Authors: Laura D. Bastian
Ryad had said his goodbyes to Jai while Delilah had talked to me. When he saw I was no longer talking to her, he joined me. “Thank you again for your forgiveness when I tried to kidnap you, Holly. And for helping me see the error of my ways.”
“Oh, no problem. I'd do anything to get out of a kidnapping you know.” I wished I could feel sure about him. They all believed him to be genuine now, but I still wondered. I hoped he was truly on Amira's side. Without Jai there to protect her, what would Ryad do? I could tell he had feelings for Amira, but what exactly did that mean?
He smiled at me and walked over to Amira as she finished up her goodbyes with Jai. She hugged Jai and turned him to face me.
I could see the indecision on his face when he looked away from her to me. When our eyes met, the indecision vanished, replaced with conviction. He smiled, and walked over to me, holding his arms open. I stepped easily into his embrace and breathed deeply.
“I will take you home and then we will drive to the Salt Flats,” he said. “They will Travel home to Rommader, and I will Travel to Ramal and see what can be done. Then I will fly back here. Shander will not ever have a chance to harm you. He'll find them gone, and he will leave to search for them elsewhere.”
I watched as Delilah and Marshal tidied up the house, turned off the TV, gave me my DVD, and put all the things in order before they left for the last time. It happened so fast, I wondered how much planning they'd done to prepare for possible events.
They'd arranged it so Jai could stay here and have a life with me. They were ready to return home where Amira could help her father restore order and peace to the kingdom. Their efficiency impressed me. With final decisions made, they were ready to go, and I was left wondering how it would all turn out, since I wouldn't be there to see it.
Amira walked over to Jai and me. Giving me a hug that nearly engulfed me, she thought to me in a whisper, “
I wish I could express to you how much I love you and will miss you. You have made my time here more enjoyable than I ever thought it could be. I am glad Jai has you. He needs you. He has changed much in the last few weeks. I only hope I can find something near the joy you have with him with someone myself.”
I couldn't see for sure, since her head was still next to mine as she hugged me, but I felt almost certain she looked at Ryad as she whispered to me.
Stepping back from me, she looked me in the eyes and said aloud, “Take care of him for me. I will miss having him around. He's been like a brother to me, but he is yours now and I have no more claim to him, even if he was my bodyguard. If things ever get under control back home, and Shander is no longer a threat, maybe we'll be able to come back to visit.”
“Yeah, don't be surprised if you see us knocking on your front door after a few months,” Ryad said.
The magnitude of what was happening hit me hard. My eyes flooded with tears as I realized they would be gone forever in moments. They talked about coming back, but it would be almost impossible if the metal they used to make the Traveling medallions was so rare.
“I don't know what I'll do without seeing you every day. I'll miss you all so much.” I stopped and tried to steady my voice. “And thank you, Princess, for letting Jai stay here.” How could I tell someone thanks for leaving my heart with me without sounding stupid?
“You are welcome. Now we must send you home and get ourselves out of here.”
Jai took me by the hand and led me up the stairs and out the front door. I could feel a mixture of his emotions: joy at being able to be with me, concern from worrying about Ramal, sadness about the others Traveling home without him, relief that things were finally happening, and excitement to be doing something without the worry of what might come.
When he got me to my front porch, he paused for a moment. “Depending on how hurt Ramal is, it shouldn't take me more than a couple days to Heal him. I don't know how soon I should come back here when he's well enough to leave. There is no telling how soon Shander will find this place. I can't decide if it would be best to get a flight back here as soon as possible to be with you, or to stay in Europe with Ramal for a little while and make sure Shander doesn't come back there.” He rubbed his thumbs across the backs of my hands.
“I think the reason Ryad thought you were Amira, besides the fact you look similar, was that you were with me. My being here could put you in danger.” He hugged me tight. “I would be devastated if something happened to you. Especially if it was my fault.” He nuzzled his face into my neck, breathing deeply as if he were trying to assure himself everything would be all right.
“Is there any place you can go for a long visit so you are not here if Shander shows up?” Jai asked.
“Not really. Both sets of grandparents have passed away. And my Uncle Pete and his family are stationed in Germany at the Air Force Base there.”
