“Gavin, this room is for me?” My voice sounds small and insecure, but the grandeur of this “chamber” makes me feel out of place.
“Yes, Princess. When the queen found out that you were, in fact, alive, she had this wing of the castle designed for you.” Gavin goes to the windows and presses a button. Blinds whir down from inside the ceiling, immediately darkening the room. “Why don’t you take a bath and rest for a while? Gabe will be outside your door if you need anything. I’ll come for you in a few hours, right before dinner.”
“Um, okay.” Before I can ask any questions, they quickly exit the room.
Walking around the room, I find a double door with large, silver handles. I pull one handle toward me, opening a closet full of silk gowns in every color. The door next to it opens into a shoe closet. There are shelves of high heels, slippers, and sandals, closed-toe and open-toe shoes in every color imaginable. I pick up a pair of glittery, silver slippers and try one on. A perfect fit. How could all of these shoes be in my size?
I step back and look around. What does this mean? Why do I have a room and closets full of clothes and shoes in my size? Why is the vicious queen being so nice? Can she really be my mother? These thoughts tangle in my head until it feels as though I’m trying to think through a foggy haze. I stumble to the bed, sit down, and rest my head in my hands.
Elena, Michael, Jax, Makin, the queen—their faces swim behind my eyelids. How can this be happening to me? This is all too crazy to actually be true. I try to focus and replay the events of the past few days in my head, but I’m missing something. How did so many people fool me? My mind goes around in circles. People’s faces, brief memories, but the question still lingers…who’s for real and who’s lying?
Chapter Fourteen
I find myself lying in the field of purple-stemmed flowers. The sky above me is a faint pink, scattered with twinkling stars. They appear so close. I bring my hand up to touch them even though they’re a great distance away. The three looming moons are now blood red, which sends a shiver down my spine. Usually in my dreams, the moons are brilliant yellow, not dark and dreadful.
“Alexa!” His voice sings in my ear. I knew he’d be searching for me.
“Jax, where are you? Where am I? What’s happening?” I sit up and explore my surroundings, but there’s no sign of him.
“I’m close by. Are you in the field?” His voice is tense and throaty, as if he’s been running.
“I am.” My body starts to tingle in anticipation at seeing Jax again. I’m both happy to see him and angry with him for bringing me to Pumalia and endangering Elena.
Jax emerges from the tree line. His tall, muscular figure is unmistakable. As he approaches, I notice he isn’t wearing his uniform, but instead a tight, white shirt and gray sweatpants. His piercing-blue eyes radiate concern and worry.
“Are you okay? What have they done to you?” He kneels down beside me and gently takes my hand in his. I quickly pull back, not knowing how I feel about him, about what he has done to me. However, the sparks are undeniable; they travel up my arm from the spot where he touched my hand. “Alexa, I’m so sorry. I never imagined any of this would happen. You have to believe that.”
“Jax, I don’t know what I believe. You took me from my home and delivered me to a prison. Elena could be hurt—or even worse—for helping me escape.” I didn’t mean to talk so loudly, but I can’t hide the hurt and I need to blame someone.
He turns away and studies his hands. “I know. I would have a hard time believing me, too. But Elena is okay. Maddox imprisoned her, but I helped her escape; she’s safe now.”
“All those dreams of mine that you’ve been in, and you never warned me. Why didn’t you tell me about all of this? Why didn’t you warn me?” Tears prick the back of my eyes, but I fight them off. I don’t need to appear even more vulnerable than I already feel.
“It’s not that easy, Alexa. There has always been a way to do things, and I was following protocol. I had no reason—until the end—to question Maddox.” The sincerity in his voice speaks volumes, and at that moment, I know he’s being honest. “I wasn’t aware who your parents were, but I never know those details. I just help acquire half-breeds and bring them to Pumalia. That’s always been part of my job.”
