by Morgan Wylie
Chel and Kaeleigh looked at each other then back at Finn, totally confused. “What are you talking about?” Kaeleigh asked, no longer concerned that she might be the one who sounded crazy.
“Never mind,” he huffed out. “You sure you’re okay? I gotta go check something out.” He pecked Kaeleigh on the cheek and headed out the door.
Kaeleigh and Chel looked at each other again, and then Kaeleigh said, “Okay, I’m actually a little more weirded out by Finn than the freak stalking me.”
“I know, right?” Chel nodded, putting her hands on her hips and looking out the window. She paused, did a slow look once again around the apartment, and even stuck her nose in the air like she was smelling something.
Well, that was odd. What the heck was going on with her friends?
“All right, you’re being a little strange too,” Kaeleigh said out loud. “What are you doing? Do you smell something? You guys are kinda starting to freak me out.” Kaeleigh looked over the apartment too but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.
Chel stopped what she was doing and sheepishly looked back at Kaeleigh and shrugged her shoulders. “I thought maybe I smelled something, but now I can’t tell what it was.”
Kaeleigh frowned. She knew Chel had always had a keen sense of smell, but she’d never really made a show of it, until now.
Before she could say anything about it, Chel perked up as though nothing had happened, saying, “Okay, I’m gonna go too. I need to visit my parents for a bit tonight. Call me if you need anything and let’s talk in the morning.” She grabbed her bag off the couch and headed for the door.
“Thanks, good night. Tell your parents I said hello. I miss them,” Kaeleigh said as she waved then shut the door to lock it, leaning her forehead against the cool door as she did. Heading into her little kitchen to get something to drink, Kaeleigh opened the fridge. Unfortunately, there was not much in there and definitely not anything she wanted right now. With a disappointed sigh, she got plain boring water from the sink, deciding to drink it while watching a show before bed.
As Kaeleigh walked out of the kitchen she looked up, and with a sharp intake of breath, dropped her glass of water. In a panic she started to run to the front door when she remembered she actually knew some fighting moves. Chel’s dad had told her, “Brace your feet. Stare your opponent down, they are in your territory. Don’t let them chase you and don’t let them see your fear.” Oops, too late for that one. Kaeleigh quickly did an about-face in order to face her stalker, who was now sitting, very casually, she noticed, on her couch. She was suddenly angry that he dared to violate her space, her safe home, her territory.
“What are YOU doing here and how the fuck did you get in MY house!” Kaeleigh shouted. She pointed her finger in his face, then lowered it again when she saw how bad she was shaking. Don’t show fear, Kaeleigh! Find my phone. Where’s my phone? Panic was starting to well up in her chest. Breathe.
“I’m not going to hurt you, I promise,” he said in a quiet, nonthreatening tone with his palms up in surrender. He seemed a little surprised by her reaction. “I can see that I have upset you greatly and would like to explain, if you would give me the chance.”
“You break into my house and you’re surprised that I’m upset? I’m calling the cops,” she said as she patted her pockets looking for her cell phone, only to remember it was on the coffee table in front of the stalker on the couch. Nice.
“I would not advise that,” he said just as quietly and calmly as before as he nodded at her phone.
Kaeleigh, remembering that she still had her land line, bolted over to the phone next to the wall in the opposite direction of her couch. Quickly, she dialed 911. Nothing happened. She hung up and started over again, her fingers shaking, but there was no dial tone, nothing. “You cut my phone lines? You bastard!” She looked at him fiercely in the eyes and the stare-down began. “Who the hell are you? What did you do to my phone?” she asked, gritting her teeth but not breaking the eye contact. Chel’s dad, Ray, explained how it was important once you were in a stare-down with an opponent not to be the first to look away or you just solidified yourself as submissive to the other party. All right, I can do that.
Laughing and now a little cocky, the stalker stood up from the couch, also not breaking eye contact. “Don’t play that game with me, foolish girl, you will lose.”
Kaeleigh gasped as she saw flames jump in his eyes, and she looked away out of sheer terror. She found her resolve once more—barely—but decided to be a little more cautious, as she had no idea who or what she was dealing with. Hands on her hips in a show of false bravado, she asked, “What do you want from me?”
With a sigh, he dropped his cockiness and sat back down on the couch. “My name is Daegan. Like I said before, I was sent here to find someone and I was led to you. I’m certain you are the one that needs to come back with me. Honestly, I have probably just as many questions as you do but—”
“I don’t have answers to anyone’s questions,” she interrupted loudly. She began to break down. “Where are you from? Who sent you? This is ridiculous! You have to be insane.” She began to cry. She felt helpless. “Please leave. Please,” she begged softly through her tears.
Daegan leaned forward on the couch, looking directly into Kaeleigh’s tear-filled eyes. “I will tell you what you ask and then I will leave,” he said matter-of-factly. “I am from a realm called Alandria. I was sent here to find you by the Paladin, who are the rulers of Feraánmar, which is my home. It is believed that you are of critical importance to Alandria. I confess that I was looking for someone a little more... well, a little more,” Daegan said thoughtfully, studying her as he spoke. “Like I said before, I have many questions about these things as well. I’m certain there are answers”—he paused—“for both of us. Perhaps beginning with your wrist. Please, may I examine it?” he asked, reaching out, surprised at how compelled he felt to see it.
