by Tamara White
Dane let me know an hour before my guard duty started that they would get here tomorrow, but I’m scared that’s not soon enough. Evelyn is so frail, she can barely stand.
Since realizing I’m her potential bonded, and finding out she’s already bonded to Dane, it has me terrified. What if because of our history, she chooses not to complete the bond? I thought she was evil and working with the shaded, but still she’ll probably think I’m just as cruel as the council.
Then there’s Dane. How will I make up for all my past mistakes?
Chapter 4
Evie
After Zach left, I curled into a ball and let the tears fall. I miss my guys so much that it hurts. Knowing they’re coming for me makes my heart hurt for them even more. We only spent a week together and most of it was learning to be an elemental, but it was the best week of my life.
I focus all my energy into trying to reach my powers, hoping that since I haven’t been able to keep most of the drugs down I can reach them, but they’re still buried deep inside me. I let myself drift off to sleep thinking of the guys and hoping I dream of them.
Feeling strange, I open my eyes to find myself lying on a soft bed in old house. What the hell?! Where the hell am I? I get out of the bed, and I’m thankful I am no longer in just my bra and panties, but wearing a pale yellow gown. Did the guys come get me but I was too out of it and missed it all?
A knock on the door nearly makes me scream. Safe to say I’m a little jumpy. In walks a woman that looks a bit older than me. She has pale brown hair and a petite body almost small enough for me to crush her. But, what makes me back up is her eyes.
“Who are you?” I ask watching her close the door.
She smiles at me and walks around me and takes a seat on the bed. She’s carrying a tray of food with her, and I try not drool at the sight of sandwiches and fruit.
“Come, Evelyn, sit down and I’ll explain. You need to eat, and I don’t have much time,” she says with a soft smile.
She seems sincere, and my instincts are telling me it’s ok so I sit down on the bed as far away from her as I can without being on the floor.
“It’s ok to eat. You need your strength and I promise the food isn’t drugged,” she gestures towards the plate she placed on the bed between us.
I hesitantly take a sandwich and nibble on it slowly, trying not to make myself sick. The cucumber sandwiches help settle my stomach a little.
“Ok, are you going to tell me where I am? And who you are? The last thing I remember is being in chains before falling asleep,” I say to her. Studying her, I find her eyes creep me out a little. It’s not like they are oddly shaped or coloured it’s just that they’re too much like my own. Maybe she’s my aunt or cousin or something?
“Ok, I’ll tell you just don’t freak out. I’m your mother, your real mother. Your grandfather, my father, pulled some strings so we could talk. You’re basically dreaming, but unlike normal dreams anything that happens here, happens to you in real life. I can give you nourishment since you’re so weak and it will make you stronger when you wake up.”
“My mother’s dead,” I say vehemently. Who does this chick think she is, pretending to be my mother?
“Yes, I know I’m dead, believe me. We wouldn’t be having this conversation if I wasn’t. If you need proof I can show you.”
I nod and humour her only because I can’t believe it. Once you’re dead, that’s it.
Watching her, I wait until I’m hit with images of my childhood that I thought were dreams.
Me running through the house with my dad chasing after me, and a younger version of the woman standing there watching us with a smile on her face.
All of us at the park playing in the sand with my mom trying to help me build a bigger castle than my dad.
My dad hugging her and saying he will do anything for her, while I’m watching from around a corner.
My mum introducing me to a man that glows, and telling me he will help me control my elements until I’m ready.
In the woods running and crying, I hear my mother’s voice telling me to run and hide and that daddy will find me soon.
Once they stop, I look up at my mother seeing tears in her eyes and realize I must have started crying too. I can feel the tears falling down my cheeks, and she moves the plate aside and pulls me into her arms as I cry with grief.
“I can’t believe you’re here. I thought you were dead, and I would never get to see you.” I’m so overwhelmed and happy to see my mother. Never did I dream that I would get to see her after what I was told happened to her. After finding out she had died, I pushed all my feelings to the back of my mind, but seeing her now I can feel what I’ve lost.
“Oh, my sweet Evie, I’m sorry I left you so soon, but it was my time. I can only contact you now because the Creator agreed in light of what you will face soon, you deserve to know some things. You don’t have an easy road ahead of you, but I’m here to help give you as much help as I can until your bonded can get to you,” she says holding me close to her while I grip her tightly.
So, I’m getting help from angels then? I pull away from her and wipe my face “So, how long do we have?”
“We have until the higher beings feel you know what you need to know, then they’ll tell me it’s time to go.
First things first, I’m sorry I’m not there and that you’re going through this. What a lot of people haven’t explained to you yet, is that even though the prophecy exists, it was still a vision, and visions can change with people’s choices. All the right choices must be made for that one vision to come true, and, since that vision, so many more things have happened.
What made it a prophecy was when everyone put all put their hope on it happening. There’s no guarantee it will happen like that now. So much has happened, some things I can’t tell you, but your grandfather will explain soon. I have a story to tell you, though, relating to visions that might help you understand more.
