by Seay, S.
When we returned Jake had received word he was needed back immediately. All I could do was help him pack his things up. Jake had arranged a boat and was leaving in a few hours. I hated that thought but I knew he needed to go back. He longed to be at his home. “Would you please tell me what you think I should do?” “Izzy that decision is for you alone to make, it’s a great opportunity for you and a huge honor. I never want to hold you back from that.” He wouldn't look at me. “You won’t hold me back; I just need some insight to what you think. This affects both of us.” I rubbed the tattoo he had lied about. I was going to pull the you can't leave thing but he knew I knew the truth. “I have nothing to say about it.” That really made me mad. “Quit being so…so pigheaded.” That got his attention. He looked at me with his big green eyes and a bit of shock on his face. “I know you will make the right decision that is right for you.” If I didn’t love him so much I would have slapped him silly or punched him in the gut. “You mean us? If I take this seat on the council I will have to be here, a lot but I am able to leave and stay at other homes during breaks. I would have to start taking rotations with the others after I had my ceremony. Zadok said I would get to leave after three months, then it would be a regular schedule unless something big came up.” “Izzy please take it I know this is what you want. And you should want it.” He grabbed my hands and kissed my lips. “Jake I love you and I don’t want us to be apart can you not come live here or do you not want to be with me anymore?” “Believe me if it was that simple I would stay but I can't leave Karri nor my duties, I have at least twenty more years before I can be free. Plus don't take this the wrong way but I don’t want to be a so called “stay at home husband” He said husband, was he thinking of marrying me? My heart should have done flips but nothing. “I get that and I’m not asking you to stay at home there is plenty for you to do here.” My face started to sadden. I knew at that moment he was not going to stay. “I don’t want to stay at home either. I don’t know what I’m asking of either of us.” He looked at me with those gorgeous eyes that get to me every time. I think he knows how to use that against me. ”Izzy that’s why I need to leave so you can think on your own. I will never leave you truly. I love you.” It broke my heart to think that this could be it between us. That he was not willing to sit down and figure some kind of way for us to be together happy. “I’m done packing.” I said as I started to walk out of the room, but he stopped me. “Why don’t we take a walk before I leave, no more talking about this right now. I want to enjoy the little time I have left with you.” He was trying to make me feel better. I knew he could read how I felt, it was written all over my face. I do need to learn how to control myself with him; Jamie has her work cut out for her.
I told Zadok what had happened and where we were going and he said he would have Jakes bags on the ferry ready so we didn’t have to worry about them. “Jake I would like to speak to my daughter alone for a minute.” “Of course.” He shook Jake’s hand and told him to come back soon. Jake bowed and smiled as he walked out the room. “Sweetheart I hate to see you upset. You know I could make him stay.” The way he said “make” with a little force made me smile. “I wish that I could make him but if he wishes to go I will not push him. It is his choosing.” “You would be great on the council; I do not want Jake to make this decision harder on you. I don’t want to make it worse either but I would really like to have my daughter for a while. I have missed you and we have not yet gone over your mothers will, so before you make any decisions you wait to hear what she has to say.” He patted my hand on the counter in the kitchen. “I forgot about that. I am staying awhile here with you; I had planned on that already. And I think Jake is trying to make it easier by leaving but not realizing what he is doing.” “I do like Jake and he is a fine young man but you understand that him marking you means you are not allowed to be with anyone else unless that mark is removed?“ I remember how you remove it as well. “I do understand this and I would not want either of us to die for that to happen.“ “You will not die for that.“ He said that and a flash of worry came over me. I felt like I my dad was the mob boss for a second threatening my boyfriend. “Well I know he is waiting and I don’t want to keep you from him for the time he has here.” I half smiled kissed his cheek and went out the door. I hate being pulled back and forth but Zadok was right, if Jake didn’t want to be with me anymore we would have a problem, a big one.
Jake and I walked down to the shore and on the outskirts of the city. It was a marvelous place to be. I wasn’t sure I would be able to leave this place it held so much magic and history for me. We sat and watched the trees and flowers dance in the wind. The pure beauty of it was intoxicating. I saw the most beautiful flower. It was a light pale pink with dark purple that was almost black in the middle. I started to walk to it and Jake pulled me back. “That flower maybe beautiful but will kill you in one touch.“ I stepped back from it hugging him for pulling me away. “See I do need you around.“ He smiled for a quick second and then it slide off his face just as fast as it came on. I really wished he would stay but I was not going to ask again. I didn’t want to push anymore and I have my own pride too now. I know it was foolish to have pride but that’s how I felt. We stayed quite the rest of the time holding hands, other than pointing out some of the animals that would go by without even a notice to us. Soon it came time for him to leave and we kissed good bye. I fought back every tear that came creeping to the surface. He leaned in, kissed me one more time and told me he loved me. I smiled the biggest smile I could manage and said I loved him too. “I will wait for your call.” The knot in my throat was too much, tears came streaming down. “As soon as I’m home I will let you know.” He turned got on the boat and never looked back. He really was gone. I stayed and watched the ferry until it was at the gate. This was not how I thought things were going to be. I wanted to be happy and wanted everyone else too. I didn’t tell Jake that I wanted the council job but I was scared, I don't want to lose Jake over it. I deserved that position. Why do men make it impossible? I through my hands in the air. Starting now I will make my own decisions for me. I’m going to take it, but the picture of Jake kept creeping in my head. Boy I loved him!
