Niki
The wind rips through the darkness making the tree sway and creek. Leaves are swirling around the forest floor dancing delicately in the gusts. The moon is shining brightly down on lake making it glitter in the darkness. There is a storm coming and it could have come at a worse time. There are two days left until the Blood Moon and the small sliver of moon that has not yet illuminated reminds me of how much time I have left until my world changes forever. Travis has been on edge and every day he seems to get worse. I don’t blame him. The responsibilities that he has been given are way more than he ever expected. He didn’t even want to come on this trip and now he is bonded for life and has to overthrow Khan in order to stay at my side. Any reasonable person would crack under the pressure. We have stopped trying to subdue Denise since there are only two days left there is nothing that she could tell Khan that would affect us now. The only thing that might change things would be my mother. Her having the Pyros ability is a huge problem for any immortal. She could be the deciding factor in this whole ordeal. Other than Travis, she is the one I am most worried about. Losing her would change my whole life and I don’t think it would change for the better. The distance that we once battled with is gone and I have the loving relationship that I always wanted with her. I wish that it could have been under different circumstances but nevertheless it happened and I am grateful.
I lay in my bed with Travis asleep at my side. His warmth is so comforting to my skin. I look up to my ceiling silently trying to organize my thoughts. It’s impossible for me to sleep with the level of stress I am holding in. I roll to my right side and stare out the window into the darkness. Beams of moonlight break through the swaying branches giving me my own personal light show. I try to enjoy the site in front of me but I can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching me. I should be used to it now since these woods are full of Scouts. Travis stopped trying to hunt them because we really don’t see the point anymore. We are just trying to enjoy each other’s company before the awakening. My mother has especially been on edge especially with the signs of a storm coming. The last thing we need is rain. We have been trying to keep her distracted but nothing is helping. She knows what is about to happen but I don’t think she is ready to see the battle. I don’t want to cause my mother anymore trauma than what she has already endured but I need her for this, not only for my protection but for support. Not having my dad here has added more stress on her. She has no idea if he is ok, how his hospital stay went, nothing. Since our phones don’t work here she can’t call him and he can’t reach her. The only way to use our cell phones is to swim or take the boat to the island. She is terrified of the island, now that she knows what it’s for. She doesn’t want to go there until it is absolutely necessary.
The window is starting to collect condensation from me lying so close to it. As I wipe the water droplets I see someone out in the woods hiding behind a tree. For some reason I don’t feel threatened. It almost feels…welcoming. I sit up slowly trying not to wake Travis. I put my face close to the window pane cupping my hands around the sides of my eyes. I search the woods for the dark figure I saw before but there is no one to be found. I lean back, away from the window and let out a sigh. As I lye back down on the bed I turn head towards the Travis to check if he is still slepping. I jump out of my skin when I see the dark figure standing in my room. I sit up quickly and scoot into the wall screaming, “TRAVIS!! WAKE UP!” Travis rips awake and places his body in front of me. “What’s wrong Niki!?” I point to the figure standing in the room and Travis jumps to his feet ready to attack. The figure moves to the door and turns the lights on in the room. “Wait! Please just wait!” Her thick Scottish accent rings out in my silent room. She has short brown hair that stops at the top of her shoulders and crystal blue eyes. She is not a very tall person and thin as a rail. She doesn’t look like much of a threat to me but I have not been able to trust anyone through this whole ordeal. Travis is still on edge standing inches from her face. “Who are you and why are you here? Did Khan send you?” She takes a few steps back and looks toward me as I sit with my knees to my chest at the corner of the bed. “Please, I will explain myself.” She looks to Travis and then back to me. I can tell that she is terrified of him and would love nothing more than for him to back away from her. I move to the edge of the bed and grab Travis’s wrist. His skin is