We both sit there in silence. “I did know something was different with you,” he says quietly. “I’ve never communicated so much with someone in a dream state. Typically, I meet the being a day or two before their birthday and ease them into the transition, a transition that they’re well aware of. But you never knew what was happening—and you were always there. Just like now. How do you come here? I fall asleep and I hear you calling me, and before I know it, I’m here in the field or forest. It’s like we have a connection. I’ve never experienced this before.” His expression mirrors my confusion.
“How do I do it? I don’t do anything!” Anger spikes in my blood, but I don’t want to explode in front of Jax.
He stares up at the sky, appearing mesmerized by the moons. “I’m sorry if you thought I was accusing you of knowing what’s going on. I just thought maybe you somehow knew how to get here. Every time I’ve visited with you in your dream, we seem to meet here. I’ve never been here before. Usually with other integrations, we meet in their Earth home, or on Pumalia at the compound.”
A flicker of jealousy creeps through my body. “You’ve done this a lot, with others like me?”
His stoic face cracks a grin while he’s contemplating my question. “I would never say that the other half-breeds are anything like you.”
“So, how am I different—besides the different dreamland meeting place?” I want him to say that I’m not that different, that I’m not a freak in my Earth life or here in this galaxy.
“Well, first of all, I’m usually able to tell you everything about you when I first meet you in the dream world. But I was given little information on you, and when I queried, Maddox told me you were a risk. I wasn’t supposed to tell you anything. As I got to know you, I couldn’t figure out why he would say those things. Now it all makes sense—he was afraid of you and didn’t want me to endanger him.”
“So he’s afraid of me because of who my parents are? Or what powers I might have?” I snort out loud. My powers don’t seem to be doing me any good right now.
“Well, yes—both. He’s afraid that your father will come out of hiding and hunt him down. He’s afraid of your mother because of the war she’s waging against the galaxy.” Jax shifts his gaze back to his fidgeting hands, hiding his beautiful blue eyes.
“I don’t think he has to worry about my father—I don’t think he’ll be coming for me. If he could leave me with Elena for the first fourteen years of my life, then I doubt he’ll be searching for me now.” The idea that my father has been alive my whole life isn’t only disturbing, but sad. When Elena told me that my father was gone and “watching us from above,” then I at least knew he didn’t leave me by choice. But now that’s changed.
I go from having one parent to no parent, to having both birth parents alive and dysfunctional. I thought life was tough before when I was the odd girl out, but now I yearn for that simple life.
“Alexa, are you okay?” His voice pulls me from my thoughts. I’m thankful.
“Sure, I’m great!” I say with a little too much irony and excitement.
Jax gifts me with a teasing, sidelong glance and a charming smile. “It seems you are.”
“Well, before I disappear and wake up, what should I do about the queen? She honestly doesn’t seem so terrible.” My face heats because I remember hearing the awful acts she’s allegedly committed. Part of me wants to anger Jax; I’m not sure why, though.
“She’s not bad. Aside from killing innocent beings, or locking away beings’ loved ones for no reason other than to satisfy her hunger for terrorizing the innocent, not to mention trying to kill your father in an ambush that she orchestrated, she’s a great queen.” The sarcasm and disgust drip from his words
, and my heart sinks.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound—”
Before I can properly take back what I said, the landscape starts to fade. The tingling in my limbs signifies I’m being yanked back into my unnatural reality. “Jax, please come for me.”
He leans in and kisses my forehead. His lips leave a burning sensation that warms my whole body. “I’m going to find you, Alexa, I promise.”
His exquisite eyes find mine and I let myself vanish without a fight.
“Let her be. She’s had a long journey and she needs to rest.”
I know that voice all too well. It’s Michael’s. I hear the door open and close with a whoosh-click. Why would he care if I’m rested or not? He all but captured me and brought me to this place.
Voices murmur in the background as I emerge from my dream reunion with Jax. “Oh good, she’s finally waking up now,” a girl whispers close by.
My eyelids flutter, finally opening. A young girl is hovering above me, staring. Long, brown hair frames her pale, oval face. Her large, almond-shaped, lilac eyes blink as the corners of her mouth move into an excited smile. “Finally, you’re awake! I’ve been waiting days to meet you.”
