Tala Prophecy: The Complete Series

by Tia Silverthorne Bach

  “You look amazing,” she said when she finally found words again.

  Each person went up and hugged Nana and several dabbed at their eyes with tissues Sasha had brought. Guess she knew the effect her masterpiece would have.

  Then, Papa walked in, followed by Rowan and Ricardo. Flanked by several gushing family members, Nana didn’t see her love at first. As each person around her looked toward the entrance, she slowly turned. When she did, Papa seemed frozen as he took in the scene. Then, with three quick steps, he was by her side. He took both her hands and lifted them to his chest, holding them there with one hand as he reached to her face with the other. Tilting her chin up, he lowered his mouth to hers and lingered there.

  In the beauty of the moment, Reagan caught Rowan’s stare and met it with equal intensity. She could only hope they’d have that type of moment some day as their children and grandchildren watched.

  Ricardo cleared his throat, and the spell was broken. “We really should get going.”

  Papa moved his hand down to the small of Nana’s back to escort her out of the room.

  Ricardo followed closely behind.

  Rowan crossed the room to give Reagan a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll make sure they’re safe.”

  “Please.”

  His hand moved from her shoulder down her arm and then broke contact one fingertip at a time. Once he was gone, she returned her attention to the women surrounding her. Each stood motionless with eyes glistening with moisture.

  “Who’s up for some card games and snacks?” Mom asked, ever the hostess.

  Smiles lit up the room. Even the best warriors needed a break sometimes.

  When morning came, Reagan bolted out of bed and went in search of Nana, eager to hear about the events of the night. Disappointment followed when she and Papa were nowhere to be found. Reagan decided to grab some breakfast instead and ran into her mom and Aunt Sarah.

  “Should we check with Rowan or Ricardo and make sure everything’s okay?” Aunt Sarah asked as they filled their plates with food.

  “We’d know if something was wrong. Nana and Papa deserve to take all the time they want. Who knows when they’ll get another opportunity,” Reagan said, pausing only to take a couple of bites of egg and wash it down with some water. “In just forty-eight hours, we’ll all be heading out to find the sword. I hope we find it the first day out, but that seems a bit too easy.”

  Both women nodded and went back to eating. Reagan hated to dampen the mood, but she knew Papa would come back even more determined to make sure every detail of his plan met his high standards of safety and efficiency.

  Within half an hour, most of the team had filed into the cafeteria: Sam, Jessica, Winona, Cheveyo, Sasha, and Madeleine. Everyone tried to figure out the best use of the time left before the upcoming mission.

  Madeleine suggested everyone head to the gym for conditioning and training until Nana returned. Then, the ladies could focus on using their powers.

  Armed with a plan, they pushed their chairs back and cleaned up their area.

  Reagan told them she’d be there in fifteen minutes. She used the time to splash some water on her face and reach out to Rowan. “When can we expect you back?”

  His voice returned within seconds. “Heading back now.”

  Hearing his words sent relief coursing through her body. She hadn’t allowed herself to consider anything going wrong, and only realized how tense she’d been when she relaxed at his reply.

  On her way to training, she ran into Winona in the hallway.

  “I just heard from Rowan. I’m not sure how far they went, but he did say they were heading back,” Reagan said.

  “Cheveyo was up most of the night. He said he wanted to keep a protection spell on them just to be safe. I’m really worried about him. He’s so weak.” Winona wrung her hands as concern etched her face.

  Reagan put an arm around her sister’s shoulder as they continued their progress toward the gym. “Do you think he should stay behind when we head out?”

  “I already asked. He refuses. He told me his destiny is to make sure good prevails, and his own life is the least he can give to the cause if need be.”

  It sounded like something Cheveyo would say, and Reagan knew he wouldn’t hesitate to lay his life down for the greater good. She wanted to feel that confident, but fear kept creeping in: fear of loss, fear of dying, but most of all, fear of failure. To know a world overrun by evil would be her fault, that all the people who’d suffer because of it would rest on her shoulders, was suffocating and terrifying.