I started my way home along the shore when I saw a path I had not seen earlier so of course I took it. I needed the fresh air and time to think by myself anyways. I realized it was the first time I had been by myself since I was kidnapped. It felt good but at the same time a little scary. I always had someone there watching over me just in case but there was no reason for that now. Daymon was dead and I was free. I followed along until I came up on a clearing and could hear water moving like a stream. I walked into the clearing and followed the sound of the water. I looked to the right and there in the distance was a small waterfall. It was concealed by all the thick green forest. The wind blew light across my face as I looked down. There was a path that had been hidden by the overgrowth. Something or someone was showing me the way. I could still make out the small shiny pebbles that someone had laid. It looked familiar; it was the waterfall the psyche had showed me. I ran to where the water pooled at. Beautiful clear blue water like a small swimming hole with a small creek that the water ran off somewhere to. I checked my pocket to make sure I still had the key with me. I had not let it off my body since I got it from that little yellow psyche. Even when we had the fight against Daymon I had tied it to my ankle. I looked all around the water's edge, in the trees and couldn’t find what the key would unlock. I took my sandals off and rolled up my shorts. I walked in the water looking for something or some kind of clue to what this meant. I felt almost silly thinking about what I was doing. I nearly gave up when I saw something shine behind the waterfall. Just a small twinkle of light that caught my eye. I walked up to where the water fell into the small pool, I tried to stick my hand through the other side of the water but it was hard like rock. I got out of the water, walked around the side and saw a small opening behind the waterfall. Curiosity got the best of me and I d
ecided to crawl in. Inside was a small cavern with shining green, red, and yellow jewels imbedded in the walls. I’m not sure how they shinned so bright because no sunlight came through. I rubbed my hand over the smooth surface, and the jewels that cast shadows on the walls. Under my feet I could feel the little bits of moss that covered the floor like carpet. Right there in the middle was a door. It was a white door with glass panels all in it. I could see through the glass door. All I saw was the other side of the cave and the sparkle of the jewels. It was standing there nothing holding it up and nothing behind it. It must be some kind of magic. I circled it, pushed on it, it didn’t budge. I tried to touch the top but I was too short. I even tired to jump a few times still no luck. This was very strange. I grabbed the key and held it tight in my hand. I put the key in the keyhole. Of course it was a perfect fit. My hands stared to shake; no telling what was on the other side of this door if anything. I almost felt juvenile standing here with a key that went to a door in the middle of a waterfall. “Well here goes nothing.” I turned the key and heard a click. I squeezed the handle a little tighter. It was silver and cold under my hand. I waited just a instant before I it turned. I pushed the door open and saw a bright yellow light. It was so bright it was hard to see in I wanted to close my eyes but didn’t. I squinted a few times and concentrated really hard. I was able to make out a figure; it was coming closer and closer. An overwhelming feeling came over me. I wasn’t scared anymore, I felt warm and safe. I forgot about all my Jake, Zadok, the council. I almost stepped in wanting to see who it was. I had let go of the door to go in. “Is that you……mom?” I stepped all the way end wanting to grab her, I heard a voice screaming my name. "Izzy come back." It was Jake he came back for me. I tried to get back to the door but it slammed shut. I began to flip over and over as if I was in space. I closed my eyes not to puke. Then I saw the bright light and that figure again. I reached up and heard "Open your eyes sweetheart." It was my mother's voice. I forced my lids to do what she said and when I did the light flooded them. I heard a beeping sound growing faster and faster. Everything seemed fuzzy but it started to come into view. I looked around and realized I was in a bed, a hospital bed. I looked over to my left and my mother was there. She was crying over me, I reached up and touched her to make sure she was real. She looked down and fell on top of me crying. "Nurse she's awake, hurry nurse." I knew that voice it was Zadok. He was at the door hollering and crying. I didn't understand how this could be. "Mom, were am I?" I asked confused. "Honey, you were in an accident and have been in a coma for a few months now." She was wiping her tears away from her eyes but at now use. The more she wiped the faster they fell. Zadok came over to me and hugged me. "I love you so much Isadora." He said like he hadn't seen me in months but I just saw him. The nurse came in a took my vital signs, wait I have a heartbeat. I looked over at the machine beeping, this can't be. Then it all came flooding back to me, I was driving listening to music on my way home from the store. It was late, I must have fell asleep at the wheel. The next thing I saw was head lights. This can't be, I was starting to feel sick when the doctor came in. It was Victor! Oh my gosh if Victor was here so was Daymon? I put my head in my hands then began to rub them through my hair. My mom came over and started to put a few strained behind my ear but stopped. "What is this?" She asked rubbing across my neck and shoulder. I reached up and felt. It was were Jake had marked me. "Where is Jake?" I asked out loud and panicked. Everyone looked back at me with questions in their eyes. "Who is Jake, Izzy?" My mom asked. "He's my boyfriend mom, he did this." I said pointing to my neck as if that explained everything. She looked back at Zadok confused shaking her head. I slammed my hands down on the hospital bed in frustration. I felt something small and round. I grabbed it tight in my hands and slowly opened my hand. It was my necklace Jake had given me. Tears rolled down my face. My mother smiled so sweetly at me and then said. "Oh honey, you must have been dreaming."
THE END
