Born In Flames (27 page)
Authors: Candace Knoebel
I huffed but didn’t push it, remembering that it wouldn’t help anyway. When he chose not to say something, well, that was it. There was no persuading him. So I changed subjects.
“Will the whole seeing Zordon thing keep happening?”
“I have to research this anomaly more. Nothing like this has ever occurred, and I can’t tell you exactly how deep the connection is. This is why we must consider precautions.” He braced my shoulders, his eyes glowing a bit brighter. “And I don’t want you doing anything with your Oraculus until I say otherwise. You could not only put yourself, but everyone you love in danger by continuing to toy with it. Especially now that he has seen you, and we have confirmation that the connection is a physical one.”
I silently nodded. He squeezed my shoulders and then let go, walking over to his desk.
“I have a question about the prophecy,” I said quietly. “The last line talks about a death to He that breaks the barrier. Do you know what that means?”
“Not without the missing piece. Soothe insisted on keeping it to himself. Did he tell you?”
I shook my head no. “He didn’t tell me much of anything actually. Don’t you think it’s important that we find out the missing piece?” I boldly questioned.
He smiled brightly. “Yes I do. I think it would help. But then one’s faced with knowing the truth, good or bad. Which leaves me questioning if we really should know. Soothe may not seem all there, but he knows what he’s doing. If you are meant to know, you will…one day.”
One day can’t come soon enough. I’ll have to go back and find him
, I thought, tucking the idea away for a later day. I didn’t know if he was in my head or not, but if he heard what I was thinking, then he must agree or he would’ve said otherwise. I hoped.
I had one last question. “What happened after I left that night?” The sound of Gabe’s cry and the image of Astral’s worried faced was the most prominent memory.
“The other two Fates were on their brother’s tail. They stopped them before they could go any further.”
“What about you and Gabe?”
Instead of answering, he smiled coyly. “There will be time to discuss these things Aurora. For now we need to plan what we’re going to do with Zane and get you settled in.”
I followed him out of the room and back into the living room. Gabe and Myrdinn were huddled with their backs to us, whispering something I couldn’t understand. Myrdinn looked up at my arrival, and I caught him mouthing “…We’ll talk about this later.”
What couldn’t they say in front of me?
Gabe turned around to face me. It was strange seeing his face, knowing that I was wideawake. “Aurora,” he said as he walked slowly towards me. He stopped right in front of me, and as I reached out to hug him I wound up hugging the air.
I opened my eyes and found him kneeling in front of me. I tried to recover myself as quickly as possible without anyone noticing, but of course nothing got past Astral. He chuckled from behind me.
“It’s so good to see you alive and all grown up. The last time I saw you, you were…”
I cut him off by finishing, “…a little girl. The night I left.”
He stood back up, now looking down at me. “Yes, the night you went into hiding. Though we didn’t protect you as well as we should have.” His eyes shot to Myrdinn and then to the ground.
Astral stepped in before I could ask what he meant. “Myrdinn, there was nothing anyone could have done to prevent the connection from happening. You have to accept what The Fates have planned.” Gabe must have told my father about my near death experience.
“Honestly, it’s okay Myr…I mean, Dad. I’m fine. And we have bigger problems to worry about right now.”
“As in dealing with Zane, I assume you mean,” he replied.
Lexi walked in. “He’s chained up downstairs,” she announced, answering everyone’s question.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea that we keep him here,” said Gabe. “We shouldn’t take the chance of Zordon tracking him.”
Astral rubbed his chin as he paced back and forth.
“He shouldn’t be able to track this house. Astral has enough enchantments to hide it from anyone,” said Myrdinn.
“Except The Fates,” added Astral.
“But they wouldn’t…” replied Myrdinn. Lexi grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the conversation to stand by the fire.
“Your father heard about Zordon meeting with the Dark Saar. That is really why he is so upset.” I should have known. It’s not like I was going to come back to a perfect life. I was returning to fight a war.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“I overheard them talking while you were with Astral.” She looked as nervous as I felt.
“My mother?” I asked, hoping that she would be okay.
“That’s the thing. Myrdinn can’t get in touch with her. Gabe wants to keep that from you thinking it’s in your best interest, but I feel like you should know. This is, after all, about you.”
She’s right, I should know. They want me to fight for them, to be their savior, so they should keep me in the loop. At least I think they should. And how could my mom defeat the Dark Saar alone?
“Thank you for telling me, Lexi.” My aggravation was growing and I could feel an outburst brewing. It was well overdue. “Although I appreciate them looking out for me, I think they should know that I’m not a little girl.” I tilted my eyebrows, hoping for her permission to confront them about what she just told me.
She threw her hands up in front of her face and said, “By all means feel free. We are friends of honesty, my dear.” Her smile made me feel a little bit better. Then she tilted her head towards the hall and perked her ear up. “Got to go…good luck.” And with a pat on my arm she was gone.