“Um, how long have I been sleeping?” I start to sit up and whip the warm blankets off of me, but I stop when I realize I have no pants on. How did I even get under the blankets or into these clothes?
Confusion must be written all over my face. She kneels on the bed in front of me, trying not to laugh. “You have been sleeping for two days. I actually came to visit you the first night you were here, but you fell asleep on the bed. So I got you into your pajamas and covered you up. I didn’t think you would mind, since we’re sisters and all.”
“I’m sorry, it sounded like you said…wait a minute. Did you say you—you’re my…my sister? How can that be? Is this some sort of joke?”
“You surely ask a lot of questions.” She giggles, reminding me of a young, carefree girl. I can’t help but smile a little myself. “Yes, you have a younger half sister—well not that young. I’m twelve years old. But I don’t think of you as a half. You’re my sister, and I’ve been waiting a few days to meet you. I have always wanted a sister!”
Her excitement is contagious; I smile in return.
She jumps off the bed and traipses to the closet. She’s a little shorter than me and her hair is a beautiful light-brown shade. She opens the closet doors and takes out a robe. “Here you go, Alexa. This will keep you warm. Let’s go eat some breakfast! By the way, my name is Miri.”
“I still have so many questions.” The weight of what has transpired makes me tremble. “I need answers—I need to know why I’m here, and where here is.”
She hands me the fluffy, pink robe and I quickly wrap my shivering body in it. The trembling ceases before I tie the robe closed. It’s the softest, warmest robe I have ever felt.
Miri quickly walks to the door. “Hurry up, Alexa, before the cooks start making lunch. I’ll answer as many questions as I can after breakfast.” She holds the door open and I promptly follow her.
I didn’t realize how hungry I am. My grumbling stomach makes Miri giggle uncontrollably all the way to the kitchen. I can’t help but giggle myself; her happiness is contagious.
The kitchen is unbelievably huge. An army of cooks is prepping food, wielding an equally huge array of kitchen appliances and gadgets. Miri weaves around the cooks to a bank of cupboards, then refrigerators, then tables covered in trays of food. She comes back to where I’m waiting at a table tucked away in a nook. She’s bearing two plates loaded with pancakes, fresh fruit, and yogurt with granola. I feel like we’re on Earth, enjoying breakfast out at a diner.
We immediately dig in to our plates. “Mmmm, this is delicious. Thank you for bringing me down here for breakfast.” My stomach fills up fast because I haven’t eaten in some time. The meal makes me think of my Earth life and what Elena probably had in store for me for my birthday breakfast.
“No problem. I figured you’d want to avoid as many beings as possible, considering what has happened and who you are.” Miri is finally slowing down, and instead of shoveling forkful after forkful of food into her mouth, she uses her fork to roll around the few grapes and cherries left on her plate.
“So, now that we’re done with breakfast, are you going to answer my questions?” I don’t mean to be rude, but I need to know what’s happening—and now.
She smiles and whispers, “Of course, but not here—there are too many people lurking around.”
“Okay, where shall we go?” I realize we won’t be going anywhere but back to my room when I remember what I’m wearing. “Never mind, clearly I can’t go anywhere in this thing.”
“Oh, that?” She waves a dismissive hand. “That’s an easy fix.” Miri peeks over her shoulder, presumably to see if anyone is watching us. She whispers a few indiscernible words, and just like that, my robe is gone and I’m in black pants, a purple tunic, and sneakers.
“Wow. That’s amazing! How did you do that?” I exclaim, peering at myself in disbelief.
“Oh, that’s nothing. You should see what you’re capable of. You would put that little chant to shame.” She shoots up from her seat and takes our plates to the dishwasher. “Follow me, sister—I mean Princess,” she says when she returns.
I trail her down a set of stairs to a door that leads outside. I can hear a few giggles escape her even though she’s walking in front of me. Miri gently places her hand on the door and it sails open.