on fire and he flinches at my touch, “Travis, sit down with me. Let her explain.” He reluctantly looks back to the young girl and then slowly backs towards the bed sitting on the very edge. She lets out a sigh of relief. She motions to the love seat in the corner of the room, “May I my Queen?” I nod my head yes, “You can call me Niki, I’m not Queen yet.” She looks at me surprised and sits down in the love seat. It’s as if she floats down into the chair, she is so elegant and proper. She crosses her legs and places her hands, one atop the other, on her knee. There is a silence in the room and its starting to agitate Travis. He finally breaks it and practically shouts at her, “Ok who are you?” His deep booming voice makes her jump and she begins to explain, “My Name is Aaren, I am a Porter for the King and everyone in the Royal Court.” I stop her mid sentence, “Aaren I don’t know very much about your world. What is a Porter?” Travis doesn’t allow her to answer and jumps into the conversation, “A Porter, is someone who can Teleport, all she has to do is hold onto you or your clothing and she can take you wherever you need to go. She would be the way that Khan would get here after your awakening. Porters are mainly picked for their devoted loyalty. Porting is very dangerous for the other person because they can take you any where they want. They can leave you in the middle of the ocean to drown if they wanted to. They must be trusted above all other subjects, so the fact that she is sitting in this room is not the most comforting.” Aaren keeps her eyes locked on Travis as has he finishes explaining her duties. At this moment, I don’t trust her. There is a reason that she is here and I don’t feel like I can believe anyone right now. She looks towards me and removes her hands from her knee letting them rest in her lap. “Everything Travis has explained is the truth but there is one element that no longer applies to me. Loyalty…” Travis sits up and turns to look at me slightly shrugging his shoulders. I scoot away from the wall pulling the thick white comforter out from under me. I sit with Travis on the edge of the bed placing my feet on the cold hardwood floor. My room is freezing so I inch closer to Travis and pull my comforter over my shoulders and wrap it around myself. Aaren patiently waits for me to get situated and then continues, “King Khan has lost his mind. He has always had a thrust for the glory of war but he has gone too far. He has brought down his anger and wrath onto everyone in palace. Since Renee has been gone no one is safe and I don’t want to be part of it.” He voice cracks and her eyes begin to well up with tears. She blinks them away and continues. “He has murdered my sister, Grizel. She was a servant in the palace and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. I watched from the palace steps at her mate carried her to the burial grounds.” She can no longer control the tear rolling down her cheeks. I can’t help but sympathize with her, but how do I know that she is not lying. I look to Travis and he already has his eye closed and I can tell that he is reading her memories. The room is silent for a few brief seconds and then he opens his eyes slowly, he looks to me and nods confirming that she is telling the truth. Travis clears his throat and relaxes for a moment, “Aaren if this is true and you no longer wish to serve Khan why not just teleport him somewhere and leave him for dead.” Her response rips from her lips as if it takes no thought, “Because he deserves a painful death. There are so many subjects in the Realm that agree Khan has lost his mind. They want to change to happen. Those who are werewolf, want to reclaim their control over shifting. Of course there are those who will follow Khan to the end of time and they will be a problem, but they will not fight without Khan. They are mindless warriors that need orders for every aspect of their life. If there are not orders, there is no war.” All of this information has its valid points but it still doesn’t explain why she has come here. “I am sorry for the loss of your sister, but this still doesn’t explain why you’re here.” She stands from the chair and looks down to me, “Yes my Que… Niki, you are correct. There is no reason for me to be here but I know how stressful the awakening can be, but the added pressure that has been placed on your shoulders is enough for anyone to fall to pieces. I wanted our future Queen to know that she is not alone in this battle. I have to go now before Khan gets suspicious. Stand strong Niki, Renee would not have given you this gift if she did not believe you could accomplish it. You need to have faith in yourself.” Before I could even respond she disappears in a black cloud of smoke.
