He had emphasized the ‘crashers’ part and then raised his eyebrows, and I noticed that Rioden became even more alert at the mention. Most people would probably never have even noticed their subtle tells, but as someone who had spent years of her life living with cheats and liars, I was quite adept at reading body language.
When Rioden had first walked in the room he seemed shocked and then mad at Xander after he discovered I was there, which led me to think it was a sex-thing. However, at the mention of party crashers he became even more tense and his cheek muscle kept flexing.
“Xander, I think we should wait to talk about this. You know it isn’t time yet,” Rioden spoke cryptically.
“It is time!” Xander argued more forcibly. “And for a myriad of reasons, Rioden. Skye was way past the legal limit last night, she might have died…”
“Hey,” I jumped into the fight, “leave me out of this. I was fine!”
“Yeah, you were fine, Skye,” he snapped. “You were lying on the ground wasted and soaked, and you couldn’t even move your own limbs.” His voice held a plea in it as he pulled his legs off the bed and rested his elbows on his knees. “I can’t keep watching that, Rioden, and the thing that showed up - well…it knew.”
As I looked at his posture I could see that something was tormenting him. It shocked the hell out of me that he cared so much about what I did… it wasn’t like he even knew me, after all.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa! What do you mean you can’t keep watching ‘that’? What is ‘that’? You mean ME?” I held Xander’s eyes with mine as I tried to make sense of what he had just said. “And what the hell do you mean by that ‘thing’? What did it know? What is going on here?”
I felt so strange as I looked between Xander and Rioden. These two guys - who could take me down in a second - were talking in riddles, and yet I still felt like there was this incredibly comforting safety net over me. I couldn’t make heads or tails out of the sense of security that I innately felt in the room at that moment, when truthfully, I should probably just want to run and hide.
“Xander?” I pleaded again, as I touched his arm hesitantly. “What are you talking about? Why…? How…?” I trailed off as Rioden cleared his throat and spoke directly to Xander.
“Okay - it’s up to you, because this is your responsibility. Are you sure that you’re ready for this Xander?”
Xander kept his eyes locked on mine as he started to speak, but then Rioden interrupted quickly. “Once we start this, there’s no going back.”
Removing his gaze from mine, Xander stood up and clasped Rioden’s hand tightly. He looked him in the eye and replied in a strong voice, “Then it begins today.”
In that moment, as they both looked at me with anticipation shining in their eyes, I’ll admit that I felt like passing out. Somehow I realized that everything they were talking about revolved around me, and it scared the crap out of me.
“It begins today?!” I screeched at them incredulously. “What the hell begins today?!”
All of their secret looks and cryptic talk had really begun to tick me off. I ran fingers through my tousled hair in order to distract myself for a moment, while my brain tried to go through everything I had heard them say.
To my amazement, it was Rioden who finally spoke to me. “Tell me about the nightmares, Skye,” his deep voice requested.
“Nightmares?”
“Yes, your nightmares. You know what I’m talking about.” His voice reminded me of a shrink I had seen once shortly after my parents death.
The only foster family I had ever been placed with had taken me to see a psychologist when I kept waking up screaming. They had assumed that it was from the stress of the new placement along with the loss of my family, but when they were unable to treat it and I couldn’t be calmed no matter what they tried, the family sent me back. I remember feeling like a defective appliance - how do you return a kid? I felt my palms grow sweaty as I focused on Xander, who had sat back down in the chair. I tried to deny their knowledge of the terror I had lived with for as long as I could remember.
“If you think I’m going to indulge you in any more of these games, then you’re crazy! I want to know who you two are.”
Rioden scoffed at my outburst but didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled a chair up next to the door and took a seat, while Xander sat back down in the armchair next to me. Their eyes were both fixed on me, and I was beginning to feel like a criminal in an interrogation room; the kind you saw on those law shows. They just waited and watched me.
“The nightmares?” Rioden requested again, and I broke down.
“How did you know?” I questioned, wetting my lips as my mouth went dry. “I don’t understand any of this.”
Rioden nodded his head in understanding, and then prodded for me to explain my dreams.
“Ri, is this really necessary right now?” Xander finally interjected. I could see the indecision on his face, but Rioden just nodded at him and waited patiently for me to begin. They both watched me closely as I began to explain all of the things I had kept inside of me for the past ten years.
“Often times I just see shapes. Shadows lurking in the corners, eyes glowing in the bushes; I always feel like something is watching and following me, close enough to grab me whenever it chooses,” I explained. I clutched a pillow to my chest for comfort, and then continued my tale.
“My parents died ten years ago, and I dream about that often.”
I noticed that Xander straightened up and glanced at Rioden; they were both all ears. “I should tell you that I actually have no memory of the event at all, and nobody was around to tell me what happened. I dream that I’m screaming, and then I hear someone yell at me to run and not stop. I see a face – no, many faces – and they are chasing me. I hear voices and clanging like metal hitting metal…I, I don’t know why I see monsters and mayhem. They probably just died in a car wreck or something simple like that, but…” I stop, and taking a deep breath I confess, “I truly think it was something…special…that killed them. Something magical and evil.”