“What if you pretended to be sick and stayed home for a week without going anywhere?”
“I could probably do that,” I nodded after thinking it through. “When he finds your house empty, hopefully he will leave right away. Do you think he will suspect they've gone back home, or will he think you have just run somewhere else?”
Shaking his head, he said, “It's hard to know what he will do. I think he will believe us to have gone home and will try to follow us back. Then they can deal with him on Rommader.”
“Maybe you should stay with Ramal for a while.” It hurt to think he would be gone for long. “You can call me and let me know how things are going.”
“I will miss you.”
“I'll miss you too, but I can handle a separation of a few days now that I know you won't be leaving me forever,” I whispered.
“I'll be back before you know it.”
He leaned in to kiss me and I met him halfway. I clung to him, terrified of what would happen. I put all my fears into the kiss. My fears were acknowledged by him, and he kissed me fiercely. Soon his calm and strength took over. The kiss changed, becoming tender and sweet, yet full of promise there would be many more of them.
Alone
After checking in with my parents to let them know I was home, I went back to the front window to watch Jai leave. I stood frozen there for a few minutes before Marshal's jeep headed down the street. As it passed directly in front of my house, the headlights went out briefly and flicked back on again.
He knew I watched them, so he waved goodbye with his lights. I followed them with my eyes as far as I could see from my window. When the taillights disappeared behind the house on the corner, I focused my attention on my feelings and felt Jai getting farther and farther away. How far away would I be able to feel him?
I went outside in my back yard and sat on the bench under a maple tree in the corner of the yard. The flowers growing around the bench gave off a delicious scent. The warm night made my T-shirt and shorts just right.
I looked at my watch a few minutes after midnight. I planned to stay awake, paying attention to his presence to see if I could feel when he Traveled. Would I know the moment he left? I sat quietly looking at the stars while keeping my focus on the sense of Jai's person. As the minutes passed, I could tell he moved farther away, but it didn't change my awareness of him.
I kept checking my watch, wondering how long it would take them to get to the Salt Flats. I'd never been there myself, just knew its approximate distance. As the end of the second hour approached, I closed my eyes to block out even the distractions of the silent stars filling the clear night sky. I wanted to be completely aware of him and where he was.
A short time later, he disappeared. I knew he still existed, but I couldn't feel him anywhere. I felt lost momentarily then focused my attention on trying to find him. I breathed slowly and deeply for a few minutes, willing myself to feel him. I got panicky that he was gone too far, when deep inside me I felt him. I felt a flicker of strong emotion and then he disappeared again.
What had he discovered in Scotland?
I opened my eyes to look at the stars, and wondered how long it would take them to get to Rommader. I'd never really asked them about the way Traveling worked since that first night up on the mountain. They said it happened at the speed of thought. If so, they should already be there. I hoped they were safe and would find everything well.
****
In my bed a little while later, I lay still, focusing my attention inward. In the place where I figured my soul was, I could tell he was safe and well. By paying close attention, I never lost the connection. That gave me peace, and eventually sleep found me.
First thing in the morning, I searched deep inside myself to feel his existence. It took a few minutes, but when I found him, I relaxed and lay on my bed thinking of him.
I felt tired. Like I'd put in a hard day at work instead of staying up until after two in the morning. I went into the bathroom to get dressed and saw my face. I could pass for being ill right now. Had I cried in my sleep? It might explain my face, but I couldn't remember anything other than holding on to the feeling of Jai as I drifted off to sleep. The purplish bags under my eyes, my puffy red nose, and my pale face could easily convince my mom of my claim. As I concentrated on trying to find Jai, my head started hurting and my appetite was gone.
Going down stairs to meet my parents at the breakfast table, I gave them a little performance of not feeling well and begged off going with them to church. My mother insisted I eat a little bit of toast before going back to my room but didn't question my sincerity.
In my room, completely alone with my thoughts, tears flowed. I'd handled my emotions much better last night. I cried for the loss of Amira, deeply upset I would never see her again. She'd become a closer friend than any one I'd grown up with. I missed her more than Celia when she moved.
