Redemption (Night Marchers #2) Written by: Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels

by Nuckels, Courtney

  “That’s your question, Emma?” He asks me point blank. I nod my head in response as his expression changes. “I did what I had to do. Did I kill Adam? Yes, I did. That little Menehune was supposed to be the key to me finding immortality. But when I realized that you would be the better pawn I did away with him.”

  I flinch as he says this. It makes me ill thinking he can talk about something like that so nonchalantly. In the back of my mind I am hoping that the Menehunes and the Night Marcher chief hear his confession, but I know at this point it will do them no good. He’s immortal now; he can’t die.

  I look down to the ground not able to look at Kao any longer. If I am about to die, his face isn’t the last thing I want to see. Kao is close enough to me now that I see his feet in front of me. Something strange catches my eyes as he stands there. The bleeding in his leg hasn’t stopped. If he is truly immortal like he says he is, then there shouldn’t be any blood dripping from his leg. It most likely would be dried up blood having already clotted and healed. Then it dawns on me. Kao isn’t immortal, he just thinks he is!

  Forcing myself to look up at Kao, I find strength inside me I didn’t know I had until now. I smile brightly at Kao and say, “Here, can you hold this?” I must take him off guard because I shove the torch in his hands extra hard. “Thanks!” I reply. Then I do what I do best, run!

  I try to put as much distance between the cliffs and me as possible. I make it into a wooded area and can hear Kao from behind, gaining on me. I will myself to run faster and harder than I ever have. My heart is pounding wildly out of my chest from exertion. Where are you Eve? I got Kao to confess so why didn't they come out? My heart sinks knowing they must not have heard him. They may not even be around.

  I scream when my hair is jerked and I fall backwards. My back hits the ground so hard that the air is knocked right out of me. As I force myself to breathe I watch the tree canopy move above me. Panic racks my brain when I realize that the trees aren't moving, I am! Like a cavewoman, I'm being dragged by my hair back to where I had just been. "No!" I yell. "Let go!" I scream as I thrash about trying to free myself from him. I dig my nails into the dirt trying to slow our momentum but nothing helps. Kao is on some evil caveman mission to get rid of me. My head feels like it's on fire. I can feel each individual hair as it desperately tries to cling to my scalp. Thoughts of plummeting off the cliff fill my mind. I know I can heal easily but can I heal from a fall like that?

  "Hello." I hear Kao say from behind me. He stops abruptly and lets go of my hair. I can't see the person he's talking to. I watch Kao pull a knife out from his back pocket. He turns around and points it at me yelling, "Get up now!"

  My heart leaps to my chest with hope. Maybe it's Eve or the Night Marcher chief. I slowly drag myself up. I don't even get a chance to turn around before Kao pulls me in front of him like a shield holding the knife to my neck. I look ahead to see what he's so scared of and find Kai.

  Tears of joy spring to my eyes and in this moment I don't care that Kao has a stupid knife to my neck. My Kai is standing in front of us. He doesn't have a shirt on so the greenish glow emanates all that much more across his skin. He's the hottest spirit warrior I could ever imagine, a stupid thing to think right now, I know! Most importantly, he's here in front of me! "Kai!" I say through eyes blurred with tears.

  "Oh shut up!" Kao says from behind me. The knife digging deeper into my throat as it threatens to break the skin. "What do you want?" He spits at Kai.

  "I've come for her." He says pointing at me. I realize then that Kai is glowing fiercely. He looks so sickeningly like Kao did when he was trying to kill me.

  Kao lets out a boisterous laugh. "Oh right, there's still something you need to do."

  Kai's body tenses up as he raises his spear up. He nods his head. "Yes. Let her go." He says through clenched teeth.

  Kao whispers in my ear, "I don't have to kill you darling, your boyfriend will do the job for me." He laughs again. Then surprisingly he lets me go and backs away from me.

  "Kai," I whisper unsure. My stomach feels so sick over this whole situation and I feel as though my head is spinning in shock. I have no idea what to do. Kai takes a forced step towards me. He's trying to fight it again, I can tell. Relief surges through me knowing that he doesn't want to do this. I don't want to run from him. I don't want to make it any harder than it already is.

