| |
Earth (Silversmith, MA)
Amber and I were promptly unenrolled from school. I sent Deric a text letting him know that Amber and I would be joining his merry little crew. He responded with a short “okay” and nothing more. One would think that Deric hadn’t found his soulmate. He didn’t initiate a conversation with me, despite the fact that he had been eager to be the point of contact for me. That thought pounded me until the morning of our departure.
I walked down the stairs with a backpack on my shoulders. I packed clothing, toiletries, and dry food for the journey. Amber was waiting for me in the kitchen, a beautiful gold sword strapped to her waist. It wasn’t enchanted, since we had no carvers in our coven. But it still packed a deadly punch. She smile widely, excitement resting in her eyes. My mother was beside her, a sad expression on her face. She cleared her throat before speaking.
“I knew Sandy, the oracle that passed away years ago. She told me that I would raise an oracle who would forge a friendship with a carver. Together, they would save Earth,” Mom said. Bull crap, since Jade was as human as they came. But I wasn’t about to tell my mother what my true feelings were.
“Great, why didn’t you mention this to Ben sooner? All he has been saying is that we really shouldn’t leave,” Amber complained. I held out my hand, and Amber tapped it. Before my mother could even speak, I was dragged into another vision.
~~~
I was in an elegant dining room that had a small but beautiful chandelier hanging over the oval-shaped dining room table. The polished wood floors were covered with beautiful rose petals. Max García walked into the room, carrying a champagne bucket. He eyed the area, a small smile on his face. He placed the bucket on the table and tilted his head. He seemed startled by something. I couldn’t see what for a moment. But then a tall, thin man strolled into the room, his olive skin free of all blemishes. He wore a strange-looking silk suit complete with a tie. Fear filled Max’s eyes as he eyed him.
“Lord Peirc,” Max whispered, quickly snatching the bottle out of the bucket. Lord Peirc eyed the place with disdain. He didn’t seem like a Najori, since he hadn’t teleported into the room. But I didn’t think that he was a royal from Earth either.
“Max, what a charming little setup you have here,” the lord said as a broad teenager with cropped dark hair and caramel skin joined the two men. He had a sword strapped to his waist, the black weapon making Max sigh.
“Rose said that you gave her permission to marry me,” Max said.
“I did, for a price. Though that part should have been understood,” Lord Peirc said. Max frowned.
“What do I have to give you in order to keep Rose?” Max hesitantly inquired.
“That daughter of yours, what’s her name, Amber?” Max’s eyes widened in shock.
“What do you want with her?” Amber’s father demanded.
“I want to add her to my harem. It’s a fair trade, since you stole Rose from me,” Lord Peirc coldly reasoned. “She’s a bit young, but I can wait until she’s of age.”
“No,” Max said. “As much as I love Rose, I could never do that to my princess.” Lord Peirc let out a sigh.
“Well, divorce isn’t an option, Max. You know about me and my operation here. Let me make this clear to you. Either you agree to give me Amber, or you die,” the lord threatened.
“Kill me now, because you will never get your hands on my girl,” Max said. Lord Peirc laughed.
“One way or another, Amber García will be a part of my harem,” the evil lord declared. “Lex, do the honors.” Lex unsheathed his sword, strutted forward, and beheaded Max García without a thought. Then, Lord Peirc left the room, leaving the teenager alone with the dead man. Lex’s eyes were momentarily wide with horror. But then he shook his head and wiped his blade on Max’s shirt. Lord Peirc whistled as he returned, carrying a beautiful silver platter.
“This is where I want the head,” the lord ordered. “Anastacia, David, come in here.” Moments later, two finely dressed teenagers entered the room. Anastacia’s eyes widened at the body.
“I take it he said no?” she asked, appearing horrified.
“Obviously. Why else would his head be on the floor?” Lex snapped. “Anastacia, Dad wants the man’s head on the platter, and I don’t want to get my clothes dirty.” Anastacia lifted her hand and the head floated into the air and dropped on the platter face up, with a thud.
“Perfect. I think we should bury the body in the backyard,” Lord Peirc suggested. David sighed and grabbed Anastacia’s hand. The body floated into the air and zipped toward David, who reached out and grabbed one of Max’s ankles. Moments later, the pair headed toward the wall then walked right through it. Lex let out a bored sigh.
“Are you really going to take Amber?” he wondered.
“Not yet. I keep my word. I’ll add her to my harem once she’s in her early twenties. Until then, I’ll send her nice postcards so that she doesn’t look for Max,” Lord Peirc decided. “That’s how I’ll keep track of her.”
“But you’ll be in space,” Lex argued.
“I do have associates, Lex. Don’t question me. Unless you want to end up like Max. Remember, Lex, you don’t have a gift,” the lord taunted. Lex’s jaw tightened for a moment before he relaxed.
“You’re right. Sorry, sir,” Lex responded.
“No problem. I guess I’ll be seeing your mother tonight,” the lord said before I was shoved back into my body.
~~~
Tears began spilling down my face as soon as I registered what I saw. Max, the kind-hearted man that used to surprise me with ice cream when I was a kid, was dead. I had held a bit of resentment toward him since he abandoned Amber two years ago. But he hadn’t—the man had been dead the whole time.
Arms wrapped around me, and I mentally noted that the grip belonged to Amber. I held her close, not wanting to tell her what I saw. I held her as I looked at my mother, who frowned.
“The Nerethians killed your father, Amber. I’m so sorry,” I softly told her. Amber pulled back from me and blinked in surprise.
“How?” Amber said as my mother handed me a napkin to wipe my face. I recounted the story from the beginning, leaving nothing out. My mother let out a sigh.
“Head on the platter?” Amber slowly asked. “And these brats all had gifts?”
“Most of them, except for the one that swung the sword,” I said as Angelo teleported into the room. He seemed hesitant and worried.
“Is everything all right?” he asked as Deric appeared. Deric’s eyes landed on me and I saw the concern brimming in them.
“The Nerethians killed my father. Let’s get the show on the road, or in space. Whatever,” Amber sneered.
“Amber, you don’t have to come,” I gently said.
“I do. There is no way I’m leaving Jade with those people,” she insisted. Julia nodded.
“Remember what I told you, Sheena,” my mother reminded me. I nodded and reluctantly walked over to Angelo, and took one of his hands. Amber grabbed the other, and I felt that horrible burning light again.