I look to Travis who is still staring in the area she was last standing. I put my hand on his leg and he looks to me. He raises his arm and places it around my shoulder pulling me in close. The smell of his cologne sucks me in and I finally feel like I am able to relax. I lay back down on the bed onto my side and Travis lies behind me. Feeling his body so close to mine sends a rush of burning passion through my body. My heart begins to race and my palms start sweating. I thought that I gained control over these feelings but once again I am wrong. Just his touch can make me lose all sense of control. These very well might be my last days so I don’t see the reason to hold back any longer. I roll over and face him. Our noses are so close they are almost touching. I can feel the heat between us rising. I run my hands down his side and grip his hip pulling him closer to me. A low groan escapes him and he grabs my wrist. “Niki…this is not the time.” Anger pulses through me and I realize that every time I try to get closer to this man he pushes me away. I don’t know why I let him call the shots in every aspect of our relationship. “Travis we have two days left until the awakening and there is no way to know what will happen. If these are our last days..” He cuts me off, grabs my arm pulling me into his chest and presses a passionate kiss on my lips. I return the kiss and my lips begin to burn. He slips his hand under my tank top and gently runs his finger down my stomach and grips the top of my pajama shorts. It sends shivers up my spine and then he pushes me to my back and straddles me. I can’t help but giggle with excitement. Travis face begins to turn red and he leans in kissing me gently. He pulls back biting my lip and another surge of passion rips through me. He looks deep into my eyes and whispers “Are you sure?” I grab him by the back of the hair pulling him into me again and kissing him hard. He squeals like a little girl and begins to laugh. I kiss his neck all the way up to his ear and he groans. I softly whisper into his ear “Yes Travis I am ready.” He jumps off the bed and runs over to the lights turning them off. He turns back to face me and leaps back onto the bed. We both start giggling excitedly pulling the covers over our heads.
***
The sun is peeking through my bedroom window gently waking me from the most restful sleep that I have had since we came to the Lake House. My head is still resting on Travis’s chest and his heart is beating in my ear. His arm is wrapped around me and my leg his resting across his pelvis. This is where I want to be, in his arms forever. Memories of last night rush back into my mind and I can feel my cheeks heat up with embarrassment. I never knew that was how sex would be. So much passion and energy…it was utterly intense. Travis has no idea, but that was my first time. I can’t help but see the romance in it…my first time with the one person I knew I would be spending the rest of my life with. That is how it is supposed to be and I feel bad for anyone who doesn’t get to experience what I just had. Travis begins to move and I realize that he is waking up. I roll back over to my side of the bed and let him wake up. I roll over to face the window, although the sun is warm on my face, there are dark clouds far in the horizon. The storm… I just hope that it doesn’t come until after everything is over. I feel Travis roll to his side and wrap his arm around my waist, “Good morning” He says mid yawn. I roll back to face him and kiss him on the end of the nose, “Morning.” Last night was amazing and I all I want to do is talk about it but for some reason I feel too embarrassed to bring it up. I look down in between us and realize that we are both still naked. “Oh my gosh!” I pull the blankets over me and lay flat on my back. Having him seen me naked for the first time was much easier when it was the heat of the moment in the dark. Now I feel exposed and embarrassed. He starts to laugh at me and his chuckle makes my heart melt. “So I can’t look at you now because its day time?” I look over to him and my cheeks are red as a tomato. “I don’t know this is all new to me. I just forgot that I was completely naked still.” He looks at me confused, “What do you mean this is new to you?” I pull my covers over my head. God this is so embarrassing, now I have to explain that fact that I am a vir… was a virgin. “Well…that was my…first time.” He lifts his head from his pillow and sits up onto his elbow. His face lights up in a way that I have never seen it before. He almost shouts in excitement, “You were a VIRGIN!” I rip the covers down from my face and whisper urgently to him. “Shhh, do you want to announce to my mother that you just deflowered me!” He puts his hand over his mouth and starts to giggle. He moves his hand from his mouth and whispers, “Sorry, Why didn’t you tell me that before last night?”
“Would it have made a difference?” He looks down and shakes his head from side to side. “Of course it would have been different. I would have made things a little more memorable and romantic.”
“Trust me Travis, I will never forget that.” I look down at his body and I still can’t believe that he is mine. His abs and pecs are so defined he looks as if he was drawn. I have seen him without his shirt before but now it’s like I am seeing him in a whole different light. I cant help but get butterflies in my stomach looking at him completely naked. I realize that I have just been staring at his body no saying a word and I am sure that he can tell. I look back up at him and he is smiling like he has won the lottery, “Soak it in little lady” I hit his shoulder and he rolls onto his side laughing. He can be so cocky sometimes. There is a knock at the door that makes us both jump. “Hey… are you guys getting up.” My mom calls for us behind the door. We holler back at her at the same time, “Yes.” He looks to me and pulls me in for a kiss. “I guess play time is over. Come on let’s get up before she get suspicious.” He chuckles and gets out of bed. He slides on his boxes and then sweatpants. I follow and put my Pajamas back on.
