Kal's Block
© Debbie Sutherlin

Nephilith was new to Woodburro and Groley Woods. His family moved from the town of Derico to the south. Obstencibly to allow his parents to find work in the mill after losing their business in Derico. People of Woodburro did not usually put up with the high pomp of Derico. Woodburro was full of honest working people. Although many outcasts from Derico came to Woodburro to find refuge, if they tried to set up the same sort of social hierarchy, it would succeed only with a very small minority. The hardworking lumberjacks had no time for such fuss and nonsense. They were more than likely to tell the poor person who tried to 'civilize' them, they were full of nonsense!

Kalandra wondered about Nephilith's parents, they always seemed so...disconnected. Most people ignored them completely. If you did notice them, they looked as if no one was really home behind their eyes. Kalandra got the shivers whenever they were near.

Nephilith on the other hand was a handsome lad, loaded with charm. Nephilith had shoulder length, flowing midnight blue hair that shimmered with dark red highlights, a strong jaw line with a full, sensual mouth. His icy, dark eyes lay beneath long, lazy midnight-blue lashes. This made it difficult to tell just what color his eyes were and gave him a mysterious appearance. He attracted all females without effort. Kalandra being young, innocent and sheltered was just as susceptible to his charm as any of the girls in her age group.

Nephilith developed the routine of eating in the loggers inn in the afternoons. No one ever questioned his want to do so. The young girls would find excuses to be there every afternoon possible. A varied group was always waiting for him, depending on who could slip away from chores. Sometimes one of them was allowed to sit with him while he dined, to the sheer envy of all the others.

Nephilith mostly ignored Kalandra until one day. Kal was standing on the outside of the circle of admirers when she saw a dark shimmer surrounding Nephilith. Shaking her head she looked again. This caught Nephilith's eye. 'It WAS there!' she thought to herself. Kalandra left with a sudden, quite ferocious headache.

Catching him looking at Kalandra, one of the girls confronted Nephilith. "Why are you watching crazy Kal?" she hissed.

"Why do you call her that?"

"Ever since she was little she passes out. No reason." The girl shrugged.

Nephilith's eyes lit up with interest. "Have the healers looked at her?" He asked suddenly.

"Lots of times. They don't know why she does it. I say it's attention!" She sneered at Kalandra's rapidly disappearing back.

"Hmmm." Nephilith smiled conspiratorially at the girl who spoke, but continued to watch the dark-haired girl hurrying away. His icy eyes filled with interest.

Right after that incident, Nephilith began to actively seek out Kalandra. He invited her to share his repast the very next afternoon. That night Kalandra seemed very distant to both her parents and to her brothers. Chalking it up to problems of puberty they did not worry. Kal was concerned though, she realized she was having trouble remembering anything. She had just been with 'THE' guy in all of Woodburro, all of Groley Woods! She should remember every detail, but she couldn't remember ANYTHING! Kalandra started sharing every afternoon meal with him, but her forgetfulness increased.

Pelius, one of her brothers happened through the village one afternoon on an errand. By sheer chance, he saw Nephilith lead a befuddled Kalandra out of the inn and off into the woods. Concerned, Pelius went after them. He saw Nephilith whispering something to Kalandra. He held his hands around her without touching her. Kal stiffened for several seconds then slumped to the ground. Just as Pelius started forward shouting, there was a big commotion from the direction of the inn. Nephilith did not hear nor see Pelius, but quickly made his exit looking apprehensively in the direction of the inn.

Kal lay on the ground. She sat back up just as Pelius arrived. Disoriented, Kalandra did not remember anything more than sitting down at the inn with Nephilith. She sighed dreamily at the mention of Nephilith's name. Pelius became frustrated with his sister at that point. Kalandra became increasingly upset each time Pelius questioned her about what he saw. Pelius finally dropped the whole thing and made up his mind to find out what Nephilith was doing to his little sister. He decided not to tell the rest of the brothers just in case he was mistaken about the whole thing.

Hiding in the kitchen of the inn, he watched closely the next day. When Kalandra's attention was distracted Nephilith slipped a white, powdery substance into her tea. Pelius was ready at that moment to kill Nephilith. Calming himself, Pelius decided the inn was not a good place to start trouble. Nephilith was now leading the disoriented Kalandra away to the woods. Pelius followed, his fury building with each step. This time, as Nephilith drew his hands around Kalandra, Pelius sent a knife sailing through the air. It bit into Nephilith's arm and fell to the ground, smeared with blood. "Get away from my sister!" Pelius shouted, storming toward Nephilith.

"Idiot! I will crush you!" Nephilith turned on Pelius his face twisted with rage. Placing a hand on Kalandra's heart he lifted his other hand to point to Pelius. Suddenly Pelius felt like some one had struck him forcefully in the chest. Caught by surprise he was knocked backward off of his feet. Pulling more energy away from Kalandra, Nephilith prepared his attack, building energy for a final, fatal blast. Love for her brother forced Kal to be vaguely cognizant of what was happening. Kalandra frowned and found the
strength to try to move away from Nephilith. This was enough distraction to allow Pelius to regain his feet and disappear behind a tree. Nephilith grabbed Kalandra and placed a small dagger beneath her ear. Still under the influence of the drug, Kalandra stood submissive to her tormentor, her momentary resistance gone. "This ability of yours is proving difficult to my Queen's purpose. I will make sure you never use it again. I did SO look forward to the day we used you. Your pure blood would have given us so MUCH power!" Nephilith murmered into Kalandra's silky, black hair. His voice was deep and laden with lust. He
licked his lips as he positioned the dagger under her ear.

He started to tip the dagger into her flesh when Pelius attacked him from behind. He thrust a knife up and into Nephilith's back. Pelius's other arm came up between Kal and Nephilith's knife hand. This effectively
shoved the knife hand away. Grunting with the deep knife wound, the Nephilith dropped to his knees. Knowing his moment was lost, Nephilith raised his dark eyes to Kalandra, struggling to speak through the pain he was experiencing. "Pity, my sweet! I raise the Shield of Fear! No more will you ...be able to see anything but the visible. If you try it will raise the Shield. Capealith!" He shouted and fell forward onto all fours and suddenly there was a black blast of darkness.

When Pelius and Kalandra awakened, neither remembered a thing about Nephilith. Confused as to why they were in the woods, together, at this hour of the day, they returned home. Although they fielded questions at first, they still had no answers and the incident was quickly forgotten amidst the incidents of daily life in Woodburro. Until this day of revealing, Kalandra had no idea where she got the tiny scar beneath her right ear.