that, she said quietly.

ℓ

It took her a moment to recognize the room once she opened her eyes. It felt strange waking up in her old room. She had spent the past year in dingy inns or under open skies, so waking up in a place she had once called her own was an unfamiliar feeling.

She sat upright in the bed and couldn’t help but smile to herself. There were times when she had become homesick while traveling aimlessly across Sinaria. She had longed to go back to the only home she ever had, to be around something familiar. But now she was finally back, all she could think about was how she didn’t belong there. From the moment she arrived, she had felt trapped inside the walls of the temple, and she was already itching to be on the road again.

She threw the covers aside and rose from the bed. She had decided on getting ready to leave first thing in the morning, but looking around the room, she realized she didn’t have to.

She hadn’t bothered unpacking anything, merely throwing some clothes at the foot of the bed. She gathered them from the floor where they had fallen during the night and got dressed. It was the only thing she really needed to do before she could once again leave this place behind.

With a slight pang in her chest, she realized that wasn’t true. There was something else she needed to do before leaving. Something she should have done months ago, but had never found the courage to do so.

She sighed and grabbed the bag that contained her belongings as well as the scabbards of her twin swords. She would be ready to leave as soon as she was done, which was probably for the best. The sooner she left the better, but she knew he would never forgive her for leaving without coming to see him.

With her things swung over her shoulder, Selissa pushed the door open and made her way down the corridor where her room was located. It was only when she walked out into the sun she realized how late it was.

The sun was high in the sky, and everywhere people were crowding the halls and gardens of the temple. She was normally the first one up, so it came as a surprise to realize it had to be almost noon. She suspected her encounter with Cadeyrn to be the cause.

She knew it hadn’t just been a simple dream. No dream could feel so real.

She wondered why he had chosen to show himself to her like that. Until now, he had only shown his presence with as a voice in her mind, guiding her.

‘Your presence is becoming so strong,’ she told him silently. He didn’t answer, but she knew he heard her. She sighed as she realized her closest companion in the world was a voice in her head. That couldn’t possibly be healthy.

With a steady stride, she walked past the many people in the temple hallways, barely acknowledging them. A few stopped and turned to look when they recognized her, but she didn’t stop to greet them. They had been friendly acquaintances at best when she lived there. Most of them had been almost frightened by her, because of her demon-like appearance.

She pushed a stray of black hair behind her ear and looked at the nearest person watching her. He was a young priest who she believed had been an apprentice when she had left the temple. At the sight of her silvery eyes directed at him, his own eyes widened and he was suddenly in a hurry to move on.

Selissa grinned to herself while she watched him scurry down the hall. Only a year ago, his reaction would have bothered her, but now she merely found it funny. There was something very ironic about the fact that the vessel of an archangel reminded others of a demon.

She kept on walking, and gradually the crowds became smaller as she moved away from the main halls. Only a few priests passed her as she crossed the gardens near the temple’s eastern walls.

She smiled as the sweet scent of magnolia flowers hit her nose. She remembered Calen telling her how much he loved the smell, which was why he loved spending time in those gardens. They had spent so much time talking there that she would always associate the smell of magnolias with him.

She knew she would find him there, and she was not disappointed.

Chapter 3

The priest didn’t look up as she stepped into the garden. He was sitting on a stone bench in the center of the lawn, leaning back on his hands. His eyes were closed, and the only sign he had heard her was the slight upward twist of his lips.

She sat down beside him on the bench, careful not to disturb him. He didn’t open his eyes or give any other indication that he was aware of her presence. She took the opportunity to study him.

His blond hair was slightly longer and even more disheveled than it had been the last time she saw him. She tried to forget that the last time she had seen him, he had been covered in blood and barely able to stay conscious.

It had left no physical scars, but she knew all too well that the invisible scars were the worst ones.

His expression was serene, as if he was having a peaceful dream, but Selissa knew him well enough to see the subtle sadness edged into his face. She was also perfectly aware she was the cause of it.

The High Priest told me you were back, Calen finally said. His voice was as soft and gentle as his face, a far cry from the hoarse, broken sound it had been when she had last said goodbye to him.

Only for a little while, she replied quietly. The serenity of the garden was so unbroken that anything above a whisper felt like yelling. Just speaking seemed to ruin the perfect peacefulness of this secluded little corner of the temple.

He didn’t answer, but the sad smile widened just a bit. They didn’t speak for a while, content to sit together in silence.

For the first time since she returned, Selissa felt at home. Just sitting there together with Calen caused a certain feeling of calm to spread through her, despite knowing she would soon be leaving again. He was the only person she knew who could calm her with his mere presence.

I meant to come see you, you know, she said slowly.

It was true. At least a thousand times she had sat alone in some dark inn room telling herself to stop being a coward and go back. But every time, something had stopped her. She could deny it a million times, but deep inside she knew she was just running from reality.

You’re here now, aren’t you? He finally opened his eyes and smiled at her.

Despite the darkness of her thoughts, she couldn’t help returning the smile. Sometimes she wondered if he had been fated to be a priest serving the archangel of sanctuary. She had never met a person as gentle and compassionate as him. He had been through hell because of her, but she doubted the thought of blaming her had ever even crossed his mind.

You have changed, he said. Surprised, she turned to look at him, but he wasn’t looking at her. Instead, he was staring into the air, a wistful smile on his lips.

It hadn’t really been a question, so she didn’t answer. He was right, after all.

The High Priest told me the meaning behind your mark, Calen said. He finally turned to her and