We both walk down the hallway holding hands and giggling. We get to the dining table and it is covered with every sort of breakfast food you could imagine. Pancakes, sausages, bacon, hash browns, eggs the list is endless. I breathe in deeply through my nose and the smell is heavily, it almost warms my soul. I turn and walk into the kitchen where my mother is standing, washing the pots and pans she used. “Wow mom, everything looks amazing! What is the occasion?” She turns to me smiling, “Think of it as a pre-birthday celebration. I just thought since your day is going to be full on the actual day that we should celebrate early.” I feel the stings of tears fighting their way to the surface. “Thanks Mom.” She realizes that I am fighting back tears and she rushes over to me squeezing me tightly. I feel a wet spot growing on my shoulder and I realize that she is still holding the sponge. I could care less at this moment. She lets me go just far enough to look me in the face, “Everything is going to be fine. Travis is going to be fine, I am going to be fine and you are going to do great things once this is all over. I try to take her comforting words into consideration but its hard to accept them. All i can i do for now is hug her tightly. She releases me, kisses me on the forehead and finishes up her washing. I look to Travis who has already starting eating breakfast. “Um Travis, don't you think you should wait for us?” He looks up at me with a mouth filled with food. He tries to respond and small bits of pancake fall from his mouth. “Ew, just keep eating” I walk over the to the table pulling out the chair directly across from him and start to fill my plate. I hear the water being turned off in the kitchen and my mom walks out wiping her hands off on a grey dish towel. She pulls the chair out the at head of the table and joins us. This is the first time in almost two weeks that we have sat down for a meal together, ever since the night Denise attack my mom. We haven’t seen very much of Denise. SHe has been staying in her room most of the time doing God knows what, and to be completely honest I don’t care what she is doing. There is a creaking sound coming from down the hall and it makes us all stop what we are doing and stare towards the hall. For a moment there is nothing, then the sound of barefeet walking on hardwood floors breaks the silence. Denise steps into the room, her hair rated and clothes are disheveled, It looks as if she has been wearing the same thing for a week. She doesn't look like her normal self. She looks at all the delicious food and a low grumbling escapes her stomach. “Denise if you are hungry you can sit down.” She looks at me surprised. I know that feeding someone that is helping the one person that is trying to kill me doesn't sound like a good idea but I have always been told to keep my friends closer but my enemies closer. “Niki, why is it that you continue to be kind to me? I swear you do it just to irritate me” I don’t really have an answer for that and frankly the question catches me off guard. Travis looks to me and shakes his head trying to persuade me not to answer her. This, obviously, makes me want to continue the conversation with her more. “Denise, to be honest, I don’t know. Maybe because you’re my mates mother or maybe because I feel sorry for you.” He eyes grow wide and her face becomes red with anger, “Feel sorry for me? Why on earth would you feel sorry for me?” She shifts her weight onto her left hip and crosses her arms across her chest. I have a feeling that if I tell her what I am really thinking things are going to become ugly. I take a deep breath and begin to explain myself, “Well for one thing you think that your whole life has been sabotaged by my mom and that is not true. The night of your awakening was not her fault and deep down you know that. All these years you have needed someone to blame for all the pain and regret that you have in your heart. She was the easiest person to blame. Renee didn’t take you into the Royal Court and that made you bitter. Instead of accepting it and moving on you have harbored the anger.” She stares at me harshly as she listens to everything that I have to say. I can tell that her anger is rising not because I am wrong, but because she agrees with me. Its hard for people to confess their deepest fears and finally taking responsibility for the way her life has turned out, seems to be her biggest fear. “You don’t look at all