  Shaking off the rising panic, a skill that had turned into her lifeline, she gave Winona’s shoulders a squeeze. “He’s a pretty tough old guy. I think he’ll be with us for a long time. He and Nana will be doing some kind of jig when we’re all celebrating our victory in a few short months.”

  Winona put her hand out, stopping Reagan in her tracks. “Do you believe everything you say?”

  “I believe by saying the words I keep the scary thoughts away.”

  “I’m with you on that. Let’s make a pact to keep each other focused and face whatever happens head on. We need something we can say to each other when we’re not sure if we can go on, because I believe we’ll have those moments.”

  Reagan shook her head, not wanting to hear anything negative out of fear one word would break her and send her into a black pit of sadness and despair. She couldn’t give up; there was too much at stake. “Come on, let’s not talk like that…”

  “That’s my point. We aren’t going to talk like that. But if we slip up for a moment, if we’re human… we are human, Reagan, no matter what else has happened. We have a destiny, but we also still have eternity. We have a place with—”

  Knowing Winona meant well, but not quite prepared to think about joining their ancestors in the afterlife, Reagan cut off her sister’s words. “Okay, if it’s a quick mantra you want, it has to be encouraging but short. Something motivating.” Stalling was not one of Reagan’s better skills, but she racked her brain, and the words failed to come. After all, “may the force be with you” and “live long and prosper” were already taken. Then, a couple of words came to the forefront of her mind.

  “With faith, we fight.”

  Winona’s chest concaved as she drew in a breath. “With faith, we fight. I like it. Without faith, we won’t make it. But we also have to fight. We can’t sit by and hope for the best.”

  “Does that help?” Reagan took her sister by the hand and pulled her back into movement.

  Winona nodded.

  “Will you make me a promise, then?”

  Another nod.

  “Once this is all over, we get to have a fun night out with our boyfriends and act our age. No more battle mantras; no more leadership. We get to be typical eighteen-year-olds who don’t think about death, destruction, and demons. Deal?”

  “Deal,” Winona said as a smile spread across her face.

  Reagan had never noticed the deep dimple in the upper part of her sister’s right cheek. At first, Reagan thought she’d been too preoccupied to notice, but after further thought, she knew why. Winona had never smiled like that. Maybe a little happiness would fuel all their souls for the upcoming battle. Seeing Nana so excited for her anniversary celebration with Papa certainly had given Reagan a much-needed boost.

  “Guess when Jed’s gone, everyone gets a little too relaxed around here,” Madeleine said when Reagan and Winona entered the gym.

  “Sorry. We were chatting. I did hear from Rowan. They aren’t too far,” Reagan said. “So, what’s the plan for today?”

  “Distraction,” Madeleine answered.

  Winona and Reagan looked at each other with confused glances before looking back at Madeleine.

  “Let’s face it. Your mom, aunt, and Nana are doing great with their training, but they don’t have the added benefit of our wolf genes. If we’re attacked, you’ll have to fight and keep an eye on them.”

  Jessica walked into th
e room carrying a large sandbag.

  “Great, thanks, Jess.”

  Reagan hadn’t heard the nickname before and hoped it meant Madeleine and the girl were bonding.

  “Back to what I was saying. I think it’s best if we each take someone to watch during the battle. The best plan is to take whoever’s closest to you if something happens. We can move faster, even carrying them, than they can. And we’re more battle-ready. They’ll be able to strengthen us, so it’s a win-win.”

  Madeleine threw a sandbag at Reagan, who then noticed there were a few more on the floor; the last three were distributed, and Madeleine began their normal defensive maneuvering as they held on to the extra weight.

  After an hour, Reagan’s shoulders sagged. She sat with the other women on a bench and guzzled water.

  “We’re back.” Rowan’s voice filled her head. “Nana’s in the library room, and Jed and I are heading to work on plans.”

  “Rowan just let me know everyone’s back. Nana’s in the library. Winona and Jessica, let’s head there. Madeleine, I figure you want to check in with Papa first,” Reagan said.

