“What do you mean they weren’t dreams?”
“You were astral projecting to him. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of that but it’s when…” Skye put her hand up stopping him.
“You can’t be serious.” Skye stood walking to the edge of the porch.
“I take it you know what that means.”
“Yes. My spirit traveled out of my body and actually went to him. So it was real. For both of us. I was seeing him for real and not dreaming.” She shook her head again.
“Exactly. My guess would be you were always naked because your soul has been naked in front of his when you felt the most vulnerable. You two share a bond.”
“Too much information.” Skye whispered to herself. “Oh god! In the dreams we almost had sex several times. I would wake up right before it happened.”
“That was probably your subconscious protecting you from opening yourself up to him in that way after he hurt you.”
“I had dreams of him while I was with Mike. I didn’t cheat on Mike though, but it really freaking feels like I did right now!”
“You didn’t know.” he said gently.
“After Mike and I broke up though…”
“You engaged in sexual activity with him.” Gary said as if it were normal to talk this way with his child.
“I didn’t have sex with him!” Skye knew it was a weak defense.
“You wanted to and started to though. Skye honey, it’s still not cheating. There isn’t a time limit when it comes to love or lust.” Skye gazed at her father.
“You are way too calm about all of this. I’m freaking out on the inside and you are sitting there as if we are discussing football.” Gary laughed at her comment.
“Not true. I was a fan of football. I would be much more heated about that discussion. What you fail to understand is that this is natural. Love and lust are natural. Why should we feel ashamed of what are natural emotions? You’re a smart girl Skye and I trust you.”
“I dated a demon and I’m still in love with that stupid asshole demon. How can you trust me?”
“You still love me?” Maddox’s voice was low and husky. Skye felt a shiver go up her spine. She suddenly wished she had a firearm in the house.
“Well hello Maddox. I’m Gary.” Gary stood walking over to Maddox who was much taller than he was. Gary was not afraid, which impressed Skye. Maddox shook his hand.
“Sir, it’s nice to meet you.” Maddox looked back to Skye.
“I believe I’ll leave you two alone.” Gary said starting to leave but Skye grabbed his shoulder.
“You’re going to let me stand out here alone with a demon?” Skye was shocked. She knew he loved her, but she thought he would be more protective of her especially with Maddox.
“This demon does love you and whether or not you want to be with him is none of my business right now. Besides, if he tries to hurt you, I have ways of making him suffer worse than he ever imagined possible.” Gary looked to Maddox. “That’s not a threat either.” Maddox nodded.
“I’m not here to hurt her.” he said.
“You better not be… in any way.” Gary walked inside leaving them alone. Skye stood for a moment unable to face him. She felt the heat radiating off of his body as if he were a human-sized sun there to scorch her.
“You still love me?” Maddox asked again. Skye sighed and threw her hands up in frustration. Spinning to face him, she had to restrain herself from pushing him. Touching could not be allowed.
“Yes, I do. So what? It changes nothing.” Skye murmured.
“I didn’t cheat on you.” he said.
“You sound like a freaking broken record. I told you I believed you. Please drop that! It doesn’t take away the pain I felt from believing it was real. It may have been fake, but to me it was real. The pain I felt was real. Feeling like I wasn’t good enough was real! Making me regret giving up my virginity to the only person I ever loved… it broke me.”
“Skye…” he started to walk toward her, but she jumped back. He froze immediately.
“No touching. If you want to try to talk fine, but you do NOT touch me!” He nodded agreeing.
“I’m sorry for everything you went through. I suffered as well. Losing you was worse than anything I’ve ever been through. I know it was nothing compared to what you felt. I’ll never be able to make that up to you.”
“No, you won’t.”
“But Skye you love me! That has to mean something. Then the dreams we shared. Those had to be real.”
“My dad said I astral projected.” she whispered. Maddox closed his eyes taking it in and nodded. He opened his eyes and the look in his eyes made her stomach tingle. She hated that with just a simple look he could turn her insides into mush.
“Then it was real. We kissed. We loved. We almost…” He stopped knowing not to continue. “You wanted to be with me in the dreams despite the anger you felt towards me. Maybe it’s possible for us to find that again.”