Why did she mean so much to me? Was it because of Jai that I loved her, or did she have something of her own? Thinking of all our times together, I decided it was for herself and not because of Jai. I liked her before Jai and I had Bonded. I would never see Amira again, no matter what they said. I would never be able to call her, e-mail her, or even send her a birthday card. I didn't even know when her birthday was.
How would Jai handle the separation of those he knew and loved from home? He was an orphan from an early age, but raised by a king and considered a brother to Amira as well as her eventual bodyguard. I didn't know how I would handle that myself. I marveled again at the strength of the Bond we shared. Would I ever be strong enough to leave my family and world for him?
Maybe Shander would get in an accident here on Earth. Maybe he would get struck by lightning. Maybe he wouldn't know how to drive and end up crashing into a lake. Maybe as he crossed a street, a bus would hit him because he didn't understand the red hand meant
Don't walk
. I chuckled at my evil wishes and then felt bad for being so cruel. But I still couldn't help wishing he could just be taken out of the picture all together, without any inconvenience to Amira, her father, or Jai.
****
Later in the day my parents checked on me. They both agreed I should stay home from work the next day to try to get on top of whatever I'd caught. The day spent resting hadn't helped me at all. I felt weaker too, though all I'd been doing was sitting quietly, focusing my attention trying to find him. I could catch his presence far away but then lose it too soon. Each time it disappeared, I would focus harder. After a few hours, my headache was excruciating. My appetite vanished completely as well.
My anxiety increased as I thought about him. As more time passed with no news from Jai, I started to feel really sick. Why hadn't he called? Was he too busy taking care of Ramal? Or in trouble himself? What if Shander hadn't left Ramal as soon as they thought he would, and Jai had arrived there to be found by Shander? Is that why I'd felt such a strong emotion just after he Traveled?
By Tuesday mid-morning I was a wreck and actually physically sick. I hadn't eaten much of anything the day before besides the toast and the homemade chicken soup my mother insisted I eat. My head hurt from trying to search for Jai constantly. I couldn't sleep much with the nightmares of Shander hurting Jai plaguing me. My energy had been sucked away. I smiled briefly to myself as I remembered my doubts about being able to fake sick long enough to convince my parents. Mom was talking about taking me to the doctor.
I made a conscious effort to feel better. Jai had probably gotten so busy helping Ramal he'd forgotten to call me. Soon I started to believe it. My headache got better as I lessened my focus on him. When I let go of the worry and didn't try to focus as hard, I found him easier. Who would have thought I could find Jai better when I didn't try. He was far away, yet well. That made me feel better. What was he doing? I felt his tiredness. Or was that mine? Were we sharing our sensations through the Bond this far away? Had I felt his weakness as he Healed Ramal? If our Bond could still be this strong across so many thousands of miles, it was much stronger than I realized.
I sat down on the couch and turned on the TV. There wasn't anything on. I just needed a distraction. Otherwise, I'd give myself a headache again, searching for Jai. Every few minutes I'd check for him, find him, and let him go. It felt much nicer that way.
A commercial for a body wash reminded me I hadn't showered for two days. I hurried upstairs to shower and felt completely renewed when I stepped out into the steamy bathroom. I wiped the steam off the mirror and looked at my reflection. The deep purple bags under my eyes were now just smudges. Would my parents believe I still felt unwell?
I dressed slowly in sweatpants and a T-shirt and felt my stomach rumble. At least my appetite had returned. If I ate before my parents came home, I could pretend to have an upset stomach and not eat dinner with them. It was only three in the afternoon. I could have my late lunch and avoid dinner with my parents without starving for the whole night.
The doorbell drew me to the front room. I reached for the doorknob, thinking briefly about my clothes. Why do people always come to the door when you don't look your best? My hair, still wet from my shower, hung limply. I hadn't even put on my mascara, not that I would, because I was playing sick, but still. Curtis stood there with a disposable container filled with his mom's soup. I'd had it enough times I knew exactly what it was. Perfect timing.
“My mom heard you were sick. She sent this over.”
I smiled down at Curtis. “Thanks. Tell your mom she rocks.”
Curtis nodded and held the container out. He peeked into the house as I took the soup from him. I pulled the door close to me, blocking his view.
