I fight for a while to shut down my thoughts and it irritates me that it is so difficult. But eventually I’m able to flip the switch and relax. Melting into the bed and cuddled into Zach’s side, I shut down and I’m finally able to fall asleep.
Time seems to pass slowly while I sleep. The dreams keep coming all night in slow motion. They are things of my past, a recap of my life with my parents and Bree while I was growing up, until Zach and I first met. That first encounter with Zach lingers in my mind. How our eyes met and we stared frozen in a trance toward one another, like we were the only ones in the room. I miss that between him and I. The beauty of his dark eyes stay with me. How badly I wish we could just go back to that point in our lives. When everything was normal and we were happy. Bree would be here with her attitude about Zach. Little did I know at the time she was keeping her promise and protecting me from the world. I miss her beyond words and nothing can change the fact that she is no longer here. But I know I will see her again one day. It might be sooner rather than later, but I know she will be waiting for me whenever it happens.
The last dream startles me awake. How much I wish it isn’t true, but the realization of what day it is, is a nightmare in itself. Malvents cloaked face pops into my head as he hisses the words, “It’s time!”
My eyes fly open just to get rid of the horrid image of him. I nestle my face deeper into Zach’s fur, breathing in his scent. I love his wild, woody smell. It brings me back and relaxes me.
“I love you,” I whisper.
I feel the rumble in his chest that mimics I love you too.
“Love you more.”
I feel him laugh gently.
I know it’s time to get up. The solar eclipse is going to happen at noon today and it’s only several hours away.
I sit on the edge of the bed and stretch out. “Did you get any sleep?” I asked Zach.
He shrugs his shoulders, then moves his head toward me, throwing my question back at me.
I shrug. “It could have been better, but it was good enough.”
Zach nods and goes to turn and leave the room, but before he gets too far, I stop him.
“Zach?”
He turns quickly noticing the change in my voice. I don’t want to do this, but I have to.
“I want you to promise me something…” I can barely look at him.
He cocks his head to the side with wary eyes.
I take in a deep breath, “I want you to promise me, that if something happens to me… you won’t do anything stupid.”
Zach growls.
“That doesn’t sound like a promise,” I mumbled.
Zach’s growls sound like he’s yelling at me as he throws out many different pitches, attempting to form words.
I don’t know what he is saying exactly, but I have an idea.
I stand in front of him and place my hands on either side of his face. I look deep into his beautiful eyes and speak from my heart.
“Zach, you need to realize it may be a possibly that I don’t come out of this alive. I’m not saying I am or I’m not, but you need to be prepared for either outcome. I need you to promise me, that if I don’t survive, that you will continue to live and move on with your life. I need you to promise me that you won’t do anything stupid trying to get me back or follow me. I need you to live… for yourself, your family and for me. I know you would ask the same of me and as hard as it is for me to promise this, I do promise the same I am asking of you. But can you promise me the same?” Tears prick at my eyes and threaten to spill over.
I see in Zach’s eyes, he too, is holding back the offensive tears. He looks at me with silence and sorrow in his eyes.
Reluctantly, he nods his head as a tear escapes the corner of his eye.
My tears spill over and I hug him tightly. “Thank you Zach. Thank you.” Some relief washes over me. “I love you Zachary Ryans, more than life itself.”
He sighs. He pulls back and looks at me with glassy eyes, then grabs the sleeve of my pajamas and pulls me toward the door. Once into the empty driveway he takes me into the woods and finds a fairly bare spot in the dirt. He starts dragging his paw across the dirt creating a word.
Once he’s finished, I look down at what he has done.
‘More than life itself – don’t leave me’
I burst into tears and nod. “I’ll try my best.”
He walks over and hugs me, wrapping his paw around my back the best he can.
A moment passes before we hear Katrina saying, “Where did they go?”
I yell out, “Over here.”
“Well come on, we gotta get going!” Donavon snapped.
I don’t take it as harshly as I would have. I know he is highly stressed about Katrina. I can’t blame him. I don’t want to lose Zach any more than he wants to lose me.
“Coming,” I yelled.
Zach and I walk out of the woods and look at our family standing together in the parking lot. Everyone has the same worry on their faces. No one wants to lose anyone else.
“Are you all sure, that you want to fight?” I ask looking over their faces.
Their heads all snap up at once with shock and scrunched up foreheads.
“What is that supposed to mean!?” Katrina barked.
“If you want to stay here, I will more than understand.”
“The hell I’m staying behind!” Katrina snapped.
Garcia and Thatch look at one another for a moment before Garcia speaks. “Child, it is not only about you, but all of us, everyone willing to fight is here for their own reason. We want to help any way we can, to return our world to the way it used to be. So yes, we want to fight.”
I smile sadly. “Alright then. Let’s get going.”
Before we leave into the trees, I see Donavon looking at K with sadness and worry before he cradles her in his arms. He doesn’t want her there. I know he will never forgive himself if something happens to her. If it does, I know it will be the end of him…
Zach nudges me in my back getting my attention. He motions for me to get on his back.
