Jaden (St. Sebastians Quartet #1)

by Heather Elizabeth King

  "But you said you never dreamed about him. You acted like you didn't know who he was." Jaden slipped free of Bria to lean forward so she could look at Sydney.

  "But she was right there when Bria fainted," Hayley said. "And she's been with us since."

  "Yeah, because she said she wanted to help."

  "Yeah," Hayley snorted. "Help herself."

  "It's not like that." Sydney reclined in the sofa till her head was resting against the tall sofa back. "This can't be real." She swallowed the contents of her drink in two large gulps. "This can't be real," she said again.

  "Oh, but it is." Beryl said. "And if you're done making a production out of this, I'll tell you the story." She looked at each of the women before beginning. "First, my name isn't Beryl, it's Zuri."

  "You're the witch," Bria said. "The one who worked for Maliki Bakari."

  Zuri inclined her head. "I am. And I see you already know part of the story. You know I was charged with saving the princesses. I was to send them away. On the day it was to be done, the ritual was nearly complete when Prodigy broke into the palace. Somehow, he'd learned of my plan to save Chimera through the princesses, so he came to the palace, planning to kill them. But I was so close to sending them away. I was going with them, to see to their protection, but Prodigy attacked. I only had time to send the four of them. Without my guidance, the princesses entered your world as spirits. Their bodies are somewhere in Midworld, a dimension that exists between worlds. But their souls came here to the four of you."

  Sydney began to rise again, but Zuri motioned for her to sit. "You have nothing to worry about. The princesses sleep. They don't know where they are right now."

  "The dreams," Jaden began. "Is that why we dream of Chimera and what happened there? Because their spirits are in us?"

  "Yes. What you're seeing is their memories and the memories of their people. But you must understand that as long as the sisters are within you, you are at risk. Prodigy doesn't want them to return to Chimera. If they do, they'll be able to free the people of Chimera."

  "So how do we get them out of us and into Chimera?" Hayley asked.

  "Before I left Chimera to find the princesses, I sent their four guardians ahead of me. In Chimera, they were the guardsmen of the princesses, charged with assuring their safety. But somehow they were separated from their bodies, too, and haven't been able to find the princesses. I'm afraid it's all one big mess. I sometimes wonder if it would have been better to leave the guardians behind in Chimera. Now, the princesses cannot return home until they are reunited with their guardians."

  "Well that's just great," Sydney said.

  "But who are their guardians?" Jaden asked.

  "I don't know," Zuri said. "I'm not even sure they know."

  "But will they be like us, having nightmares and haunted by Prodigy?"

  "I don't know, Jaden. I wish I could tell you more."

  "But why won't the princesses just return?"

  "My world is different from your world," Zuri said. "In my world, people are bound together. When I was selected as sorceress to Bakari, I was bound to him and his family for life. I can serve only them. So too were the guardians bound to the princesses. Guardians are bound for life."

  "And if one dies?"

  "A new guardian would be chosen. Do you see the trouble here? The guardians are not dead, they're just lost. So they cannot be replaced."

  Hayley, hands fisted in her lap, spoke bitterly. "So basically, we're screwed."

  "I didn't say that," said Zuri. "When the princesses have their guardians, they will recognize them. When all of the princesses have found their guardians, they will return to Chimera."

  "Until then?" Sydney asked.

  "Until then, we wait. And we keep you safe." Zuri stood. Her dress fluttered around her, making her look even more ethereal than she had when they'd arrived. "Come with me."

  She didn't wait to see if they followed, but walked from the room, down a hall, and into a bright sun room. The sun room led out onto what had once been a garden. Jaden couldn't see any flowers, but she could see the remains of flower beds and long dead blooms. It looked as though some of the flowers had tried to return, but the effort was too great.

  Zuri led them beyond the old flower garden, down a sloping hill. But Jaden didn't walk down the hill immediately. She stopped at the top and took in the view.

  "This is breathtaking," Hayley said. "You can see everything from here. The town, the ocean, the forest. Can you imagine living here?"