  I catch a movement to the left of me behind some bushes; Eve is sitting camouflaged. A small sliver of hope! I have to make him say it; I have to get Kao to confess again. Eve is here which means the Night Marcher chief is here too! I run away from Kai and back towards Kao. When I get to him I push him as hard as I can. "You evil bastard!" I barely move him.

  He lets off his amused laugh.

  "You took everything from him. You killed his fiancé. You are trying to kill me and you murdered his best friend!" I stab my finger in his chest with every word.

  He looks at me with emotionless eyes. "Yes, so what?"

  Will that work? I don't know, but I hope so. "You killed Adam!"

  "Shut up and die already!" Kao says venomously. "Your man is ready to kill you now."

  He's not going to say anymore. I'm so livid I can't control myself. I pull my fist back and slam it right into his mouth. Ouch! I've never punched anyone before and the throbbing in my hand reverberates up my arm. While it hurt, it still felt so good.

  Kao raises his hand to his mouth and wipes some blood off his lip. He holds his hand in front of his eyes examining it in complete shock. He looks at me eyes wide with horror. Then he looks behind me in fear. I turn around to find Kai holding his spear only a few inches from my chest.

  "Down." Is all he says. I don't hesitate, I drop to the ground and roll out of the way. I lift my head just in time to see Kai slide the spear into Kao's stomach. Blood gushes from the wound as Kao tries to pull it out frantically. The whole horrific scene makes me feel like I'm going to puke or jump for joy, I'm not sure which.

  "Enough!" I hear a voice reverberate from somewhere behind the trees.

  "No, no, no!" Kao whales.

  "Head down Emma!" Kai yells. He pulls me into his arms pushing my head into his chest to shield me from whatever is happening. His body feels warm and firm against mine. Not cold and damp like I had expected. I open my eyes to look closer at his skin. It's back to the toasted coconut color that I love. My heart leaps with happiness.

  "I, I love you." I say quietly into his chest. I want to look in his eyes, but his hand firmly holds my head down in place.

  His heart beats harder and at first I worry that something horrible is happening and he's scared. Then he says, "I love you so much Emma."

  I want to soak it all in but I'm cut off from this romantic moment when I hear Kao's shrill screams followed by a deep, authoritative voice. "You are hereby sentenced to an eternity of servitude. Kao, you are a slave who shall never be able to raise his head as a warrior again. You are the lowest of the low and will walk in chains forevermore."

  "That was the Night Marcher Chief." Kai whispers in my ear. "Eve is here. I need to leave you for a minute. Will you keep your head down?"

  I nod my head against his chest.

  "Please Emma, don't look up. Everything is going to be fine now, I promise." He says and I believe him wholeheartedly.

  He kisses the top of my head and then walks away. I turn my back to where the action is, draw my knees into my chest and rest my head in my hands. I listen intently trying to imagine what's going on behind me.

  "Thank you." Eve says.

  "It was just and right. I wish I could offer more of an atonement for your husbands death." The Chief says.

  "Actually, you can." Eve says rather strongly.

  There is an uncomfortable silence for several seconds until the Chief says, "You may ask for anything."

  "I want you to release to me all of the innocents that are amongst your tribe. Their families don't deserve this grief that I feel for my lost husband." She pauses a moment
to clear the emotion from her voice. "I realize that some of them may not have any family alive. Us Menehune's will take those individuals into our homes."

  The Chief stays silent for so long that I have to force myself to keep my head down. I want to see what he's doing or if he is even still there. To be honest, I kind of want to see what the Chief looks like, although I know the implications for doing so. Maybe he thought her request was that ridiculous. Just when I think he's not going to say anything he says in a highly annoyed tone, "Granted." The earth trembles ever so briefly under my feet.

  "Thank you." Eve says seemingly unperturbed.

  The chief doesn't respond. A long minute passes before Kai puts his hand lovingly on my back. "It's safe to look now, he's gone."