the blessing that came from not being taken into the Royal Court.” She cuts me off, “Oh ya, since you know so much, why don’t you tell me the great blessings that I have been given?”I pause for a moment and look at Travis who is trying to stay out of this argument. My mom is eating silently like nothing is happening. “Well for one...Travis. If you had been accepted into the court you may not of had him. You spend so much time thinking about the negative things in your life that you’re missing out on all the positives.” Her face begins to soften and her eyes well up with tears. Travis has now stopped eating and is staring at me angrily, “Please don’t bring me into this.” Denise chimes in, her voice cracking, “No Travis she is right. I have spent my whole life hating her mother and Renee that I missed out on the joy that was right in front of me.” Travis turns slowly in his chair and looks at Denise. The room is dead silent and the tension could be cut with a knife. I turn my gaze to my mother who has stopped eating and is also staring intently at Denise waiting for someone to say something. Could this be the end of her terror? Denise starts to walk towards Travis. The hardwood floor creaks with every step and then she stops in front of him, staring down at him like he is newborn baby. She runs her hand through his hair and Travis closes his eyes for a moment. She leans down and whispers in his ear so softly that no one else can hear. A small tear rolls down both their cheeks. She sits back up and kisses him on the forehead. She looks to me and for the first time since I have meet her, she smiles at me...genuinely. “Why don’t you sit down and eat something.” She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly and then pulls out the next to Travis and sits down. She pills food onto her plate. I have never seen a woman eat that much before. I dont even know the last time that I saw her eat something at all. Although there were no words spoken for the rest of breakfast it was the first time and we all were enjoying each others company.
Although I am happy that Travis and his mother had some sort of break through in their relationship, I have no idea how to feel about her now. Is she still trying to kill me? Should I be afraid of her? Is this all and act? With tomorrow being the awakening, there no room for error. I keep thinking about Renee and her words. I would give anything to speak with her one last time. She gave me a sense of security for the short time she was still with me. I lay on a fluffy beach towel on the warm sand in front of the lake house. I can hear my mother swinging back and forth on the porch swing, her glass of ice clinking and she swings forward and back. The dark clouds are still looming in the horizon but they are much closer than yesterday. The wind has a chill to it now that gives me chills and it kisses my skin gently. I close my eyes trying to relax and think of something other than the awakening and Khan. Asclepius pops into mind, I wonder where she is. I havent seen her since the incident with Ares. She told me to call her where ever I needed her. I don’t really know what that means cause she didnt give me a number. I hear footsteps crunching in the sand and I look behind me to see Travis approaching with two glasses of ice tea. He plops down beside me handing me the ice cold glass. The condensation on the glass makes my hands wet and I wipe them off one by one on Travis cargo shorts. “Hey brat! I bring you something to drink and you wipe your dirty hands on me. Not cool” I can’t help but laugh at his tantrum, “Oh don’t be such a baby it’s just water. Hey do you know what Asclepius meant by if I need her call her? I don’t have a phone number for her.” Travis looks at me as I have asked the most retarded question he has ever heard. He begins to laugh hysterically at me. “What I don’t get it? Did i say something stupid?” He runs his hand through his hair as he finishes laughing, “No, you just call her.” I squint my eyes at him, “That doesn’t answer my question.”
“LIke just yell it into the air...that is the only way that I know how to explain it.” I lay my head back down on my towel. It can’t be that easy...can it? “I have said her name numerous times just sitting here with you, why didn’t she come then.”
“Because you’re talking about her you’re not calling her. Why don’t you try it she must he around here somewhere.”
“But what if she isn't here, will she still hear me?”