“How did you do that?” I blurt, but the wind whipping around outside carries my voice away.
“You mean this?” She holds up her hands and the wind grows stronger. She closes her eyes and spins around wildly in the breeze. I watch in awe as her long hair clings to her face. The wind comes to an immediate standstill when she stops spinning. I stand there with my mouth hanging open.
“You can do this, too.” She chuckles and walks toward the water.
I run after her. “Wait, I can do this? I’ve the same powers as you?” I know I have some sort of something going on, but I never imagined I could do something so controlled as I just witnessed Miri do.
“I told you, we’re half sisters. Of course you can do that—our father’s parents were very powerful.” She looks hopeful and sad all at the same time.
“Wait, the queen isn’t your mother?” My own voice echoes in my head. Why is she here?
“No, silly, she’s the queen and you’re the princess. I’m here for you. Well, and the queen made me come here when she found out who I was. But it hasn’t been terrible. She’s taken care of me since I was three years old. She even lets my mom visit on special occasions, like my birthday.”
I can see the sadness in her eyes, and now I realize why. She misses her mom. “Can you leave?”
“No. If I do, they’ll hurt my mother. I stay here and do as I’m told. It really isn’t that bad.” Quickly, she turns and looks at something in the distance. “This is my favorite part of the island,” she says, changing the subject.
“We’re on an island?” I try to process this new information as I continue to speak. “The rolling green hills, sandy dunes, the serene water—it’s all beautiful. I see why you like it out here. I never expected to see this anywhere but at home—I mean Earth.” The thought of Earth makes me long for the normalcy I once dreaded.
“Yes, we’re on an island. The most beautiful island around.” Miri stares off, clearly somewhere else in her mind.
“Miri, can you explain this place to me? I’m still perplexed as to where I actually am.” I hear the confusion and desperation in my voice. Not knowing where I am makes me feel powerless—plus, if I know, I can tell Jax the next time I see him in my dreams.
Miri’s eyes light up at my request and a smile spreads across her face. She’s always smiling. I wonder how she became such a positive young girl. Obviously, her circumstances are less than favorable. It’s like she knows something I don’t. “Well, what do you w
ant to know, exactly?” Her happy voice squeaks.
“How far are we from Earth? How can I breathe here? Is this planet like Earth? Why haven’t scientists on Earth talked about Pumalia or Mapu?” My face starts to heat when I realize Miri is sitting in front of me, trying not to conceal her laughter. “I’m sorry, I’m just really confused.”
“Don’t be! I don’t know what I’d do if I was you. Finding out about this place and then who your parents are, that’s crazy.”
“Yes, it is,” I comment wryly.
“Okay, so now you’re in the Magna galaxy. This galaxy is far away from Earth; I think something like fifty-seven billion light years away. That’s why scientists on Earth have not identified this galaxy or the planets within it. Also, most of the planets in this galaxy are rocky planets like Earth—life is easily sustainable on these types of planets. You can breathe here because the composition of the air is much like what you’re used to on Earth. Plus, you can breathe here without a problem because one of your parents is from here—so you already have the ability to survive here. It’s how I can—my mother is from here.” Miri lets out a deep sigh and looks up into the sky.
“Our father is from Pumalia, so that’s why you had no problem there, either,” she adds.
I sense loneliness in her. Usually, Miri is giggly and happy, but at the mention of our father, her whole demeanor changes. “Thanks, Miri. Knowing that much helps me wrap my head around this place.”
Before I can say any more, she angles toward me. “What’s Earth like?” Her lilac eyes twinkle in the light, and her smile drives the longing from her face.
“Earth isn’t much different than what I’ve experienced here. Except that all the beings are human, and I doubt they have magical powers like us.”
She giggles and we continue our walk on the sandy beach. I learn that she’s been in an educational program at the castle, which reminds me of homeschooling because she’s the only student. However, the material she learns about sounds far more interesting and advanced than what I’ve been forced to learn.
Deceit (The Stellar Series Book 1) Page 12