“Maddox, everything is screwed up. Not just us. Everything. I don’t need this.”
“You said you were in trouble. I asked a friend of mine about you. It seems you are on the run. I can help you.” Skye’s mouth dropped open in a huff.
“Why would I ask for your help? I can protect myself. I’m not some weak woman. I’ve changed.”
“I can see that. I see your strength. I can also see that you love your family and want to protect them. You have a better chance of protecting them with some help.” Skye shook her head.
“I don’t think so.” Skye said. The front door opened and Cloud stepped out. Skye’s eyes went wide. “Mom go back inside.” Skye rushed to her mother’s side.
“I think I should have a say in all of this.” Cloud said.
“It’s not safe for you to be around him. Your natural scent attracts him.” Skye explained.
“Her light doesn’t appeal to me.” Maddox said. Skye scoffed.
“Right! I know that all demons are attracted to our light. She’s full elf so her appeal would be impossible to resist.”
Cloud walked up to Maddox and put her hand on his face. Skye thought for a second she was going to slap him and gasped. Instead, she placed her hand on his face gently. Maddox didn’t move and seemed unaffected by it.
“He is telling the truth. He has no desire to harm me.” Cloud said letting her hand fall.
“How is that even possible?” Skye asked.
“Because I love you.” Maddox said. Skye really wished he would stop saying those words.
“It’s true. His life force has bonded with your own. It is how I know you love him as well.” Skye hated that her mother would defend a demon.
“That’s beside the point here.” Skye grumbled.
“You’re right. The point is I heard him offer protection and I think we should take him up on it.” Skye’s mouth dropped in shock at her mother’s words.
“Has everyone gone insane?”
“We want to protect you and any help in achieving that is welcomed. Skye, you know how much I disliked Maddox for what he did to you. I disliked him being a demon as well. Then I learned about your father’s lineage and yours as well. How can I hate something that is in the two people I love the most in the universe? I don’t have to love demons, but if one can help take care of you then I’m going to accept the help on your behalf.”
“What makes you think he can even help?” Skye asked.
“I’m sure he has resources to help.” She turned to face him. “Don’t you?”
“I do. I even have a plan.” Maddox said.
“What plan?”
“You aren’t safe here in your home. You haven’t been attacked yet but it’s easy to track you back here. This will be the first place they look after my home of course. We have to get out of here tonight if you have any chance of surviving.” He looked to Cloud. “Any of you.”
“Okay. I’ll tell the others we are packing.” Cloud walked inside without another word. Skye’s mouth was apparently going t
o stay wide in shock tonight.
Her own mother just helped make a decision for her without even consulting her. Skye felt she should have some say in the matter. She looked back to Maddox with a shake of her head.
“We are all going to protect you. You can hate me until the day I die and I will accept that as long as you are alive and safe. That is all that matters to me.” Maddox said with such conviction, such passion, that it made Skye want to break down. Instead, she held it together and looked him right in the eyes.
“Just because you’re doing this doesn’t mean we will ever get back together.” Maddox nodded at her words.
“I understand.”
Chapter Twenty
Maddox left to go pack and get his reinforcements to help us. I walked in the house and was amazed to see everyone had packed so much up already. Even the newly bought groceries were packed in coolers and ready to go.
Mike had everything of his in the living room ready to move out at any time. Skye looked at him and felt a pang of guilt rip through her chest. She could only imagine what he was thinking. She didn’t want him to think she was leaving with Maddox to be with him.
“Mike, I need to talk to you.” she said softly. He walked over to her and embraced her in a strong hug. She gasped and hugged him back. He always gave the best hugs. He pulled away and looked into her eyes.
“I won’t lie and pretend this doesn’t hurt me. I won’t say I don’t miss you because I do, but I know why we are doing this. I don’t care if I have to befriend a thousand demons to keep you and your family safe. Your family has become my family. And you, Skye, are always going to be my best friend. There’s no need to explain anything.” He kissed Skye’s cheek then ran upstairs to help Cloud.
Skye ran to her own room and packed quickly. Maddox had said he would be back in an hour and they needed to be ready to disappear. Skye took a deep breath and began packing the things she couldn’t leave behind. She was shocked at how little she actually needed or wanted.