  Madeleine gave a downward jerk of her head, and they dispersed.

  Eager to see Nana, Reagan tried to control the speed of her walk, knowing she looked like a kid told not to run at the pool. A child who was eager to get to the diving board and do the next trick. She couldn’t wait to hear about her grandparents’ getaway.

  Nana stood talking to her daughters when Reagan entered.

  “So—” Reagan exaggerated the word “—how was it?”

  A slight pink glow warmed Nana’s cheeks. “It was amazing. The details, though, are for your grandfather and me to cherish. A lady never tells.”

  ↄↄↄↄↄ

  Another day passed with few breaks and lots of training and planning. Early the next morning, Papa gathered everyone for instructions.

  “I need everyone in this room and ready to go by five tomorrow morning. Bring the diary. I’ll pack a box of weapons and some backpacks in the van tonight. We’ll also need some food.”

  “Maybe we could even stop somewhere and eat; you know, like a real family. I sincerely doubt Rafe would attack us at an Applebee’s,” Sam said.

  At first, Reagan wanted to slap her brother on the back of the head and tell him to grow up. But it was actually a good idea. A normal family outing. Who knew if they’d ever get another chance? She looked at Papa to try to gauge his reaction; the smile on his face caught her by surprise. Although, he’d been smiling a lot since his evening with Nana.

  “I guess we’ve never really had a good old family dinner since all the changes, now have we?” he said.

  If Reagan had been eating, she would’ve choked on her food. It was the last thing she expected him to say. She wondered how much his reaction would’ve differed if the rest of the pack had been in the room. Still, thinking about a nice family gathering outside the cave gave her something to look forward to.

  “If we don’t find the sword by tomorrow night, will we regroup back here? The church is at least a three-hour drive from here, maybe three and a half,” Winona said. “At least, according to Google Maps.”

  Reagan slapped her sister’s shoulder in jest. “Well, someone is learning to love the latest in technology, isn’t she?”

  Winona gave a playful slap back, smiling.

  Papa cleared his throat, and Reagan regained her military posture and seriousness. “We’ll tackle that question if and when we need to. We’ll probably head back here. If we don’t find the sword tomorrow, we might need to contact Cecilia again. Probably safest to do that from here, don’t you think?” he asked, turning to Nana.

  “I do,” she said.

  “Okay, everyone is on their own for the rest of the day. Do whatever you need to in order to prepare for tomorrow. It’s going to be a long day. I’ll be in the command center most of the morning and early afternoon, if anyone needs me.”

  After the last word, he rushed out.

  Reagan sensed conflict as she watched Nana staring at his retreating form. Watching Papa slip back into his commander role made Reagan sad. His previous glow faded to a scowl as a dark cloud seemed to move over him. Nana seemed to have the same transformation.

  Instead of trying to figure it out, Reagan took the direct approach. “What’s going on with you two?”

  Nana looked down before turning to Reagan. “He’s brooding.”

  Waiting for more, she lifted her eyebrow and cocked her head. After a few more breaths without words, she couldn’t stand it any longer. “And?”

  “He’s not going to admit it, but he’s terrified about having all of us out in the open. Don’t forget, he walked away once to protect us because he couldn’t bear to put us in danger. Now, he’s not just in charge of protecting his wife and daughters, but his grandson and granddaughters. Not to mention those they love and the pack. They were his family when we couldn’t be.”

  She let the words sink in. For almost every mission, they’d strategically planned to split up any major players, Winona and Reagan especially. Nana, Aunt Sarah, and Mom had mainly served as support, safely ensconced in the cave. Even if he could push back his feelings and fear about his family and loved ones, he also had to consider the fate of the world. If something happened to them all at once, Rafe won. However, considering the information they had, Reagan couldn’t think of an alternate plan.

  “I just don’t see any other way.”

  “That’s the problem. He doesn’t either.”

  Winona walked up. “I couldn’t help but overhear. And I was wondering… is there some way we could use Jessica’s force field around us when we’re most vulnerable? Since we have to join hands for the diary to show us directions anyway, we’d be more powerful.”