“It doesn’t matter she can hear you from where ever she is.” I feel kind of stupid just yelling to the air. But I really want to see if it works. I sit up onto my elbows and lay my head back yelling into the air, “Asclepius!” We both wait for a moment but there is nothing but the sound of the branches swaying in the wind and the small lakes waves rolling on the shore. I looked to Travis, “It didn’t work. So I guess you were wrong.” Travis begins to laugh loudly at me. “What? Why are you laughing now?” A small soft voice breaks into the conversation, “Did I miss a joke? I love jokes! Please tell it again!” Low and behold there is Asclepius sitting right next to me. I didn't even see her and now I look like a jackass. “Asclepius!” She smiles widely at me and responds, “Hello young Queen are you hurt?” I shake my head no, “No nothing like that I just wanted to see you. Travis said that if I just called your name you would come but I didn't believe him. I can't believe it worked! Where were you?” She lays in the sand with her white summer dress and puts her hands behind her head, “I was in the palace, that is where I live you know.” I don’t understand, how she could be here in the blink of an eye if she was in the Realm. “How do you get here so quickly?” she keeps her eyes closed enjoying the rays from the sun. “I can port.” That doesn't surprise me. That was almost a dumb question to ask. How else would she get here is she cannot teleport. She chimes in again “But I cannot take anyone with me. I can only port myself. Only the ones that were born with the ability can take others along with them. Renee gifted it to me so that I could be where ever she needed me to be. When you are Queen you can give anyone any gift you want to but never yourself. Renee always said that it was dangerous to give away gifts, but she trusted me.” That makes sense… We lay in silence just enjoying each others company. Travis had long since left us. Tomorrow is a big day for him and he went in the house to sleep a few hours.
“Asclepius, do you know what is going to happen tomorrow?” She rolls over to face me, “Yes I do.” I start to pick my nails as my nerves surface. “What is it going to be like...the awakening I mean.” She lets out a sigh and tries to explain, “Well it is different for everyone. It all depends on what your gift is. Since you’re a Mystic, werewolf and a Royal, your awakening is going to be painful. The less power you have the easier the transition. Plus you’re at Royals Peak and on the Blood Moon...it’s going to be a difficult change for you.” I don't know why thought she would try and reassure me that everything would be fine. She still holds that childlike honesty. She has no idea that what she is telling me is scaring the shit out me. I asked her a question and she was giving me the facts. She continues, “Don’t worry Queen, it doesn't last very long. Once the moon is at it highest spot in the sky, that it when it will begin and it only lasts for about 1 minute. That is why it is so painful because all the power that is awakening inside you. It only has 1 minute to manifest and become permanent. You must remember to keep every part of you body in the light or it will not work. I have never seen it not work...so I don’t know what happens. I try to mentally prepare myself for what is about to happen. One thing has been running through my mind and asking her is probably my best bet, “Since werewolves cannot control their shifting because of a male ruling, what is going to happen to Travis when the full moon shifts him? Is he going to remeber me at all and what needs to be done?” She sits up and stares at me, “You have very good questions Queen.” She places her index finger on her chin and begins to think. There is silence for a moment and then she snaps out of it, “Now that you bring that up, I remember Renee telling me something about the Blood Moon and shifting...but I just cannot remember.” I start to get anxious, “Please try it is very important.”
“AH yes, she told me that because of the Blood Moon and the fact that you will be ascending to the throne, no werewolf can shift until you have been fully awakened. Renee said that is why Khan wants to wait until after your awakening, so that he can shift. Khan has told everyone that it is for the ‘glory of war’, but he is really scared to fight in his human figure. He always has been. He always would wait for a full moon before waging any wars.” she covers her mouth and laughs. After she finishes her giggle fit she continues, “So after you awaken you will be stronger than Khan and gain control over the race, so in turn, werewolfs will again be able to shift on their own and control themselves after shifting.” She claps her hands together and gently punches my shoulder with excitement, “I knew I could remember it! Renee told me that I was to give you all that information but I forgot all about it. Good thing you brought it up!” I can't help but get a little angry with her. This is important information and her not telling me would have been a large mistake. “I still don’t understand something, if I gain control over the race automatically then why does a battle need to happen at all. Why cant I just tell him that he is not king anymore?”