“I don't think you should come in. Don't want to give you this bug.”
Curtis nodded again and stepped back. “Probably a good idea. Hope you get better fast.”
“Thanks. I think I'm on the mend.” I waved to his mom when I saw her come out of the house. She stood by Curtis's car and waited until he got back, then they got in and drove away. I closed the door and took the soup to the kitchen.
As I opened the container it slipped and half of it spilled onto my front. I jumped back trying to avoid the heat and the mess but still felt the wetness as it soaked through my sweats. I quickly slipped out of them and dropped them onto the soup on the floor, hoping to soak it up, then ran upstairs to change. I hopped in the shower again to wash.
Back in the kitchen, I cleaned up the mess. When I sat down at the counter to eat, I noticed the light on the answering machine flashing at me. I'd probably missed the call while in the shower. I took a spoonful of soup and pushed the button.
The mechanical voice said, “You have one new message,” then beeped. I had turned around and walked back to the fridge to get a drink out when the voice I'd been thinking of so often spoke.
“Hello, Holly. It's Jai. I wanted to give you a call and fill you in on things here. Here is the number you can reach me at⦔
I dropped my unopened soda can and ran to the phone. I yanked the marker off its clip and knocked the message board off its nail in the process. I picked up the board and set it on the counter then pressed the message button again. I listened impatiently for the part where he told me the number and wrote it down. He spoke so fast I had to replay it again to make sure I got it right.
I underlined it and wrote Jai in big letters above it. I punched in the numbers and waited impatiently for the first ring to start. The doorbell rang just as my phone connected to Jai's phone. I sighed and went to the door.
The sunlight reflecting off the siding next to the garage wall blinded me momentarily. When my eyes adjusted, my jaw dropped. I had never seen the man standing there, but I knew him.
The description Jai and Amira had given of him was right on. Here he stood, in the flesh, on my doorstep. The man I loathed as much as if he had injured me personally.
“Shander?” I whispered. Just then the phone next to my ear connected, and I heard Jai answer, “Hello?”
I was too stunned at who stood in front of me to say anything to Jai. I couldn't even respond when Jai said my name through the phone.
Shander smiled at me with perfect, straight, white teeth. The traces of wrinkles near his brown eyes as he smiled added to his charm. An attractive man in his mid-thirties, his hair was mostly black with flecks of gray near his temples. He lifted his arm to rest it on the doorframe. He wore the same kind of black stone attached to a woven leather band on his right wrist. If I'd doubted his identity before, I didn't now.
“What an interesting look you are trying here.” He looked me over from head to toe. “Your facial reconstruction still can't disguise you from me. And no matter how you dress, it will never diminish your beauty.”
“What are you doing here?” In the back of my mind, I dimly realized I spoke Rommaderian.
“I thought you lived at the house over there.” He pointed at Jai's house. “Number six-fifty-four is what my research pulled up. But you are here at number six-forty-five.”
Jai's panicked voice came through the phone in my hand, “Holly! What is going on?”
“He's here,” I whispered.
“What? Who is there?” Jai asked.
I stared at Shander as I took a deep breath. “Shander is here, at my door,” I said into the phone.
Shander reached quickly and took the phone from my hand. He looked it over briefly and pushed the button to turn it off. I felt a surge of panic that wasn't all mine.
“But, but why⦠why are you here?” I struggled over the words.
“Ah, Princess,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “You know I could not let you stay away from me forever. We will make Rommader a much better place to live by ruling together. You never gave me a chance to explain what I wanted from you.”
I stared at him, in awe of how his voice flowed, like silk, over the words. Even his voice held attraction. Eventually gaining control over my thoughts, I said, “I'm not the princess.”
“Of course you are. Just because you banished yourself to this pathetic planet doesn't mean you can deny your true calling in life.” Shander shook his head. “I want you to come back home and take your rightful place next to me as my queen.”
“I want you to disappear and never come near anyone I love ever again.”
“Come now,” he cooed, stepping closer to the door, placing his hand on the knob.
I gripped the knob on my side and tried pushing it closed. He was much stronger than I and managed to open it wider.