  I look up at Kai's face. Love washes over me so strong that I'm swimming in it. I open my mouth to say something but no words come out. I don't even think there are words in my vocabulary that could describe the overwhelming sense of elation for having Kai back, safe and sound.

  Kai stares back at me mirroring the same look of adoration on his face. I notice for the first time that his eyes are no longer a full stormy grey. They have these interesting black flecks around the iris. I've never seen anything like them.

  "Emma," Kai says. He wants to say something but he too is speechless. He pushes a loose strand of hair behind my ear then opens his mouth again to finish his sentence. He hesitates for a second and then his lips crash down on mine. He pulls me to him in an earth-shattering kiss. That electricity that we shared hasn't died down a single bit, if anything it just feels stronger. I close my eyes and relish in the intoxicating volts that pulse through my veins. The world as I know it falls down around me and it’s just him and me in this moment. I treasure it, not ever wanting it to stop. He pulls away and looks into my eyes again. "Words can't describe what I feel right now." He leans in and kisses me again, this time the kiss is gentle and undemanding. He kisses my lips then the bridge of my nose and finally my forehead. He rests his forehead against mine and says, "I love you so much Emma. That was the stupidest thing anyone has ever done for me. I thought..." His voice gets tight.

  I move back just enough to catch his eyes. "I know it was reckless and stupid but I couldn't just leave you there. I know I haven't known you long, but I feel like you took a piece of me with you."

  Kai looks at me a little confused but patient to hear what's on my heart.

  "I mean, I don't know much about love or it's symptoms, but I realized when I saw you again that at some point I must have given you a piece of my heart. Now, I'm not whole without you. I love you Kai." I put my hand on his cheek and feel his warmth. I lean in and place a gentle kiss on his lips.

  Kai, with eyes full of emotion says, "Emma, if I had to march an eternity in slavery it would be worth it knowing that you are safe. They can bind my wrists and shackle my feet, but they can't take away my memories, my heart. If I had to see you grow old from a distance with someone else, it would have been worth it. I have had more than one lifetime to learn that our love can only come around once." He hugs me to his chest then pulls me back and stares seriously into my eyes. "You must never try to sacrifice yourself again for me. That night when you ran away, I knew something was up. I could tell and because I doubted only the slightest bit, I was almost too late. Then when I had to leave you with Kao right there…" His face contorted to anger and pain. "I couldn't help you. I tried, I fought it but I couldn't get away. If you had not struck that curse with me by looking me in the eyes, I may not have made it this time. You must promise me to never do anything that dangerous again." His eyes plead with me.

  I shake my head slowly a single tear dropping down my cheek. "I can't promise that Kai. I may not know much about it but I've learned that love is a sacrifice. Putting the one that you love in front of yourself comes with the territory. I would gladly lay down my life for you just as I know you would do for me again and again. You can't expect me to make a promise that you yourself wouldn't be able to keep."

  If it's even possible the look of love that is displayed on Kai's face grows even stronger. He nods and says, "You're right. I feel like it's my duty to protect you, but I realize that you are just as strong willed as I am." He grabs a hold of my hand and says, "Emma, I would endure a thousand deaths for you."

  I laugh at the irony of his comment. He can't really die; well at least he hasn't yet. I think about my rapid healing and wonder if the same holds true for me. A shiver overcomes me. I don't think I want to find out. Instead I just respond with a flirtatious smile, "Ditto."

  Chapter 12

  After Kai and I are done with our gushy romantic reunion I look around to realize that nobody else is around. "Where did everyone go?" I ask.

  "Eve and the others went to the beach. The Night Marcher Chief and Eve both agreed that level ground would be a more suitable place to release the other Night Marchers." Kai responds.

  My heart starts beating with hope and elation, "You mean everyone is going to be released? Kai, that’s amazing!" I bounce with excitement.

  He smiles tenderly, "Yes it is, I've marched with some tormented souls who have lost everything. This redemption is long overdue." His face drops with sadness. "Some of them may not be able to handle life like they could before the marching. I don’t think any of them even held onto hope."