“Absolutely not!” Kaeleigh said firmly as she cradled her wrist protectively against her chest. “You need to leave right now!” she growled.
Daegan stood up. “I said I will not hurt you,” he said as he suddenly like a flash was far too close for her comfort. He grabbed her wrist, twisted it, and shoved up her bracelet in one quick move as she was disarmed by his swift appearance. She gasped but held utterly still, remembering his unrelenting grip from the restaurant. Kaeleigh, her breathing almost out of control, merely watched him as he studied the new marking that was on her wrist with a confused look on his face.
“Do you know what it means?” Kaeleigh asked, trying to keep her voice steady. “I don’t know how I got it.”
He looked into her eyes as though searching for something but not finding it. “There’s only one place you can get a marking like this. It’s definitely familiar,” he said, frustrated, “but it’s not right.” Then he rubbed his thumb across her mark and everything changed. There was a jolt of electricity that made them both jump apart. Each, breathing hard, looking at the other, stunned.
“What the... what was that?” Kaeleigh jumped back, shaking out her hand then looking at her wrist to make sure it was still there.
“I don’t know, I have never experienced that before.” Daegan stood and headed for the front door. “I need to find out,” he said as he walked briskly out the door.
“What? Wait!” Kaeleigh said, running after him down the stairs. “You break into my apartment ‘looking for answers,’ make me think I’m some kind of freak because of this mark, shock the hell out of me, then take off? I want some answers too, you know!”
“I will give you some when I have them.” A cunning smile appeared on Daegan’s face. “You could come with me right now, you know. Save me the effort of persuading you to accompany me.”
He was leaving, Kaeleigh, why’d you give him a reason to come back! she chastised herself.
Still shaking, she turned and ran back up the stairs. She turned to make sure he wasn’t following her, but he was gone nowher
e to be seen. “Freak,” she said under her breath as she closed and locked her door. It wasn’t until after she had it locked that she looked around her lonely, empty apartment and collapsed to the ground. Alone and scared, she looked at her wrist and saw how terribly her hands were shaking. She cried, wishing so bad that she could run to her family for comfort, only to be reminded she didn’t have one. Of course, she could go to Chel’s or even to Finn’s, but it just wasn’t the same. Pulling herself together, she walked dejectedly to her room, curled in on herself under her covers, and cried herself to sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
Chel had decided to stay the night at her parents’ house since she had been there late talking. Staying in her old room, the one she used to share with Kaeleigh before they both had moved out to be on their own, brought back a lot of memories. She was so agitated that her parents had kept secrets about Kaeleigh from her that she tossed and turned, replaying their conversation.
Kaeleigh had come to live with them when she was twelve after she had run away from her last foster home. Things had not been good at the home, and Kaeleigh had felt she could do better on her own. It had taken some time for Chel’s parents to track her down. All Chel had known was that Kaeleigh, her best friend, had a lot of trouble at home and she had come to stay with them. Before this, Chel’s parents had been watching Kaeleigh from a distance via Chel, unbeknownst to her, as they went to school together. They didn’t expect that Chel and Kaeleigh would actually become best friends. Her parents also admitted that they hadn’t realized her living situation had become so troubling and abusive. That was a regret that they had lived with and always would. As soon as they found her, they brought her home to live with them.
Chel and Kaeleigh had become even closer over the years, so close that Kaeleigh had confided in Chel about some of her “dark times” that had happened at some of the foster homes. Chel had become very protective of her friend and always watched out for her, even though she knew Kaeleigh was a strong, self-reliant person.
It was in Chel’s nature to be protective of those she was close to, but she had a special connection with Kaeleigh; she was like a sister. So when this strange guy first came lurking around, she went to her parents for some advice. Chel was shocked at how strong her parents’ reaction was; she knew they loved Kaeleigh like their own daughter, but she would have called this overkill.
“Do not let Kaeleigh out of yours and Finn’s sight,” they had practically commanded her. They insisted she and Finn be glued to Kaeleigh’s side until they could find more out about this guy: what he looked like, if he gave his name, what he wanted, how long did he hang around, etc.
Okay, whatever! Chill, parentals, I’ll keep an eye on her like I always do, she had thought to herself when they jumped all over her.
Then out of nowhere, they’d started hounding her: How was she feeling? Was she feeling stressed by all this? Anything she wanted to talk about regarding her body?
What the hell, Mom and Dad? I’m feeling stressed by this inquisition now, thanks to you! Chel had thought at the time, feeling extremely irritated. She had come looking for advice, but WHOA!
Needless to say, when stalker guy came around again bothering Kaeleigh, of course she decided to ask Mom and Dad what was going on, because clearly something weird was up. She could feel it. Looking back on their first conversation, she realized that her parents knew something they weren’t telling her. She had thought that maybe he was somebody from Kaeleigh’s past in the foster system that was looking for her, for what, who knew? That could happen, right? Chel remembered hearing a story about some boys at school that were harassing Kaeleigh, and she had put them in their place... by kneeing them in their “places.” So maybe she had taught some boys a lesson. What she learned from her parents was, however, quite a different tale of Kaeleigh’s past that involved much more than just Kaeleigh.