Rioden leaned forward a fraction and tried to hold my gaze as he spoke. “You’re right, Skye.”
THREE - DO YOU FEEL IT
Xander
I wanted to wrap her in my arms as she told us about her nightmares. She sat on the bed with one leg tucked underneath; her long fingers toying with the frayed edge of her jeans as she spoke.
She had let her hair fall over her face, partially hiding, but she would occasionally glance up at me; her eyes full of trepidation.
As she spoke, I found that I was impressed with her composure. She was telling a story that most people would rebuke and call her crazy for. I don’t know what I’d expected of her, but her perceptiveness surprised me.
Considering the details of her youth, it didn’t surprise me at all that she had such a limited memory of her past. I felt a pang of guilt at the secrets that both Rioden and I held regarding her past. .
I waited for Rioden to explain his comment to her, but he just sat there, quietly letting the truth sink in. I saw her brown eyes become round as saucers when he had uttered those words, and I tracked a lonely tear as it slid from her eye and traced down her cheek.
Her bottom lip quivered, and in that moment I second-guessed myself for what was probably the first time ever, thinking that maybe she really hadn’t been ready to hear the full story yet.
I checked my worry for her when she finally took a deep sigh and asked us to explain. She needed to understand the truth. It was time to open her world up to a possibility that she never could have imagined.
“Skye, I need for you to hold all of your questions until we finish. Okay?” She slowly nodded her head in the affirmative, so I continued. “What you see in your dreams - the monster faces? - those are real. You saw one last night at the party, didn’t you? They aren’t only in your dreams, are they?”
She tipped her head in agreement as I spoke, never taking her eyes off of my face. “Those
creatures that you see are demons; they’re called the Semvon. They are low level demons typically used to hunt and retrieve something. They come from another dimension called Tyalbrook. They are here to return you to that dimension.”
The look that Skye threw me was incredulous, and she began to get up from her position on the bed.
I grabbed her arm when she tried to pass me. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Shaking me off easily, she thrust her hands on her hips and practically spat at me. “What the…? Do you really think I’m that stupid? Demons that retrieve people? What? Were they all out of golden retrievers at the pet store? I may have a lot of issues, but seriously, are you really trying to tell me that these things are from another planet, Tyalwhatever, and are after me to take me back to that planet?”
“Another dimension, not another planet,” I corrected. “And yes, Skye, they are real and they won’t stop until they find you and transport you back home. They -”
“Stop!” Skye barked, holding up her hand. “Please. I don’t want to hear this. Xander, thank you for helping me last night – truly - but I can’t deal with this right now. I just can’t…goodbye.”
She grabbed her shoes and threw open the door quickly, glancing back over her shoulder one last time as she left. I sat there for a moment, dumbfounded as what to do, and noted that Rioden looked the same.
“Follow her as usual. She’ll be ready soon enough,” he finally ordered quietly.
Leaping up, I went after her; mentally kicking myself for just dumping it all out there so messily.
As I ran to catch up with her, I rounded the corner of the hotel and noticed Skye pacing in the parking lot. Her head was bowed, with her forefinger and thumb pinching her bottom lip. Even from that distance I could tell that she was clearly agitated.
I leaned against the stucco wall and watched her for a moment. She looked like she was talking to herself. I found a smile on my lips as I watched her pace. As hard as this was going to be, I was relieved that I was finally out in the open with her. I was ready to show her who she really was, and who I really am.
I knew that she wouldn’t just take my word that there were demons chasing her. I had hoped that her nightmares would be proof enough for her that something strange was happening. Proof enough that she would at least listen to what we had to tell her with an open mind.
She straightened up and froze as I watched her. Her back was to me so that I couldn’t see her face, but her now-rigid posture immediately put my senses in warning mode.
I scanned the area looking for any trouble, afraid that my attention had been so drawn to her that I had missed the warning signs. When nothing imminent registered, I started towards her.
“You’re there, aren’t you Xander?” she called out, turning to look over her shoulder.
Spotting me, she turned, and while her body language spoke of her happiness that she could ‘feel’ my presence, her face was troubled.
“Coincidence, right?”
“What’s a coincidence?” I asked, not following her line of thinking.
She huffed at me, “That I knew you were here. It’s a coincidence. I mean, of course you would follow me, right? I ran out of the room in a fit! What are you, a boy scout?”
She laughed, “Am I your next badge? The ‘Save Skye Martin from herself’ badge?” she finished in a disgusted voice, as she came to stand in front of me.
I watched the myriad of expressions roll across her face: worry, confusion, fear - they were all there, as she stood toe-to-toe with me. When I didn’t answer her fast enough, she turned to walk away.
“Hey, Skye,” I called after her. “I’m not a boy scout.”
She turned, but kept on walking; shrugging her shoulders. “Yeah, so?”
I took a deep breath, and then I let her in on one of the many secrets I had. “I’m not a boy scout, but I am here to save you…I’m a Guardian.”
Her dark brows rose questioningly, and I continued.
“I’m your Guardian Skye, and I will protect you. I swore my life on it.”