When I was sixteen years old, there was a vision that told my family, I would die. My parents were distraught and so they protected me so much that I felt suffocated, so one day I snuck out. It was raining and there was a party for other elementals my age. We were all drinking and playing around with our powers, trying to see who could do better.
Well, we all started doing stupid things like taking turns playing chicken against each other’s elements. It was nothing even strong enough to hurt us, and we usually paired up with someone who could counteract the element. So, if you faced off against an Earth you were teamed with an Air and so on. Anyway, I was standing with a Water elemental and we were waiting for a Fire elemental to throw a fireball at us, but he was so wasted that he had no control over his powers. They kept fizzling out and dying, but he kept trying and laughing. The water elemental got bored with him trying to get control of his power and walked away. I went to follow him but the elemental had somehow managed to get control of his element.
The next thing I knew, I’d been knocked to the ground, and another girl was in my place screaming in pain as the fire consumed her. We put out the fire, but the person had stopped moving and was having trouble breathing. We had no idea who it was, but we could tell that she was human so, I called my father hoping his gift could help. By the time he got there, the girl had died and there was nothing he could do, but when he touched her to make sure she had passed away, he cried out in grief and light exploded from him.
When the light cleared, in the girl’s place was my mother. She wasn’t burnt anymore, but she wasn’t alive. My father wept over her loss that night and then hardened himself. He went back to his duties as an angel once I turned 18, and I didn’t hear from him again until we had to bind your elements. He met you, and I think seeing you brought some of the light back into his life. I didn’t see him again until I died.
When I died, he guided me to the afterlife, and I told him about you and Max and what had happened. I made him promise me to look after the two of you as much as he was all
owed until you found each other again.”
That’s so sad. I can’t imagine someone sacrificing themselves for me like that only to find out it was my mother. It would devastate me.
“How come he didn’t save you? If he’s an angel surely he could have helped you?” I ask. I don’t understand why he couldn’t he save his own daughter?
“Oh, Honey, he couldn’t. You have to understand they all work for the Creator, and the Creator decides what they can and can’t do to keep order in the world. I’m not saying he didn’t want to, but the only way he could have saved me would have been to become a fallen. Once they become fallen, they no longer work for the Creator, and they wander the earth forever without dying. No purpose, no love, just never ending loneliness. Your father was lucky enough to find me, and then we had you. But, not all fallen are lucky enough to find someone that will love them knowing they have turned their back on the Creator,” she explains.
I don’t understand why the Creator wouldn’t let him help his own daughter? What kind of sick world is it when he’s not even allowed to help his child? Surely, he could have intervened without the Creator knowing?
“My father once explained the feeling they get when they work with the Creator. He explained it as a feeling of never ending happiness. Can you imagine living like that? How would you feel knowing you would have to give up that feeling for the rest of your life? Especially when the love of his life had already gone? I know you’ll only think of the unfairness of him not choosing me, but we have paths we must take and I know it was my time. I don’t blame him and I hope you won’t. I want you to know him and see the light in him that has grown because of you.”
She pauses and stares at me with understanding in her eyes, and I still feel weird that she knows so much about me already since we never really knew each other.
“The main reason I was sent here is a new vision has been seen, and you have to be prepared. I can’t tell you what it is but I want you to know that no matter what happens you have people around you that love you,” she says with tears in her eyes.
So, all of this was just so she could tell me about the past and that its going to get worse? “Why contact me just to tell me all this?”
“There are things your grandfather will tell you when the time is right, but, until then, I wanted to help you understand why he’s the way he is. He’s been through so much, and became invested in his duties rather than try to find you, and he regrets it every day. He’s going to need you to trust him, and you’ll need to help him through a few challenges he will face. Together, you need to help each other heal from my loss and learn that there’s nothing either of you could have done to stop what will happen.
Now you need to eat, the food you eat now will help you gain strength when you wake up. I want to look at my daughter and see what she has become,” she says smiling at me with pride in her eyes.
“I’m sorry mom, it just feels like one thing after another keeps happening and I’ve reached my limit. I am happy to see you, I swear. It’s just a bit overwhelming,” I say with a small smile. God, I’m such a horrible daughter. I’ve been so focused on what she’s saying rather than realizing this is my mom! My mom that I’ll never see again. She’s not only come back to warn me about my future but to meet me.
“Do you have time to talk still? I would love to know more about you and dad? And to talk about my guys. I’ve bonded with four guys already, and I think I have a bond with another. Is that normal?” I blurt out all the questions I’ve wanted to ask but am too scared to think about.
“We can talk about some things, but I’m not allowed to say too much about the bonds,” she says, sighing.
Well, that’s not annoying at all. Who else can I ask these questions? It’s hard enough being in a relationship with four guys and being so new to everything, that I already second guess everything I do. I feel if I ask them stuff, I may end up embarrassing myself in the process.
Why don’t you tell me about school? How are you doing? Are you going to go to college?”
