Never Let You Fall (The Prophecy of Tyalbrook)

by Michele G Miller

  “Okay! Where’s your car?” I asked. I tried to keep calm, even as the fear of losing the only family I had left in this world was beginning to eat at me.

  “It’s three blocks south. The keys are where they always are.”

  Looking to Skye he added, “Skye, listen to Xander, please. Without question.”

  I glanced over to see that Skye had sunk down to the ground against the wall next to me. Her face was pale as she shook her head and started to pull herself up.

  “Go. I will be in touch soon. I promise, Xander,” Rioden vowed, and then pushed me forward and turned back towards the hotel.

  Whirling quickly, I grabbed Skye’s hand and pulled her along; keeping one hand in my jacket, wrapped about my dagger in case of danger.

  “Come on! His car is down a few blocks and we need to hurry.”

  “Xander, what is he doing? What’s wrong?” she asked, as she practically ran to keep up with me, her hand squeezing mine tightly.

  After a moment my hand was yanked backwards, and Skye stood there in the street, mulishly looking at me. I glared at her questioningly and she began to verbally flay me. “Xander! What is he doing? Where are we going?”

  “He’s trying to protect us Skye! Protecting YOU! We need to go now before they find us!” I snapped. I continued to try pulling her along, but she wasn’t having it.

  “No! You can’t just leave him there to fight those things by himself! Go help him!”

  “Damn it, Skye! He told me to leave. You heard him, and he also told you to listen to me and you said you would. We have to go NOW! There aren’t just Semvon back there, but men - trained men - and I…” The truth crashed down, causing my shoulders to fall as I admitted the truth to her. “Skye, I don’t think I can win against them. That’s why he wants us to run.”

  Her eyes widened at my revelation, and she abruptly turned around and ran back towards the hotel. I seized her before she could get but a few feet away, and she yelled at me; jerking wildly.

  “No! I’m not going to let him risk his life for me, Xander! I’m not worth it! Please, let’s just go get him and run away together! Please!” she cried as tears sprang to her eyes.

  I cradled her face in my hands and stepped in closer to her. “That’s the last time you’re gonna say you’re not worth it, do you understand me, Skye? You are worth everything - everything - that has been done for you or will ever be done for you. You are everything…”

  My emotions got the best of me and I heard my voice crack, as I peered into her eyes and willed her to understand me. To see how much I loved her. She tried to shake her head no, but I tightened my grip and held her head still; shaking mine ‘yes’ back at her.

  I rubbed my thumb along her bottom lip and forged on. “Skye, I can’t breathe when you aren’t near me. I need you with me, and I need to protect you. Please come with me…because while I’m willing to go back there and fight to save Ri, I’m not willing to let anything happen to you. And if something happens to me, then no one can save you. Let me save you, Skye. Let me, please…?” I trailed off.

  She closed her eyes briefly, and lifted her hand to cover mine on her cheek. Ever so slowly, she turned her face and pressed a soft kiss to my palm, before lacing her fingers through mine and speaking. “Let’s go. You can tell me the plan in the car.”

  Running south away from the hotel, I kept my senses up and tried to feel for anything out of the ordinary coming our way. I was born with the innate ability to sense the presence of evil or magic. It was a gift that all Guardians were born with, and one that we must continually refine. Unfortunately, I'd had limited training here on Earth, which put me at a distinct disadvantage when I tried to scope out humans who used magic or were surrounded by magic.

  I couldn’t help but worry as we raced down the street that I wouldn’t be able to sense McClintock’s warriors. When I finally spotted the car just three spots away, relief washed over me.

  "Skye, stay by my side when we reach the car."

  I pulled her towards the rear of the SUV and ducked down to feel under the bumper for the key box.

  "Um, Xander?" Skye whispered as she nudged my shoulder; her voice laced with fear. "I think someone is coming."

  "Shoot," I growled as I continued to search.

  Skye leaned down and quickly tried to help.

  "Here! Here it is," she choked out, as she flipped open the lid on the little black box and handed me the key.