  "Not by myself," Jaden admitted. "It's amazing up here, but I actually prefer my aunt's house. This is intimidating. Look at that." She pointed out to the left where rows of hedges twisted and turned at sharp angles. "It's a maze. An actual maze. I've never seen one in real life."

  This one looked as though it had seen better days. The hedges were overgrown, with branches jutting out into the narrow path people were meant to walk on. Someone could probably make their way through the maze, as it was today, but it wouldn't be easy. Sydney had said the house had been empty for about a decade, but had been cared for by a distant Lancaster relative until they'd died. After their death, the house had been allowed to be reclaimed by the land.

  "I've seen pictures of it from when the Lancaster family lived here," Hayley was saying. "It was incredible."

  "What's that at the center of the maze? Can you see it?"

  "There are sculptures throughout the maze and one grand sculpture at the center. That must be what you see. I think that round bit is a head. And that long stick, that was once a sword, I think."

  Jaden's eyes were caught by a flash of movement at the bottom of the hill. Zuri was motioning them down.

  "What's it of, though?" Jaden asked, as she started down the incline.

  "Nobody knows. I don't think the Lancaster family even knew. The maze was here before them."

  "That's kind of odd."

  "Not really. It's an old house. The house even predates St. Sebastians."

  Before they reached the bottom of the hill, Zuri started toward the maze, but to Jaden's relief, Zuri didn't enter it. Jaden couldn't say why, but she didn't want to go in there. It seemed wrong somehow. And not just because it was overgrown and they were likely to get scratched up if they tried to go even a foot within it. There was something else. Something she couldn't put her finger on.

  Zuri walked near to the cliff. As she got closer, Jaden noticed a stone shelf had been built near the edge. Beyond that shelf, the land fell away to the ocean below. On top of the stone shelf, nearly a dozen jars were lined up. They were all filled with some kind of liquid that looked to have something floating around inside.

  "Come," Zuri said, motioning them closer.

  This close to the cliff the wind whipped under her clothes and chilled her skin. The air flowed around Jaden's bare ankles and lifted her hair off the back of her neck. It felt wonderful to cool down, but again, being here felt wrong.

  "I prepared these for you," Zuri was saying. She grabbed a jar, handed it to Sydney, then did the same with the rest of them.

  Jaden studied the jar she'd been given, curious. "What's this?"

  "Lavender oil, guaranteed to ensure a peaceful night's rest."

  "Lavender oil?" Sydney questioned. "Some smelly oil is supposed to help me sleep better? Thanks, but I think I'll stick to my meds."

  "Lavender oil and maybe a few, all natural additives, like sage. It's a sleep oil I created myself. It's far better than any man-made chemical. This comes from the earth, like you come from the earth."

  "What do we do with it?" Bria asked.

  "I'll show you."

  Zuri led them back to the house, but this time, to the kitchen. Jaden was so busy staring around at the large, modern space that she almost didn't notice the small oil warmer Zuri was holding out to her.

  "When you're ready to go to bed, pour the oil here, at the top," Zuri explained. "Light the tea light candle and place it in the compartment below the oil. The candle will h
eat the oil, then the scent will fill your bedroom and help calm you, protect you, and help you have a peaceful, dreamless sleep. I promise you, Prodigy won't invade your dreams while you burn my oil."

  "But it's not just our dreams we have to worry about," Bria said. "He attacked Jaden twice since she's been here. Physically attacked her."

  Zuri turned on Jaden. "What?"

  "He's never done that before," Jaden said. "I think being here has somehow made him more powerful."

  "Tell me what happened."

  So Jaden told Zuri about the dream first. She stopped to show the bruising on her face.

  "He did this to you, in a dream?" Zuri demanded.

  "Yeah. And he threw me off a cliff. I could feel the heat of the lake of fire. I could feel it. And then I woke up with bruises on my face."

  The casual confidence Zuri displayed was gone. It had been replaced with worry.

  "Tell her about the pool," Bria said.

  "There's more?" Zuri went to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water. She drank a few sips, then nodded at Jaden. "What else?"