“That would be much easier wouldn’t it...But that is not the way. The universe will recognize you as Queen, but Khan will not and either will the subjects that are under his rule. The Realm was created by the Universe for the creatures it holds, for their safety. When the Realm was created thousands and thousands of years ago, the Universe chose the strongest of all to guide us. Well the first leaders turned it into a monarchy and made the laws that we all must follow. That is just the way it is.” The more I learn about this world, the more unfair and unjust it sounds. If i do become Queen I think that there will be some changes. I look to her and respond, “Do you ever wish that things were different?” She looks back to me and responds immediately, “Never!” She almost shouts it at me. “Why not?” She shakes her head and closes her eyes. “Because, our world is not like the humans world. There are creatures that can never see reason, can never think on their own, or be trusted. We have a monarchy so that all control is in the hands of the wisest and strongest. Although you get rulers like Khan who lose their mind with power, you also get rulers like Renee who have more compassion than Khan could ever have. There is a reason for everything in our world and you will learn them soon enough.” I can tell that she is getting annoyed with all my questions but I cant help it. She looks back to me, “Queen, I cannot return to the palace, may I stay here with you?” I can't help but be confused by this, “Why can’t you return to the palace you said that you lived there?” She sits all the way up from the same brushing the dry sand from her body, “I do live there, but Khan told me that if I were to ever come to you when you called me would kill me. This forest is filled with Scouts and I am sure that he already knows by now. So can I stay here with you?” I place my arm around her shoulder and give her a gentle squeeze. “Of course you can stay here.” She giggles with excitement and gets up from the shore. “Well what should we do?” I tilt my head to the side, “What do you mean?” She puts her hands on her hips and responds, “What do you mean what should we do!? This is your last day of freedom before you have to become Royalty and there is nothing that you have planned to do?” I shake my head no at her and she throws her hands in the air. “Where is Travis?” I point towards the house and she storms of towards it. I get up and chase after her, “Wait please! He is sleeping!” She ignores my calls and stomps up the stairs. I jump up the three steps and into the front door. Asclepius is standing in the entryway staring at my mother, “You never told me that your mother is a Pyros!” She runs to my mother and grabs her wrists gently, running her fingers down the palms of her hands. She has no fear of anyone I swear. My mother is speechless and she stares at me confused. “Ummm Niki, who is your friend?” Asclepius drops her hand and takes a step back. “I’m sorry, I lost my manors in all this excitement. My name is Asclepius I am the Queens Healer.”
“Its nice to meet you dear.” Asclepius turns back to me and whispers, “Ask her to make the fire!” I look to my mother who could clearly hear what she said. She turns her palms face up and Asclepius was drawn in like a moth. “Mom do the dancers!” I holler over to her. She rubs her fingertips together and them the smoke begins to rise. Small flakes of red and orange flames pop and spark. Within seconds the two tiny fire dancers are floating across her palms. Asclepius gasps with excitement, “You can make fire people! This amazing! I have never seen this before!” My mom looks down to her as she stares at the flames, “You seem very young dear, how old are you?” Without missing a beat she responds, “I know, I am very young, only 230 years.” She looks up to my mom and gives her a smile. “I know what everyone thinks of me. They think because of the way I talk I am stupid or I am a very young but what people don’t understand, is the reason why grown ups are no longer carefree and speak as though they no longer have fun in their lives is because they have had situations that have wounded their hearts and made them that way. That is why they are so sensible and no longer any fun. But I am a healer, so when my heart gets hurt in those situations, it heals to its original state and I get to keep my spirit. Does that make any sense?” She looks down to her, “More than you know.” I never thought of her childish behavior that way but now it all makes sense. When she removed all the pain that I had from Derek, I felt like a different person. There are situations in life that change us forever, but she never has that. She doesn't have to deal with heartache, disappointment or any of the other harsh things that this world has to offer. Every Time that something like that happens she just healers herself. Like rebooting a computer. She remembers the event, but doesn't experience the pain that goes along with it. I dont know if I would want to have that ability. I would rather grow into who I am supposed to be then to stay carefree forever.
Asclepius is entranced by what my mother has created. “How did you hide from Khan all these years?” Mom looks down to her confused by the question. “What do you mean? I thought that Renee only wanted Niki?” She extinguishes the flames to get the full attention Asclepius. She looks at her almost annoyed that she stopped the show. “Well many years ago Khan told everyone that all the Pyros were to report to his Army. This is a huge honor for anyone in the Realm. Of course they all flocked to him to join.” Both my mother and I listen closely, anything that Khan comes up usually ends in death or there is something that benefits him in the end. She continues, “Before all the Pyros were summoned to join, there were only a select few that actually knew what he was doing and Renee was one of them. SHe told me that Khan was terrified by all Pyros because they held the power to end an immortal. He believed that none of them could be trusted.” It seems like he would want to banish them instead of welcome them into his Army. “Khan rounded them all up in the Great Hall.” I interrupt her, “Wait, what is the Great Hall?”