I sucked in a deep breath hoping to find some courage, but it didn’t seem to help. So I stood there for a minute and had a mental debate with myself. This was my fight. I had to take ownership of that. Zordon and I were connected, and it was up to me to end him. I needed to know exactly what was going on at all times, right? I blocked the weaker side of my brain and stormed up to Gabe and my dad. It was now or never.
“Is there something you’d like to tell me?” I demanded in my most authoritative tone. Any spectator would have laughed but I kept my game face on, determined to walk away with an understanding between us. If we were all going to coexist and get through this mess together, then we needed to go into it on the same page.
“What do you mean?” asked my father in an innocent voice. I intertwined my fingers and gazed at them, waiting. They both exchanged glances. “Lexi!” yelled Myrdinn. She poked her head out of a door in the hallway and smiled before shutting it again.
I’m glad I can handle things on my own
, I thought as I tried to hide a smile.
“I swear that girl has issues,” said Gabe under his breath. He ran his hands through his black, medium-length hair.
“This is not about her. You know what this is about. Now before you explain everything in detail, I want you two to understand something. I’m a grown woman. I’ve been on my own for the past eight years and I know how to take care of myself. I’ve accepted all of this,” I spread my arms out in front of me, “with open arms. The least of what I deserve is to be told the truth. Especially if I’m supposed to save everyone somehow.”
I don’t know where the boost of confidence came from, but I was glad it came when it did. The look on their faces was priceless. My heart pounded with excitement.
I waited for what seemed like forever for one of them to say something when finally my father spoke up. “You have a lot of your mother in you. It makes me proud.” His smile was genuine.
If only I knew her and could see that for myself.
“Everything you’ve heard is true. We are on the brink of war, but your mother is safe,” he interjected seeing the look on my face. “I’m sure she will contact me as soon as she is able. Your safety is important above everything else.” His lavender eyes seemed dull.
Gabe spoke up and added, “Rest assured, Progeny. My people will engage when it is time. We won’t let anything happen to your mother or the royal family.”
But what about all the others? What would they do to fight the Dark Saar? I couldn’t just sit by and let innocent people…well…Draconta get hurt or killed. This was what my life had become—mystical creatures that needed protection from other mystical and magical things.
Astral chimed in. “Now that that is all settled, we do have things to deal with. I need you to get settled in your room, Aurora.”
I tried to get out a “but,” but Astral saw it coming and put up his hand to stop me from speaking.
“No buts. You have proven your point valiantly, and you will be included in everything from now on. For now, please do as I ask so we can get everything in place. You need your rest if we are to train.” He used what he knew would shut me up.
My room was where I remembered it, and it actually felt like my room, not like a new place. I knocked lightly and heard Lexi.
“Come in,” she said with an odd tone in her voice. I opened it. Shock replaced all other emotions and thoughts.
The moment I caught my breath and registered just who exactly he was, I was able to speak again.
“Fenn! I made it back to you,” I declared, rushing in for a kiss.
Our lips met, the world disappearing around us. He squeezed me tightly in return, his familiar scent warming my soul. Time suspended as everything rushed to the surface, the fears, the love, the doubt.
“Excuse me,” whispered Lexi as she quietly tip-toed around us and out of my room.
I let myself revel in the feel of his mouth while his fingers passionately twisted in my hair. This is what I had waited for-to go for what I wanted rather than letting fear control me. I opened my eyes, gazing at his squeezed tight with a hungry yearning and smiled, gently leaning my forehead against his.
My mind raced as it searched for the right words. There was so much to say, so much that had happened that I wanted to share with him. And there were so many questions.
But there would be time for that later. Right now I just wanted to be with him, touch him, and feel that he is alive and safe.
I looked up at him and smiled, finally okay with how I felt and said, “Love you.”
He grinned from ear to ear, chuckling in satisfaction.
“Love you, too.”
THE END…
For now…
About the Author
Candace Knoebel dreamed of being a dancer ever since she could remember. With a love of all things art, she saw herself moving to New York and pursuing her passion as an artist. But all that changed on October 10, 2002 when she met the love of her life. Her dreams diverged and after marrying her high school sweetheart and having two beautiful children, she realized she missed her creative side.
Growing up alongside the Harry Potter series, Candace found herself missing the epicosity of a story that pulls you in and won’t let you go. In 2009, she began dreaming up characters that would mold her first novel. Through lunch breaks and late nights, after putting her kids to bed, she built a world where she could escape the everpressing days of an eight to five Purgatory. She found her calling in life and knew this was more than dancing could’ve ever meant to her. Once complete in 2010, she began the grueling process of finding a publisher. With relentless determination, she was finally able to realize her dream in December of 2011 when 48fourteen offered her a publishing contract. With a HUGE yes and a happy dance, she now continues her Trilogy.
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