  Realization dawns on me, "Oh...That's why they didn't want to release them so close to a cliff. They didn't want any of them to..." The idea of the horror that many of these people had to endure cuts right through me. Being taken from everything they knew, to march stoically for who knows how many years. "Was it that bad?" I ask Kai.

  A dark look passes over his face. "I wasn't there as long as some of the others. We didn't just march if that’s what you’re asking. We had a purpose and the purpose in and of itself was to protect the island. I held onto that; knowing that at least protecting the island that the woman I love is on, it was enough to keep me going. Like I said, many of the captives have been marching for an unthinkably long time. They've lost everyone that they ever cared for; they had nothing left to hold onto. They are very bitter and hurt because their life was stolen away."

  I feel horrible for them. I can't even imagine what that would feel like. "Do you think the Menehunes will be able to help them?" I ask.

  "If anyone could help these people it would be the Menehunes. They are filled with love and they care so deeply for others..." Kai's head drops down and I watch his shoulders shake.

  "I'm so sorry, Kai." I wrap my arms around him and hold him close to me while he takes a moment to mourn for his lost friend.

  He takes a deep breath and wipes his face off. "We should go. Eve mentioned that your friends are there waiting for you."

  Friends, that means not just Kaylee but Tristan too. A nervous feeling rises in my stomach knowing Tristan will be there. I decide it's best to be up front with Kai now. "Kai, I need to tell you something." Kai just gives me a loving look almost like he knows what I'm going to say. He doesn't speak up though; he lets me talk. "Do you remember that letter I received when we were with the Menehunes? It was before you became a Night Marcher." He nods. "It was from Tristan. Before we met, he and I were sort of dating. He found me that night when you turned. He took me home and took care of me. He also helped me try to find you again."

  "Yes, I remember seeing him with you before we even met. You care for him, I can tell. I could tell when you read that letter." Kai says. Thankfully he doesn't seem upset by the news.

  "Yes, I care for him a lot. He and I we have or had feelings for each other. I hurt him Kai. He loves me and I wasn't sure how I felt until a day ago when I saw you again. I made a huge mistake and blurted out that I'm in love with you and he overheard." I feel as if my whole body is shaking with nerves about seeing him again.

  "Why are you shaking Emma?" Kai asks then puts his hands on my shoulders.

  I try to blink back tears. "I just don't want to hurt Tristan."

  "You m
ust really care about him." He looks in my eyes. "Do you love him?"

  Shocked I stand there unmoving for a second. I don't even blink. I allow myself to think about all of the little moments that Tristan and I had. "I think I do, but not like I love you. He's meant to be in my life though, I can tell. He’s important to me."

  Kai rubs his hands up and down my arms comfortingly. "Then I'm sure you will be able to make it right." He kisses me on the forehead then says, "We better go."

  I hold onto Kai's hand the entire decent to the beach. Kai cracked a joke about having unbelievable night vision left over from being a Night Marcher. When we reach the beach we see a scene that looks much like an airport arrival gate. There is so much activity and people gathered here and there. Nearly fifty Menehune's and more than two dozen human's are scattered around on the small beach. A large bonfire lights up the area. Separated into small groups, some people look like they are crying as the Menehunes are comforting them and some people are excitedly talking to others. Seeing how the Menehunes care for these complete strangers is truly heart warming.

  My eyes dart around wildly looking for familiar faces. I spot Kaylee's blonde hair from across the crowd easily. Tristan is with her, along with another person and a few Menehune's. I let go of Kai’s hand and start walking forward with Kai on my heels. When I approach the first person to look up and notice me is Tristan. My heart skips a beat when our eyes meet. They aren't filled with pain and sorrow like the last time I saw him, for that I'm grateful.

  "Emma!" Kaylee attacks me with a giant bear hug that nearly topples us both to the ground. "Oh my gosh Emma! I'm so glad you are okay!" We hug for several minutes not noticing anyone around us. Hugging Kaylee makes me feel normal again, like everything that is going absolutely berserk in my life is going to be okay.

  "Hey, I'm glad you are safe too!" I pull back and look at Paul who is looking up at us goofily.