“Let us not have any harsh words. You know as well as I do, your father is unfit to rule. His health has been so poor he hasn't been able to do his duty as king. He can't even keep up with the visits he should make to determine how the kingdom is faring.
“I have always been the one who has made the more important decisions anyway. Only outdated traditions have kept me from the throne. Unfortunately, the people want to keep those traditions.”
“They aren't outdated traditions,” I argued, frowning at him. “The peace of Rommader depends on a stable government.”
“I know,” he sighed. “That is why marrying you is the best option. The shift of power will come legally and not through some messy uprising. However, if you refuse to marry me, I have no problem getting my followers to help me overthrow your father.”
“You don't love the people of Rommader. You're just a terrible power-hungry creep.” I tried to push on the door to keep him from getting it any wider.
“What is wrong with power?” he asked, as if surprised. “If you know how to use it, there is no end to what can be accomplished. Think of how much power we could have together.”
“No.”
“You forget. I have your father in my power. I can end his life any time.” He spoke so calmly my heart clenched in fear. “I can then take the government by force, and the people will live under the rule of a bitter and angry tyrant. Or⦔ He waited expectantly for me to finish his thought.
“Or I could agree to your demands⦔ I tried.
“And your father would be safe to live the remainder of his unhealthy life to its natural end. The people would be able to stay in their happy, oblivious lives and we could rule together.”
I was at a loss. I wasn't Amira, but he didn't believe that. He was going to try to take me home with him. “I'm not the princess.”
“Stop protesting. Of course you are.” He looked me over briefly then peeked into the room. “Where is your pretend bodyguard?” he asked with a sneer.
“He isn't pretend,” I defended.
“Well, where is he? I see no sign of him or anyone else here. Was he the one you were talking with?”
“He, uh⦠he'll be here any moment.”
“Well, apparently he doesn't care enough about your safety if he leaves you here alone,” he said with a derisive look at my house. “I won't let you out of my sight. No harm will come to you if you do what I want.”
“I'm not going anywhere with you.” I threw my weight against the door trying to get it shut. He easily overpowered me and forced his way inside.
I backed away, trying to figure out where to run or what to do. I ran to a second phone, resting in its base by Dad's reading lamp. Before I could dial anything, he took it from my hand and threw it against the wall. It broke apart, pieces of it scattering all over the carpet.
In the back of my mind I thought of how angry Mom would be that her new phone would never work again.
I turned to run, but he grabbed me by the arm and tucked it forcefully behind my back. My shoulder screamed in agony as I fought against him, effectively stopping my struggles.
“You are coming with me, Princess. Whether you come of your own free will or by force.” He jerked my arm up again, making me squeal. “You will be my queen, and I will rule Rommader the way it should be ruled.”
“No! You can't make me. I can't Travel with you.”
“Oh, but you will find I can, Princess.” He squeezed my arm then led me to the open door. His hold loosened as I stopped my struggles. I yanked away and lunged for anything to use as a weapon. He caught me again before I got far. Dad's lamp mocked me by being just out of reach. I only managed to knock it over. I did get ahold of a book. Gripping it with my one free hand, I smacked his face with it, delivering only a glancing blow.
My fighting back seemed to amuse him. Was he laughing at my feeble attempts to defend myself, or did he get a kick out of thwarting my plans?
I lunged away from him again, and made it to the shelf with my mom's potted plants. He still held my wrist, but I picked up one of the plants and threw it at his face. He ducked just in time and the pot hit the wall behind him. The potting soil exploded in a huge mess.
I jerked at my arm, but somehow he managed to sweep my legs out from under me with his foot and knock me to the floor. I sat down hard and struggled to catch my breath, weak from not eating for the past few days. He grabbed me by the elbow and roughly yanked me up. He pulled my arm tight behind my back, forcing a yelp of pain from me.
“Now, let's be civilized here,” he said through a forced smile. “I know you have been living among these strangers here for some time, but I thought you would have retained a few of your better manners.” He didn't even sound winded.
He pulled something out of his pocket, bringing it to my face, and sprayed my nose and mouth. My throat and eyes stung when I breathed it in. My vision went fuzzy, then black.
Before losing myself completely to a strange feeling of emptiness, I felt a jolt of panic that wasn't mine, deep in my soul.