  I stole a peek around the tail end of the SUV, just in time to catch a glimpse of a large man standing back at the corner where we had stood with Rioden, only moments ago. He looked to be doing surveillance, and when he started to turn our way, I ducked back behind the car again. Skye knelt beside me, her eyes wide.

  "So, here's the deal. We’re going to crawl over to the passenger side, and then you’re going to climb into the back seat. Lay down on the floor board. I'll jump into the front and try to crawl behind the wheel." I peeked around the bumper again. "Hurry! His back is turned."

  Skye crawled stealthily beside me, and when I pressed the unlock button I reached up and wrenched the door open. Keeping one eye on the warrior I gave more orders to Skye.

  "Here - crawl up and take the key."

  "What? Why?" she sputtered, but she took the key and slid into the back and stayed down. Her rear end stuck up slightly as she attempted to squeeze herself onto the floor board. Ignoring the pleasant vision, I issued the final orders, just in case.

  "I'm going to crawl in, but if something happens, you have the key. You start the car and go, okay? When you get down the road a ways, open the glove box and call the person listed on the paper."

  Hearing her mumble 'okay' I shut the door with a quiet click, and then ducked down again as two Semvon joined the man standing watch.

  Anger tore through me as I stood there. Half of my brain was screaming to go get Rioden, to help him. The other half warned me to get in the car. As the three turned away slightly, I did my duty and launched myself into the SUV.

  I pulled the door closed and yelled at Skye as I maneuvered myself into the driver’s seat.

  "Give me the key!"

  Skye's hand popped up between the seats as she held the key out for me. A smile crossed my lips, even as my heart pounded out such a frantic rhythm that I thought it would jump out of my chest. I cranked the car, put the gearshift in reverse and backed out slowly, trying not to draw attention to our vehicle.

  As we started to make our first right hand turn, I spotted several more Semvon as they raced around the corner and headed in the opposite direction from where we had been. I silently prayed that they were still chasing Rioden, because that would mean that he was still safe.

  Skye

  Every time Xander made a left hand turn, my head would press painfully up against the door in the backseat. After the third time, I decided to remind him that I was still folded up awkwardly on the floor.

  "Um, Xander?" I called, trying to sound pleasant. It wasn’t an emotion I was feeling at the time, but I tried to stay calm as I muttered, "Do you think I can get up now?"

  "Oh, crap! Yes, Skye – please sit up! I didn't mean for you to stay down for so long," he insisted.

  My ass was probably the only thing he could see as I scooted, twisted and turned my way into a sitting position. Sitting against the back seat I started to pull the seatbelt across my chest, when I noticed Xander's eyes watching me in the rear view mirror.

  "Climb up here," he offered, while his eyes flitted between the road and my face.

  "Are you sure?" I was still very much aware of the danger we were in.

  "Sure, now you want to listen to me!" he laughed, and I fixed him with my best glare at the jest. "Yes, I'm sure. I want you close to me," he added solemnly, and then moved his eyes back to the road.

  Slightly mollified by his remark, I flung my left leg over the seats and climbed over. My rear was practically sitting on his head as his hand reached out to steady me; grasping my thigh and then my
left butt cheek. Of course I realized that he was just trying to keep me from falling into him, but I still couldn’t help the little inward squeal I made at the feel of his hand on my butt.

  "Sorry," he offered, although the smirk that crossed his face left me highly doubtful of his sincerity.

  I was finally able to finagle myself into the seat, and I strapped the seatbelt across my chest. I finger-combed my long hair and secured it with the rubber band I always kept on my wrist; pulling it into a loose knot on my head.

  Sighing, I turned towards Xander and tucked my left foot under me, ready to finally hear some answers.

  "What's next?"

  His hands gripped the steering wheel tighter and he looked over at me. His mouth was tight and his posture was one of resignation as he admitted, "Now I tell you the plan."

