Through the Archway

Chapter Twenty-Four -- Part Two

He was shaking uncontrollably, and was covered in a cold sweat. David put his back to one of the trees and slid down to the ground carpeted with pine-needles, sobbing. His father was dead and everything had changed. David reached into his pocket and pulled out his Tablet. He switched it on and sent a message to Rebekah.

David: I need to talk to you. Meet me at our place later?

Becca: I've been waiting here since you left...

She had responded immediately. David suspected that she had been checking her messages repeatedly, waiting for him.

David stood, his legs wobbling and took a deep breath. He turned to his mother's arbor. He raised his right hand and focused all of his energy. His palm lit from the center, as he aimed it right at the center of the arch. The ivy began to glow and the branches burst into torrents of colorful light.

David closed his eyes and imagined the place where he wanted to go. The only place where he could escape.The creek, the clearing.

David saw it before his eyes as if it was really there; he could see the leaves on the trees, golden in the sunlight, he could see the water running over smooth stones, he could even hear the birds chirping above. David blinked open his eyes. The empty space between the branches had transformed and in its place was a clearing with a small stream running though it. Tall redwoods and pines soared into the sky, and smaller deciduous trees burst in colors of red, orange and gold. It looked like another world. Sylvain.

No one had ever noticed them traveling through realms, and the home of King Elden was their favorite place to go. It was so peaceful; no one ever travelled this deep into the woods, so he and Rebekah were completely alone. David stepped through.

Rebekah was on the other side. She was no longer wearing the black dress she had worn that morning but her faded green one that went to her knees, this time with black leggings underneath. She had on her old brown boots that she always wore when they met here. She smiled, and David was able to slip away and forget his troubles.

"How are you doing David?"

"Fine, as long as I'm not there," he replied.

* * *

"I wonder if they know that using the archways is faster. There are a lot of Powers living in the cities and towns who could set it up." David wondered. He skipped another rock down the stream and looked at Rebekah for a response. She contemplated it for a moment. They were both standing barefoot in the stream with their pants rolled up to their knees. David was happy just to be here, talking with Rebekah, in a place where no problems could touch them.

"I think that using the archways is dangerous for anyone but Royals," Rebekah spoke at last, "We are able to get through safely, but who knows where a Commoner would end up. Maybe under the ocean." She laughed a little at the thought, but then her expression grew serious. She stared at David with an unrelenting gaze.

"Do you ever think that we're too powerful? I mean, look at Evelyn! She's only twelve and she's already fixed a centuries old mode of transportation. And James...is too strong for a thirteen year old. Look at us! We travel through archways daily! Other people, even Powers, they have to travel by ships." She frowned and scooped up a blue stone from the water bed. David watched as she turned it over in her hands, studying its surface.

"That's just the way it is Becca. We're Royals. We don't have any human blood in us. Other Powers are at least half–human. We're different." Even though he was telling Rebekah otherwise, David felt that she had a point. Their race was powerful, and power is easily abused. Rebekah threw her stone and it landed in the stream with a resounding plop. They watched the ripples expand and then fade out.

"This is all we are David." Rebekah tossed another stone, "Small ripples in a very large stream. We don't even make a dent; we just fade away... and the water runs right over us. We're no different than anyone else." Her voice sounded small and far away. David wanted to be mad at her then. She was talking about power, but he could only think of his father. He wanted tob. But there was something peaceful about it to — fading away into cool darkness

David didn't dare argue. She was right.

"Will and I were friends you know," David said, breaking the silent barrier that had settled over them.

"Friends?" Rebekah looked over at him curiously. David had never really mentioned Will to her.

"Well... we trained together for a while. He actually saved my life once."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I didn't know what it felt like... to lose someone like you lost someone... And now I think I do. I just wanted to say," David sighed, "that I'm sorry you lost him."

"I didn't think you knew about he and I," Rebekah said, looking down at her feet.

"It would've been hard not to. You were all he talked about." David said, nudging her with his elbow.

"Shut up," she replied. David forced a laugh.

They stood quietly as the water bubbled merrily and birds chirped above. The sun set, and the whole forest burst into golden light. Rebekah laughed and threw her hands into the sky. Despite everything that had happened, David had never felt happier in his life than in that moment.

When David returned to the castle, it was late into the night. The moon shone high above and the stars sparkled like diamonds as David crept through the grounds, using his powers to make his hands glow dimly. He made it to the castle unnoticed and raced up the grand staircase two steps at at time. He ran along the the carpeted hallway. Bars of moonlight from the windows above striped the floor giving him perfect visibility. He made it to the living quarters on the fourth floor, then to the tower where he lived, and stopped abruptly.

The light to his room was on.