  Jaden told her about the hand that had dragged her under the water, of trying to scream but swallowing mouthfuls of water instead, and then of losing consciousness and dreaming. "The man called me Kesi," Jaden said.

  For a moment, Zuri couldn't answer. She turned from them and walked to a colorful breakfast nook. Her legs seemed more to give out under her than it seemed she sat. She settled in the chair and exhaled shakily. When she looked up at Jaden, her eyes were rimmed with tears.

  "You saw Bakari," Zuri said, almost in a whisper. "By the stars, you saw Bakari. And he spoke to you."

  Zuri covered her face for a few seconds and seemed only capable of breathing slowly. Jaden wanted to help her, but she wasn't sure how.

  "Come here," Zuri said, at last.

  Jaden looked at Hayley, then slowly walked to Zuri.

  "Let me look at you," Zuri said, motioning Jaden to bend toward her.

  When Zuri's hands clasped both sides of Jaden's face, Jaden's first impulse was to pull away. Zuri's hands were hot, but the look on Zuri's face, in Zuri's eyes, was so heartbreaking Jaden couldn't bear to hurt her feelings. Suddenly, Jaden realized this was real. This was truly happening. Chimera existed and this woman was from that world. And she missed the people she'd left behind. Missed them desperately. If anyone could put an end to this, it was Zuri.

  "Kesi," Zuri said, quiet as a whisper. "Can you hear me?"

  Jaden remained where she was, bent at the hip, her face inches from Zuri's. But she didn't feel anything shift inside of her.

  "I can see her in your eyes, you know," Zuri said. "She was a beautiful child. The youngest of Bakari's girls."

  "I don't feel anything," Jaden said.

  "You wouldn't. She's been with you your entire life." Zuri stood abruptly, causing Jaden to fall back a few steps. "Please go," Zuri's voice broke when she spoke. She cleared her throat, and tried again, but didn't have better luck. "I'm afraid that's all I can do for today."

  Sydney started forward, her hand held out. "Can we do anything to help?"

  "No. Please go. Now."

  "But our car," Bria said.

  "It's fine. You'll find it's fine."

  Without another word, she swept out of the kitchen. The four of them stood there for a moment, staring at each other, then Sydney broke the silence. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I need a drink."

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Ashley's Den was anything but a den. It was a rooftop lounge on Main Street that overlooked the Downtown Mall and the ocean. It was a mix of beach and urban chic that Jaden liked. Surprisingly, the two looks worked well together. There were two bars set up at opposite ends of the lounge, with white sofas and tables to sit and drink at if you didn't want to sit at the bar.

  There were only a few tables available by the time they got there. They grabbed the one with the best views of the ocean and settled in.

  "You people take your drinking seriously," Jaden said, marveling at how crowded the lounge was. "It's not even seven-thirty yet."

  "We live at the beach," Hayley said. "We're required to enjoy life."

  "I'm waiting for that part to start." Jaden sat beside Hayley. Bria and Sydney were opposite them. "But this place is nice."

  When the waiter came they ordered drinks, then sat quietly. The quiet wasn't uncomfortable. This surprised Jaden. Two days ago she arrived in St. Sebastians not knowing anyone. Today, she was sharing her scariest secrets with women she hadn't known three days before. And it felt right.

  Jaden stared down at the pristine white table with its decorative black and pink napkins.

  "So, what do we think?" Sydney asked.

  Hayley didn't waste time responding. She slid forward on the seat and stared Sydney down. "I think it was pretty lame of you to lie to us. Why not just tell us you had dreams, too?"

  "Because I hoped that part of my life was over."

  "You never saw Prodigy anymore? I mean, after you started taking medicine?" Bria asked.

  "No. I didn't dream about him, but I still saw him. In my bedroom, standing over me while I slept. In the kitchen, staring at me as I cooked. Even at work. But I pretended he wasn't there. That he wasn't real. Then Hayley there goes and paints him, and you two see the painting and flip out. I couldn't walk away, but by then I'd spent so many years denying his existence that—"

  "You couldn't stop denying it," Jaden said, then let her gaze fall on Hayley and Bria. "We can't fault her for that. If I could have pretended he didn't exist, I would have too."