She had to have her clothes, of course, and things her family had made for her. She even brought her yellow dress. She grabbed the essentials and as she was about to carry them downstairs she paused.
She looked at her luggage and waved her hand over them casing them in her light and flashed them downstairs. She ran to the stairs and looked down amazed her things where she had wanted them to be.
“Show off.” Mike muttered.
Skye laughed and watched him carry things downstairs. Her father taught her to use her powers. She knew this was the best time to practice them. Their lives depended on any extra strength they could get.
After everyone was packed and ready to go, they loaded everything into the back of Skye’s car and waited in the garage as Skye went through the house turning everything off. Part of her felt she was saying goodbye to her home. It was her first real home. The first place she felt safe and she feared she would never see it again. Not because she would lose the battle but because she knew you couldn’t predict where life was going to bring you.
“Bye.” Skye whispered to her home.
She walked outside and parked her car out of the garage and waited by the side of the road for Maddox. On cue he pulled in beside her in a black SUV. The doors opened on the SUV and she put her hand over her mouth in surprise. Buck, Kel, Evan, and several demons piled out of the car.
Skye ran to her three friends and hugged them. She giggled seeing them and couldn’t believe they were here for her.
“You didn’t think we would let you go running off to battle without us, did you?” Buck said raising his eyebrow. Skye laughed and then looked at Evan.
“Evan?” She started to question, but he shook his head.
“As if I would hang around a bunch of mutants like you all if I didn’t have powers of my own.” His eyes lit up orange then changed back to their normal color.
“What are you?”
“I’m a witch, baby. It’s never a true party without a witch.” Skye kissed his cheek overjoyed to see him.
Maddox stepped out of the vehicle and looked at Skye. The other demons stayed behind him. Skye walked over to him and nodded.
“Thank you. You don’t have to do this.” she said.
“Actually I do have to. Are you ready? We have a long drive.”
“Where are we going?” Skye asked.
“To a place full of magic that is beautifully hidden away. Kentucky. Let’s get this party on the road.” He walked back to his vehicle without another word. Everyone got into their cars.
Maddox looked once more at Skye before pulling out slowly in front of her. Skye followed Maddox and her friends. Her parents and Mike sat silently in the car watching as they left Charleston and headed to a new destination. A destination that at the moment held hope.
Acknowledgements
First and foremost I have to thank Kelly Scott. She edited “Shards of Skye” and edited this book as well. She makes editing seem easy when I know it’s far from that. I am lucky enough to have her as a friend and editor. You rock girl!!
I would also like to thank my readers. I know I’m just a normal person, well not so normal, that loves to write. Getting messages from you about how you love these characters and even have crushes on them is amazing!! Thank you for being patient with me. I would love to put these out faster but life can be hectic. You all make it worth it though.
I would also like to thank my friends who are inspirations for many of my characters. You all have such dynamic personalities, that trying to imagine and develop magical people with amazing personalities isn’t a stretch at all.
To my family who has supported me through all of this, I love you so much. I have written stories since I was eleven years old. I have never shared them with the public. They were just for me. It has almost been a sort of therapy for myself. When I was first encouraged to release them, I refused for years. I’m so glad I finally listened. I’m able to share these characters and their journeys with you and that is great. Thank you all! BB.
About this Author:
Anna has had a passion for books since before she could even remember. She also has a passion for people which is why she is hard at work in college working on her Bachelor’s degree. She is from Kentucky originally, but has lived all over the east coast and currently resides in South Carolina. She lives with her husband Adam, her son Drake, her two dogs Gabie and Zeus, her cat Bella, and her fish Psycho Fish.
Also by this Author:
“Finding Abigail” on Amazon and Nook.
“Shards of Skye”, The Skye Chronicles Book One” on Amazon.
Coming Soon
The Skye Chronicles book Three
Skye is back on Earth and has a battle on her hands. To protect her family and herself, she will have to learn to use her dark powers as well as her light powers. She also has to learn that trust is sometimes deserved. But once trust is broken, is there a way to ever get it back? The Chronicles of Skye will continue 2015.
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Slivers of Skye (The Skye Chronicles Book 2) Page 11