“You what?” she asked, and she stopped dead in her tracks. “What kind of crazy train did you ride in on, Xander?!”
I couldn’t help but laugh at her this time. I realized that all of this had to sound freaking Loony Tunes. If I hadn’t been raised by Rioden for the past ten years, I’m sure I would have felt the same way she did.
I racked my brain for a way to prove to her that I was telling the truth, and came up with the only thing I could think of. “You asked if it was coincidence that you knew I was watching you, right?” I confirmed her earlier thoughts. As I caught up with her I asked, “Tell me what you feel right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“What do you feel? Anything strange?”
She flung her hands up in the air as she answered me. “Yes, I feel something strange! This whole thing is strange!”
Placing my finger on her lips, I shook my head in frustration. “Skye, what do you feel here?” I asked again, pointing to her chest. “How do you feel?”
She stood for a moment with her lips lightly pressed to my finger, slowly closing and reopening her eyes. There was a sheen to them that spoke of unshed tears, and as she raised her hand to pull mine away from her mouth, I saw her fingers tremble when she whispered, “I can’t deal with this, Xander.”
“Yes, Skye - you can and you will,” I warned her. “This is going to happen whether you want it to or not. I told you that I’m safe, and I…”
Skye broke into hysterical laughter at that. “Safe? You’re telling me that a legion of demons is after me and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. How in your book does that equal safe?”
“You don’t know me, Skye, and you don’t know Rioden and… what we can do. I told you that I would protect you, and I will.”
Shaking her head, she took a small step back and admitted, “You’re right about one thing, Xander,” as she wiped a tear from her face. “I don’t know you, so how can I trust you? No matter how you make me feel. Please just leave me alone.” She spun on her heel and sprinted away, leaving me to stare after her.
I grappled with the thought of chasing her and decided against it. I needed to talk with Rioden and she needed space. She would be alright for a little while, at least. I would track her down in an hour or so once Rioden and I had touched base on what the new plan was. I returned to the hotel room to speak with Rioden about how we should continue.
“Don’t lecture me,” I warned him, as I saw the scowl on his face.
“Xander, explain to me exactly what went on last night.”
I launched myself onto the bed and closed my eyes. I was completely exhausted after having agonized over Skye half the night. I really needed to rest, but I knew that I would need to keep track of her.
“Ri, she’s killing herself. She drinks like a sailor and passes out nightly. I can’t stand seeing it…She is meant for so much more…” I trailed off as I saw Rioden’s eyes narrow at my words.
“You care about her? It’s not allowed - you know that, Xander.”
“I know,” I sighed. “It makes me weak, but it doesn’t prevent me from doing my job. Ri, let it go.”
Rolling to a sitting position, I began to explain the situation with the Semvon from the night before.
“There was only one, but it was watching her and she saw it. I saw her fear so visibly that I knew it wasn’t the first time she’d seen one. I took off after it and was able to dispatch him pretty quickly, but he told me there were more on their way.”
“We need to get her home, Xander, she’s almost 18. I’m sure McClintock will continue to send more and more after her until they succeed. We need to find out what’s going on there.”
I could hear the longing in his voice at the word ‘home’, and it was almost painful to listen to. His yearning was for the home he had lost 11 years ago. I had been only a small child when we left, so I had no memory of Tyalbrook. Rioden was 24 when
he had gotten wind of the information that sent him chasing the Semvon through a portal into this world. He remembered home well, and he missed it dearly.
“How do we convince her to come with us?”
I replayed in my mind her admission that I made her feel something, right before she ran away. “She feels the connection,” I spoke aloud, more to myself than to him.
“She what?” he inquired.
“The Guardian connection,” I explained, as I walked to the closet to grab my bag. “When I found her in the parking lot, she felt me before I had even spoken to her. I tried to ask her what she felt…to prove to her that something we said was true.”
The memory of the warmth that I felt in my chest whenever I was near her swam across my mind, and I stood there reveling in it; knowing she could feel it too. Rioden cleared his throat; his watchful eyes taking me in.
“Go on.”
Shaking myself out of my own head I finished, “She denied it at first, but before she ran off she said that I made her feel something. I think I can use that to get her to trust me. She just needs time to admit it to herself.”
“I have a feeling that she’s going to believe us sooner rather than later,” he remarked ominously. “Let’s just hope we aren’t too late to save her when she finally does.”
That final chilling thought sent me racing out the door to track her down and keep a watchful eye on her.
Skye
I wandered around town like a zombie for most of the afternoon, as I replayed the few things I had allowed Rioden and Xander to say. It seemed even crazier now than it had this morning. Demons, other dimensions, Guardians…what was this - The Twilight Zone?
Heading back to Janelle’s house around 4pm, I found her sitting on the front stoop watching Rex as he worked under the hood of his beat up Chevy.
“Skye!” She jumped up and gave me a bone-crushing hug. “Where the hell have you been?!”
Taking in my wrinkled clothing from the day before, her eyes narrowed on me like a parent’s would.
Never Let You Fall (The Prophecy of Tyalbrook) Page 3