“Zach, you need your strength. You don’t need to carry me. I can run on my own.”
He growls and insists I get on his back.
When I hesitate he growls again.
I smile. “You win this one.”
He gives a wolfy smile as I get on his back. I lay down and grab the fur over his shoulders to hold on. He takes off at full speed and I always love the way his muscles move under my body. It feels like we are one unit moving in unison. We used to do this a lot as he and I would run through the woods, just being free. I miss this, a lot.
I lay my head, ear side down, on his back and I hear his heart beating even and slow as he runs. It’s relaxing, the rhythmic noise releases my mind of the near future. I want to run like this forever, leaving everything behind and never looking back. But that dream drifts away when, all too soon, we enter the clearing for the last time.
Brother
I sit up and look around at all the faces in front of us. They all turn to look when we walk through the last of the trees. There seems to be more here than last night.
“Lexi!” Kasey bounds over helping me off of Zach’s back. “More arrived last night after you left. Only eighty though.”
I smile, “That’s good. I’m glad they are here. We can use everyone we can get.”
Everyone watches Kasey and my interaction. I see many smiles, many of which I recognize from last night. Then there are faces with frowns and scrutinizing eyes. These people I don’t recognize. Must be the new arrivals.
I look to the sky. The sun is high and it’s almost time. My heart jumps in my throat, the time is actually here…
“Kasey?” I choke.
“Yes?”
I look into his eyes, meaning every word when I say, “I want you to be careful, I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
We may not have had a lot of time together, but I feel a bond with him I can’t explain. It isn�
�t anything like Zach and I have, but it’s a purity, a closeness of genuine hearts.
“Don’t worry. I am stronger and faster than I let on,” he laughs.
I smile, “Good, cuz you need to kick some butt!”
He laughs again. “And you need to kick an even bigger butt!”
I roll my eyes shaking my head. He always makes me smile.
“Katrina?” I call over to her. She’s standing close to Donavon.
She starts walking over and Donavon never leaves her side, not allowing any more distance to come between them.
“What’s up?” she said trying to hide her anxiety.
I give her a hug. “Stay close to Donavon okay?”
She nods. “I know. I already had the lecture last night.” She looks up at Donavon. His face is set in hard lines; he clearly doesn’t want her here.
“Good.” I pull her attention back to me. “Do you know when he’s supposed to arrive?” I swallow hard.
She nods gently. “As soon as the eclipse starts, he will be here… Lexi…” She doesn’t continue.
“What is it?” I ask trying to find the answer in her eyes.
She takes a deep breath. “I’m scared…” She looks up at Donavon and then over to her brother Thomas who is talking with Luke.
“I know K. I am too.” I hug her again, and look at Zach standing behind her.
We share a look telling each other ‘I love you, don’t die’.
Letting K go, Garcia yells out to everyone, “It’s Time! Get ready!”
She comes over, “Child, you be damn careful. You understand?” she spoke with deep sincerity.
I nod afraid my voice might crack.
“Here, Thatch and I want you to have this.” She places something large and metal in my hands. It’s a large dagger with a beautifully sculpted handle of flowers and vines with sapphire blue gems embedded amongst the vines. The large blade is about five inches long and glints silver in the sun.
“It’s beautiful… thank you!” A tear streams down my face.
She wipes it away. “We want our daughter to be as safe as she can be.”
I smile, “Thank you, for everything.”
“Oh here,” she hands me something else. “It’s the case.” She grabs my wrist and holding my arm up, she wraps the band around my wrist and places the dagger in the beautiful sapphire leather case, decorated with the same flowers and vines that are on the daggers handle. The dagger lays on the inside of my forearm with the handle assessable with just a flip of the wrist.
I embrace her tightly. “I love you…” is all I can manage to say without my voice cracking.
“Oh sweetheart, we love you too.” She squeezed me back.
It’s time and everyone in the clearing moves as one, gathering to form a thick line close to the tree line. I can feel the energy literally vibrating off of everyone. The energy is high and so is the fear and anger that fills the clearing. I know many want to run, and I am one of them.
I stand in the front lines with Zach by my side. Kasey is on my other side along with Thatch, Thomas and Garcia. Katrina and Donavon stand on the other side of Zach. I know Donavon wants to get K out of here, but he will not go against her wishes.
I look up to the sky for a moment. The moon is right next to the sun in a large black ball. How ironic… lightness and darkness are coming together… on Earth and in the sky. I just hope Light is victorious…
The moon just starts to overlap the sun, the time is here and it’s too late to run now. I couldn’t have run if I wanted too.
The other side of the large clearing comes to life. Movement covers over half the width of the clearing as the darkness of the moon spreads, opening their path across the ground.
Malvents army moves within the shadows of the moon.
The creatures that make up his army can make anyone sick. He uses the people he abducts in Death Valley to create his army. He turns them into something completely un-human.
They still have the general looks of being human, arms, legs, head, torso… but that’s where it ends. Their skin looks like leather and a chalky grey color, their eyes soulless tunnels of darkness. Many don’t have hair and the ones that do, have it only in patches covering their scalp. Their clothes are tattered and torn hanging from their bodies, exposing more of their leathery flesh.