  TEN - THE PLAN

  Skye

  The plan. Those two words filled me with enough fear to just about send me flying back to the floorboard. I nodded my head slowly and waited for him to begin.

  ‘I'm a freaking idiot’ was playing on repeat through my head. What was I even doing here? Two nights ago, I had been a normal teenage girl walking out the door on her way to a party. Now look at me! I was on the run from demons and warriors. I couldn’t believe that just meeting this beautiful boy had flipped my mundane little world until it was barely recognizable.

  "First, can you check the glove box and see what’s in there?" Xander asked, interrupting my thoughts.

  I actually jumped back a little when I popped the glove box open, which caused Xander to snicker at me. "What did you think was going to jump out at you?"

  "These days I have no idea," I retorted, as I pulled out the single envelope that lay in the glove box. It was sealed and thin, and couldn’t have held more than a sheet of paper, as light as it felt.

  "Looking for this?" I questioned, and I held it up for him to see.

  "Yeah, I think so." His voice wavered and I found myself studying his profile; trying to get an idea for what was going on in his head.

  "Open it up."

  "Really?" I asked, with trepidation dripping in my voice. "You're actually going to let me in?"

  His hand ran through his hair - I loved that - and he sighed. "Skye, I've kept you out of the loop for as long as I have so that I could keep you safe, not because I wanted to. We’re in this together now."

  My heart leapt. He was right…we were in this, whatever it was, together. I tore open the envelope and pulled out a single sheet of paper with a name and number. That was it? I flipped it over. Nothing.

  "This is it. The name ‘Selene’ and a number," I said softly.

  I guess I’d expected something more profound.

  "That's it," confirmed Xander. "After we jump on the interstate we can pick up a phone, and then we’ll call her."

  "Okay. Who is she?"

  Xander cleared his throat before he spoke, but kept his eyes on the road.

  "I don't know, actually."

  "You don't know? Do you even know where we’re going?"

  "Nope."

  The urge to jerk the door open and throw myself out of the moving vehicle was overwhelming.

  "Time to tell me the plan, Xander. I need to know now."

  "I know. I told you I would fill you in, but I just wanted to be sure the number was in the glove box. You know at the diner, when you questioned how I was supposed to keep you safe for the rest of your life?"

  I nodded in acknowledgment and he continued on. "It upset me, because I realized that you didn’t ‘get the picture’ yet..."

  "What picture?"

  "The one where you will never be safe Skye. Not here. Hell - maybe not even in Tyalbrook."

  A million curses and questions hurtled over each other in a rush to make their way out of my mouth, but all I actually said was, "Why?"

  "I told you. You are the rightful Princess – no, scratch that - you are the Queen of Tyalbrook, Skye. At least I think you're the Queen. Anyway, McClintock is never going to leave you alone until you go home to Tyalbrook. And then when you get there, he plans to use you for your power. For your prophecy and bloodline. Do you get my meaning so far?"

  "You're saying that he wants me for his wife?"

  "Him and every other power-hungry man in Tyalbrook. Skye, it's like I told you: You’re a ‘game changer’ in our world. You’re like a magic pill for whomever you marry. You’ll not only make them a King, but you’re also prophesized to bring peace and prosperity to the kingdom…as well as the fact that your heirs are supposed to for centuries."

  "How? I don't understand, Xander! What is it that I’m supposed to do that’s going to do all that you’re saying? I'm just a nobody..."

  I saw him glare at me for putting myself down again and I stopped quickly. "I don't mean that like you think. I just mean that I'm not a fighter like you, and I certainly don't know how to rule a country. What is it that I'm supposed to do that’s going to change everything?"

  "Well, let's call this number and find out," he said as he pulled the SUV into a shopping center with a Wall-mart. "C'mon - we can go grab one of those pre-paid phones."

  He turned into a parking space and pulled the keys out of the ignition before turning towards me.

  "Skye, here's the deal. Ri and I were going to ask you to go back to Tyalbrook with us as soon as we found a portal to get us there. Rioden told me that the remaining Guardians went into hiding around the same time that McClintock started the coup and you came here. He wants to go back and find them, if they're still there. He thinks they can put a plan together to take the kingdom over and get your crown back."