  Nana shook her head midway through Winona’s idea. “No. We can’t put Jessica, or any of us, in that kind of vulnerable position. It would wipe out all our reserves. If we came upon any threat along the way, we’d be easy prey.”

  Winona’s idea wasn’t viable, but it put Reagan’s brain into motion. “What if you could conjure up a spell that sent Rafe on a wild goose chase?” When Nana opened her mouth, Reagan held up a hand. “Hear me out. Rafe has shown up when we least expected him before. Maybe there’s a way to plant false information that leads him in another direction, buying us time and safety. Could you send incorrect telepathic thoughts his way?” Reagan knew she was grasping at straws, but she wasn’t going to charge into a dangerous situation without considering all possibilities.

  Nana’s features softened. “It’s an idea. It would be draining, but not as much as a force field. Let me talk it over with Cheveyo and see what we can come up with.” She placed a hand on Reagan’s shoulder. “Okay?”

  “For now, it’s all we’ve got. I’ll help Madeleine prepare the weapons. Winona, maybe we can get in some more training. It never hurts.” Reagan turned to see who was still left in the room and noticed Madeleine was missing. “Let’s go see if we can find her.”

  Winona and Reagan found Madeleine sitting on a bench in a far corner of the training center. She had a dumbbell raised halfway in a bicep curl, but she was staring off into space, unmoving.

  “Madeleine,” Reagan said in a low voice, hoping not to startle her friend. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.

  She dropped the weight, barely missing her foot. “Seriously, Reagan. You can’t surprise someone who’s holding a fifty-pound weight. Jeez,” she said as she stood, her voice a bit shaky.

  “Sorry. We weren’t trying to sneak up on you or anything. We thought you’d hear us coming in, but you looked like you were somewhere else entirely.”

  Madeleine stopped mid-stride. “I’m actually the one who’s sorry. You’re right. I was remembering another time in a gym. It was back when I was first turned. Amélie and I were having one of our first training sessions with Rafe and Rowan. It was so exhilarating, and I was a young girl fantasizing about the hot guy.” She picked up a pair of box
ing gloves, running her fingers over the leather before putting them on. “Dammit! She said, punching her gloves together. “If only I’d stayed focused and kept a better eye on my sister, none of this would’ve happened.”

  Reagan walked over and put her hands on top of Madeleine’s gloves. “Do you really think you could’ve stopped this? I never believed in fate or destiny before, but I do now. Everything that’s happening is meant to be. We might have changed a few things along the way, but certain outcomes were inevitable. Cecilia talked about faith. I’m finally getting it. I have to believe we’re going to come out of this nightmare in victory. Believing anything else is suicide. Why even live another day if we don’t believe?”

  Shocked by the outflow of words, Reagan considered them. She could no longer consider a destiny with any other outcome but defeating Rafe. “That doesn’t mean we won’t suffer more loss. That’s why Winona and I are here. We want to do everything in our power, as we know you do, to make sure our losses are at a minimum.” Feeling guilty for saying the words to Madeleine, of all people, Reagan touched her friend’s upper arm. “You’ve suffered so much for this cause. It can’t all be for naught.”

  Where did that phrase come from? Reagan chuckled. “Sorry, I think Nana’s rubbing off a little too much on me. But seriously, let’s walk into this as fighters. Winona and I came up with a mantra—a battle cry if you want me to really get cheesy—that we’re going to use when we need that extra encouragement to keep our head in the game. With faith, we fight.”

  Madeleine tilted her head and then smiled. “I like it, thanks. Let’s get to work. Why don’t you ladies get ready, and we’ll go a couple of rounds. I also asked your mom and aunt to come back later this afternoon for some more lessons. I’m actually a bit shocked at how well they’re doing, considering…”

  “Considering what?” Reagan asked.

  “Well, their age.”

  “You’re older than both of them.”

  Madeleine snickered. “We both know there’s a huge difference.”

  “They’re powerful in ways we aren’t.”