  Grudgingly, Hayley nodded "Okay, fine. But if we're all in this, we have to agree that there will be no more lies. This is crazy enough without us lying to each other."

  "I didn't know you before," Sydney said. "But I know you now. So agreed. No more lies."

  "Agreed," Jaden said, as Bria nodded.

  "So, what do we think about Zuri and her magic oil?" Sydney asked.

  The waiter arrived with their drinks. Jaden wasn't surprised by what any of them had ordered. Bria had a Fuzzy Navel. Sydney had ordered a Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey on ice, Hayley had whiskey, and Jaden had ordered a Riesling.

  "I believe her," Jaden said.

  "I think part of your belief comes from all of the things you've experienced since you arrived in town," Hayley said. "The dreams, almost drowning. We haven't experienced any of that."

  "Exactly," Sydney agreed. "So it's harder for us."

  "But you've spent your whole life dreaming about this man." Jaden was beginning to get frustrated with them. "And what about the car? We all saw that tire was flat. Then we leave and it's magically fixed."

  "She could have had someone fix it when we were inside."

  "No way they could have repaired a shredded tire."

  "You believe that the spirits of four princesses are locked in our bodies?" Sydney asked.

  Jaden considered the question, then nodded. "I'm so done with all of this. If the only way to get rid of Prodigy and the dreams is to believe the spirit of Princess Kesi is floating around in my head, then I believe the spirit of Princess Kesi is floating around inside my head."

  Bria cleared her throat. "Did you see how she looked at Jaden at the end. Zuri isn't pretending, and I don't think she's crazy. She really believes the things she told us."

  "Okay," Hayley said. "I'm not ready to believe everything Zuri said, or even what Jaden and Bria found out today. But I am ready to move forward. In my entire life, this is the first lead I've had. Maybe it's nothing, but what do we have to lose by running with it?"

  "And what do we have to gain, if it's all true?" Bria asked. "Peace. Peace at last."

  "So are we all in?"

  "I'm in," Jaden said quickly.

  "Me too," said Bria.

  The three of them looked at Sydney. "What the hell," she said after a long pause. "I guess I'm in, too. We can't end up any worse than we are right now."

  They drank in silen
ce for a while, as though each had silently agreed to let the topic go for now. Jaden's mind was reeling. She'd learned so much today. Despite what she'd said, she was having a hard time believing a princess from another world was inside her head, but it was the only thing that made any sense.

  "What's this about Kenda staying over at your house last night?"

  "Kenda?" Jaden said, jolted back to the present by Hayley's question. "I'm still trying to wrap my mind around all of this craziness. Ladies, we have officially stepped into the Twilight Zone."

  "Next thing there will be flying monkeys coming down from the cliffs," Sydney said. "It honestly wouldn't surprise me at this point."

  There was silence again for a few seconds, then Hayley lifted her hands in question. "Kenda? That was a nice try at dodging, but I won't be distracted so easily."

  Seeing she had no other choice, Jaden decided to tell them a bit about her evening with Kenda. But not everything. "He was spooked after finding me floating in the pool. He was worried something might happen if he left."

  "When did he leave?" Sydney asked.

  Jaden did look at either of them. "In the morning sometime."

  "What time in the morning?" It was Hayley who asked this question.

  "I don't know. I wasn't paying attention. Why? What's the big deal?"

  "I've known the Browning brothers my whole life," Hayley said, "and I've never seen any of them go out of their way for a woman unless they were interested in her. You sure nothing else happened last night?"

  "Nothing happened. We watched Netflix—"

  "Did you chill?" Sydney asked, grinning.

  Knowing where they were headed with this, Jaden shook her head. "There was no chilling. We did not chill. We fell asleep." Then, because it had been a long time since she'd felt anything for a man, she said, "Okay. So maybe we kissed a little bit. And maybe he made me breakfast in bed the next morning, but that's it." She didn't add that she'd inadvertently started an argument, then he left in a huff.

  Hoots and whistles greeted this announcement. Even Bria got in on it.