I notice most of them are well built men. They walk sure footed, which doesn’t match their appearance. They keep their heads straight, not seeming to focus on anything as they walk.
As the last of the army comes into the clearing, they all stop. It’s shortly after that a wave of nauseating air fills the clearing. I hold back the bile that rises in my throat. It’s putrid. The smell of rotting flesh.
Everyone behind me stands as one force, ready to destroy. Everyone knows I’m the one to fight Malvent, they all have to take down his army.
A few seconds pass then Malvent’s army starts to divide down the middle, opening a pathway.
Everyone behind me gasps.
Anger rises in my throat. The monster that has destroyed so much, taken so much from me and those around me is entering the clearing. He is covered head to toe in his dark cloak that covers his face in shadow. He glides across the ground, seeming to not even touch it. I can’t take my eyes off of him. I want to rip his head off and parade it around on a pole.
It’s then I hear the sound of chains jingling, and I realize he holds the chains in his hands that are covered by his black cloak.
Following the chains, I see that they are wrapped around the hands of a woman. I look up to see face to face, for the first time, Harmony, my mother.
Horror over takes my body as I really see her for the first time. She is extremely thin and looks sick. Her eyes are sunk in slightly with dark rings around them, and her skin is so pale and fragile. She has wounds on her face and hands. Blood drips slightly at her wrists where the chains embed into her skin. Her once beautiful white dress is filthy and ripped, hanging in shreds. Her beautiful hair is a matted mess.
But still, in the condition she is in, she manages to smile at me, never taking her eyes from me.
Rage fills me and I want nothing more than to kill Malvent, more than ever…
I take a step forward, ready to lunge at him, but Kasey grabs my wrist firmly, keeping me from moving.
I growl at him, never taking my eyes from Malvent.
I start to pull my arm away from him, when he says, “Wait. It’s what he’s looking for,” Kasey whispered.
I stop and glare at the monster before me.
Malvent laughs darkly, “So, the famous child of the White Angel has made her appearance.”
I growl loudly. I want to rip his throat out.
He laughs again. “Is that all you have? You don’t stand a chance against me you little runt,” he sneers.
“Let her go, and I will show you what I am made of you disgusting beast!” I yell.
“Oh, it can talk!” he laughed. He is playing with me. “Now please explain why I would let her go? Her and I share something not even you know of. She belongs to me!”
I see Harmony’s face. She turns her head quickly, looking at Malvent. She looks horrified.
He continues, “She should be punished for what she has done, for who she created!” He pulls the chains in his hands causing Harmony to yell out in agony as she is thrown to the ground.
I roar with a feral snarl which is echoed by many around me.
“I am the one you want , the one she created, the one that is going to destroy you!” I yell. Kasey still holds a firm grip on my wrist. He isn’t letting me move.
Malvent continues on as if I had said nothing. “Ah, she does not know does she?” he spoke to Harmony.
“Please, don’t do this.” She begs from the ground.
Malvent laughs. “I shall show you the truth…”
Malvent drops the chains that he holds in his hands, letting them fall to the ground. He grabs the front of his cloak and pulls it apart fro
m his chest, pulling it off his arms and lastly he removing the hood that has haunted me for so long. He is finally showing his true self, no longer hiding behind his façade.
The cloak drops to the ground at his feet and I about suck in all the air in the clearing as do many others. I did not expect what I see, I didn’t expect to see a perfectly sculpted, human looking male in front of me. He looks to be about thirty years old and about six foot, five inches tall.
His hair is shortly cut and blonde with brown streaks throughout, smooth white skin covers his arms and face. His eyes, dark black tunnels full of malice and hatred as he stares into my soul.
It sickens me to my core that I even have a fleeting thought of how beautiful he looks. But yet, there is familiarity in his features…
“I finally come face to face with the favorite child. I finally get to meet my little sister,” he sneers with an evil smile.
I’m taken aback. I’m not sure I heard him right.
“Still don’t get it do you? We are siblings, brother and sister, born of the same blood! Do you understand now little sister!?” he growled with pleasure.
“That’s a lie! I am nothing like you!”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Harmony crawling toward me. Tears stream down her face with the pain of the movement.
Malvent also catches sight of her. “Where are you going dear mother?” He reaches down and grabs the chains once more, yanking her back to him. She screams out as he lifts her frail body off the ground by her wounded wrists. She is too weak to fight back.
He grabs her face and forces her to look toward me. “Tell her! Tell her your dark little secret! Tell her I am your first child, the one who was not worthy of you. Tell her!” he demands of her.
Harmony’s face contorts, not in physical pain, but emotional turmoil. Tears stream down her pale cheeks over her prominent cheek bones. She doesn’t say anything.
He shakes her face in the tight grip he holds on her. “Tell her!” he yells.
She shakes her head. “I’m sorry… I’m so sorry Sapphire.” The depth of her sorrow saddens me.
Sapphyre: Rise of an Angel (Sapphyre Saga Book 3) Page 16