“Yeah, I was almost finished school before I was taken so, I don’t know what will happen with that, but I plan on going to college and getting a degree in psychology. I love the idea of helping people deal with their struggles after everything I’ve been through. I guess I’ll have to see what the guys are doing first, though, because I don’t think they’ll let me leave without them,” I say to her.
“Do you mind if we talk about the bonds mom? I’m still so confused about everything most of the time. It feels strange being with four guys, and I wonder if I made the right decision. I understand you can’t say too much, but this world is so new to me and I only hope I don’t make the wrong choices.” I’m so overwhelmed and maybe she can help me make sense of what I’ve been feeling.
“Yes, of course. I’ll try to answer as best I can, but if I can’t answer something in particular I’ll tell you,” she replies sitting next to me, and pulling me against her.
Where do I start? “Ok, how come I wanted to form a bond so fast? I mean, I know I cared about all of them, but is it normal for us to bond so soon?” It bothered me the first few days I was there, that I agreed to bond so fast. Kind of like I was drunk on them.
“There is a reason you felt more compelled to bond with them straight away. Well, that’s because of your babies,” she says to me rubbing her hand gently across my stomach.
What?! Babies?
“You look a little shocked, Honey. It’s ok. Take deep breaths in and out. It’ll be fine. Your bonded will help you, and you will have others to help you soon.”
I finally calm myself down enough to stop from having a panic attack and try to comprehend what my mother is saying. I haven’t even finished school yet. How the hell can I be having babies?!
“Ok I’m not ready to deal with the babies talk, but I need to ask now because I’m even more confused. I’ve bonded with four of them already, but I think I might have felt a bond with the guard, Zach. How many bonds can I have? And is it possible to have this many bonds especially if I’m pregnant?”
My mother sighs and looks at her feet for a moment before answering me “I can’t tell you how many bonds you’ll have, but it’s possible you will have more than you do now. You’re special, Evie, and you have so much of your heart to give that I believe you’ll find a way to make it work. Listen to your heart, and it will tell you when you can or can’t bond with someone.
As for new bonds with your babies, you’ll know if your potential bonded is good enough for you and your babies and that’s how you choose. Trust me, a mother knows what’s best for their children. You’ll meet a few potentials before the babies are born, and it’s up to you to figure out the next step. I have to go now. You’re going to wake up in the cellar again, but don’t worry you’ll get out soon,” she says abruptly before getting up and walking out the bedroom door.
“Wait,” I call out trying to follow her, but as soon as I walk through the door bright light flashes and I wake up on the floor in chains again. I still feel like crap, but at least she was right about the sandwiches. I feel much better than I did before I went to sleep. Maybe if I keep my strength up, I can make a break for it when the guards come in to unchain me next.
Chapter 5
Teddy
Ever since the plane landed, we’ve all been a little on edge. We agreed that we’d meet Zach at his place a few streets away from the mansion before just charging in with no plan. Knowing how many elementals we’re up against and how many are on our side, will help with the planning.
Dane’s been acting strange since the plane ride but I figured he was just anxious about seeing Zach again. We tried to talk to him, but he kept saying he was fine so we let him be. The only time he talked to any of us was briefly after he woke up. He only spoke to Max and after they talked Max went to sleep too.
When we reach the house, Zach’s waiting for us on the front porch. Before any of us can react, Dane jumps from the car and punches h
im in the face. “If anything happens to her, I will make you suffer twice as much as she has!”
Max is first to reach Dane and holds him back while Zach wipes the blood off his lip. We’re all staring at Dane, stunned. We’ve never seen him hurt someone unprovoked like that. He learnt all his self-defence techniques to defend himself and he’s never used it to hurt someone until now.
“Dude, what was that for?” Ky asks.
Dane turns to us, and I feel the rage inside him trying to break free “He deserved it. He watched them beat her! He suspected something was wrong, but didn’t contact me until he knew we were bonded!”
Son of a bitch! “Seriously?!” I turn to Zach ready to punch him too.
“Look, it’s not like that. I thought she was working with the Shaded and she was pretending she was innocent to get sympathy. I didn’t realize she wasn’t faking it until I heard some of the questions they were asking her. I called as soon as I realized she was bonded to Dane.”
Wait what? Why does he think she’s only bonded to Dane? Ky actually asks what I’m thinking.
“Dude, why do you think she’s bonded to just Dane? She’s bonded to all of us, except Max who is her father,” he says gesturing to Max.
“What?” Zach gasps, looking at each of us, especially Dane.
“Look, we can discuss it later. Right now, we need to go inside and talk before we get Evie. Things are a lot more complicated than any of us realized. Max and I have new information about the shaded,” Dane says walking past Zach and into the house.
After a minute, we follow him inside. I hope this won’t take too long. I want to get Evie back sooner rather than later.
Mike
Just when you think it’ll be fine and we’ll get Evie back, there’s more. Dane and Max have been in the dining room for the last ten minutes having a whispered argument about what to tell us. We left them to it while we grabbed some food before congregating in the lounge. Zach is the only one not eating, and I think that’s only because Dane busted his lip. Yep, I admit I’m slightly happy about that.