  "What if I don't want a crown, Xander?"

  "Then..." He faltered for a moment and I wanted nothing more than to reach my hand out to hold his, but we needed to have this conversation, and I knew that touching him would derail me from what I was thinking.

  "Then I would be disappointed, Skye," he admitted. "I want to go home. But, if you choose to stay here, then I’ll stay with you."

  "You’re are asking for the impossible!" I told him as I unbuckled my seatbelt and grabbed at the handle to get out. "You’re tying my decision with your own life. You can't do that!" I screamed, as I jumped out and slammed the door of the SUV. Leaning back against the door I willed myself not to cry.

  "Skye..." Xander's voice was filled with concern as he walked around the car.

  "Xander, you're asking me to go to some strange land that I’d never even heard of two days ago, to be their Queen!" I choked out, as I stared down at the ground.

  I mentally called myself a coward for not being able to look him in the eyes.

  "Yes, every girl’s nightmare is to 'be the Queen', I know..," he teased, using air quotes which caused my lips to twitch.

  I kicked him lightly in the shin and then finally looked up. Damn! My knees were weak at the sincerity I saw in his face as he studied me. His full lips were pulled into a slightly crooked smile at the joke he’d made, but his eyes reflected the seriousness of the conversation.

  "I can't...I mean, how am I supposed to make a rational decision here? I don't want you to not go home just because I won't go. It's your home! And you can't tie your life to mine because that's just not fair."

  "Why not, Skye? Why can't I?” he pushed at me with his voice. “Huh? Why don't you want me to stay with you?"

  He stepped closer and almost eliminated all of the open space between us.

  "Why would you want to?" I stuttered, as I pulled myself up and backed against the car door; the handle jabbing into my spine.

  "Damn it, Skye! Because I love you!" he swore, and pressed the palms of his hands onto the glass window behind my head.

  "What?! Why, Xander? You don't know me, you don't know the things I've...."

  "Stop!" he threatened, and leaned even closer to me.

  "I do know you, Skye. I've been watching you for almost two years now. Every day. Every damn day and night I've watched you. I saw you move into your fri
end’s house and I watched you cry on the front porch that very same night. I sat there wondering if it was because you wanted to go back to the group home. I've watched you drink yourself into oblivion until you blacked out, and I've even watched you make out with drunk bastards who will never deserve you. God Skye, I've been in love with you my whole life, I've known you my whole life. My life is yours, I belong to you, I always will."

  His words trampled away the last of my resolve…just shattered it into a million little pieces. With tears streaming down my face and a million questions swirling in my head, I wrapped my arms around his waist and leaned into him; reaching up on my tip toes.

  His eyes were on fire as he stared down at me, and then he lowered his head slowly as I lifted mine to his; both of us giving the other time to back out.

  But there was no way in hell I was backing down from this.

  His forehead met mine and an audible sigh left his lips. Cupping my cheeks, his long fingers splayed out and wrapped down over my jaw line and onto my neck. His thumbs stroked my face softly. He held us there for an eternity, our breath mingling, and I closed my eyes so that I could savor his touch, his smell.

  "Skye," he breathed, his deep voice full of need. "Look at me, beautiful."

  I dug my fingers into his back and slowly opened my eyes, as he pulled his head back slightly so that we were no longer touching. It felt like time had stood still. The sun was beginning to set. Cars and people were passing us by.

  But all I saw was Xander, five inches from my face.

  I heard myself whimper. It was low and needy, and I wasn't even sure if he’d heard it. Just when I thought for sure that he hadn't, his hands tightened on my face and he pulled me closer again...foreheads touched, noses skimmed, lips met.

  My world exploded when his soft lips touched mine, and we both gasped. His lips immediately took ownership of mine; his tongue running lightly across my bottom lip. My fists tangled into his shirt to hold me up.