It was so far-fetched she couldn’t even believe it; she wouldn’t believe it. Chel was outraged that her parents would make something up like that, especially now when she had come to them for answers. They had started to tell her this story about coming from another realm called Alandria. A different REALM? Seriously? I know I’m out there sometimes, but COME ON! Her parents had talked about how they had made an agreement to come to this realm—the mortal realm—to watch over Kaeleigh and to intervene only if necessary. They had gone on to talk about different kingdoms, territories, and races of beings. Chel had pretty much started to tune them out when they began trying to tell her of the race they belonged to... that she was supposed to belong to.
She didn’t believe them. At least, she hadn’t believed their story until her dad did something that shook her to her very core. Chel had run out of the house. She had to get out. Had to breathe fresh air. Her heart was racing so fast, she thought it might explode. Where she was going, she didn’t even realize until she reached the riverbank. There was a nice grassy spot under a big tree where she liked to go to sit and think. Instinctively, that was where her subconscious led her. She replayed everything her parents had told her. She hadn’t believed any of it... until he changed.
Her dad, he actually changed into something else... an animal.
✾✾✾
Finn went to the spot he was told to go to if he ever needed help. He hadn’t been there in years and didn’t even know if it would still work; if they would still come. A sudden downpour of rain had begun as soon as he had passed the boundary of the woods. After an hour of waiting under a short tree that kept dripping water on him, he got up and began pacing. It had happened like that last time too. The rain, he figured, must be to ward off any passersby from seeing or overhearing anything.
Suddenly, there was movement in the trees in front of him and he saw someone other than who he expected. Two figures moved far enough out that he could see them. Then they waited expectantly for him to approach them, so he did.
“It has been a long time. Am I to speak with you?” Finn asked reluctantly. They both nodded at him in silence. He had forgotten how childlike these creatures were in appearance and also in mind. They were extremely simple. Similar to a dwarf in height, but angelic looking in nature, with the eyes so blue they practically glowed. This race had not chosen a side in the last great battle and were therefore neutral, often providing services as messengers.
“I need a message sent,” he said. Then he adjusted his wording, remembering to keep it short so these creatures could remember it, “Time is up. They have come. How to proceed if she goes? Who has been sent?” He looked at them to make sure they got the message and who it was for. He dared not say a name out loud, but he knew they telepathically read it in his mind. They nodded again. He gave a slight respectful bow of thanks and they backed into the forest the way they had come. Finn settled back under the tree to wait for a reply. In the past, he had received his responses within a few hours, but not this night. He sat there all night in the cold waiting for an answer, but none came. Perhaps those incompetent creatures got it wrong. Frustrated, he went home. Apparently, he was on his own.
Chapter Fifteen
Kaeleigh had jolted awake from another one of the flashes that seemed to have merged with her dreams. This one left her feeling empty and heartbroken, as though a piece of her had been ripped out. She was homesick for a family she never even knew. For some reason, she kept thinking about her stalker-turned-freak and wondered for the millionth time what had happened last night and the previous times meeting him. Did it mean something?
Or maybe he was just a crazy psycho stalker that should be locked up?
The more she thought about him and the weird and unbelievable things he had said to her, she found herself oddly curious. One thing was for sure, though, she was getting an additional lock put on her apartment door today. Whether he was a good guy or not, she had no idea how he got into her place, and she didn’t want it to happen again.
Kaeleigh didn’t have to be at work until the closing shift, so she went to run an errand an
d see if Chel could meet for coffee. She was feeling a bit annoyed with Finn at the moment and could use some plain old girl time. Chel agreed to meet Kaeleigh at The Station for a quick coffee, but she sounded distracted, like she wasn’t even listening. She must have had another fight with her parents; hopefully I don’t have to help smooth this one over too.
Chel tended to fly off the handle with her parents, but things always got patched up. As far as parents went, Chel’s were pretty great. After all, they had taken Kaeleigh in when she needed it and they had always been there for her. They were like family, the closest she had to parents anyway, but still they weren’t really hers. Kaeleigh had always had this feeling that they knew more about her life, her past, than they let on, but she just left it alone. She didn’t want to seem ungrateful for all they had done for her.
At The Station, she went ahead and ordered her a drink for her and Chel. Chel was a creature of habit and always ordered the same thing. For as creative as Chel was, Kaeleigh found it odd that she was so predictable with the little things like her drink. Guess we all need something stable. Chel walked in, searching frantically with her eyes for Kaeleigh until they locked in on her over in a different booth than where they usually sat. Kaeleigh waved her over, suddenly concerned at the odd expression on Chel’s face.
“Our booth was taken,” Kaeleigh said with a shrug when Chel’s raised eyebrow questioned the one she was sliding into. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Kaeleigh frowned as she realized Chel was much paler than normal.
Chel sat down, tried to take off her scarf that she always wore when the weather turned chilly, but ended up getting frustrated as she just kept tying it haphazardly around her neck more until she just gave up with a huff.