“The Great Hall Is where the king and queens thrones are. It’s also the room where all the Monarchy makes their decisions in regards to the Realm. Anyone who needs help in the Realm can come to the Great Hall on select days to consult with the them. The room is so beautiful. Its great stone walls seem to never end, the walls are lined with gold candlesticks that never go out and never burn down. Its a little spell that an elder placed on them long ago. You will see it for yourself after all of this is over.” This palace sound more like a castle. I dont know if i want to live in a castle. I mean as a girl I always wanted to live in one and be a princess but now I am old and things have changed. She looks to me with wide eyes, “Oh sorry go ahead.”
“Well, He rounded them up in the Great Hall and murdered them all. Men, women and he even went to their homes where their children were and murdered them also. It was an awful day and the whole Realm mourned. He had most of the subject convinced that it was for the greater good and that they had a plan to overthrow him. I never believe it and Renee had a hard time being around him after that. She told that is when she knew that she had to give up her life the save the lives of billions of people. Not only the people in our Realm but the Human Race as well.” I look to my mother whose face has drained of all its color. She swallows deeply, “Does Khan know that I am a Pyros?” She squints her eyes and looks up the the ceiling racking her brain, “I really don’t know. Since Renee has been gone I don’t get to hear very much monarchy dirt.” She looks around the room and then down the hall, “Where is Travis we must get him.” I point down the hall and she runs down it. I can’t believe that Khan killed all those people just for his own security. He has gone mad with power and now I feel compelled to stop him. “Travis why are you sleeping in the middle of the day!” I hear Asclepius yelling at him in my room. I don’t hear Travis respond just the door closing and both of them walking down the hall. He is trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes and Asclepius is skipping behind him. “Now that we are all awake I think that we do something together.” Denise’s bedroom door opens and she walks out. Asclepius turns and sees Denise standing in the hallway and spits venom in her direction, “What are you doing here traitor? The woman who would defile her own Queens wishes just to be on the Court.” Denise starts to back away from all of us. Denise still has no idea that we already know that she was trading information with Khan to gain a spot with the Royal Court, Denise looks to Travis with dread on her face. She just made progress with him after all this crap started and now she thinks that everything is going to be ruined. “Travis please I can explain..!” Travis raises his hand to her, “Mom stop. We already know. You were helping Khan we have known the whole time.” She looks so confused its almost amusing. “How could you possibly know that?” Travis lets out a deep breath, “Dad was here and he told us...” She begins to get angry at hearing this. “I can’t believe he knew too...Well if it is any consolation I do not plan to aid him any further.” Asclepius chimes in, “Well it doesn't make much of a difference anyways you know the awakening is tomorrow. It is a good thing that you changed your mind because Khan was not going to let you live past tomorrow anyways.” The air goes stiff and everyone stands still waiting for Denise to respond. She looks to the ground and rubs her hands together. “I dont know why I thought he would have mercy on me. I have been such a fool...Travis can you ever forgive me?”
Travis walks to her placing his arms gently around her and hugging her tightly. A sob escapes her lip and she looks up to me with tears in her eyes. “I am sorry Niki. for so many years I have thought of only myself and it is time that I change.” She lets go of Travis who has also began to cry. I can’t stand to see him like this but at the same time I feel joy for him. I know what it feels like to have to a difficult relationship with your mother and the moment I am watching in front of me reminds me of the changes my mom and I had. I am happy that he gets to have this reconnection. Denise starts to walk towards me. Fear jumps through me out if instinct. I really don't know if I can trust her but at this point I have no choice. The floor creak as she stops in front of me. “I hope that you believe when I say that I am truly sorry and for this moment forward I stand with you, not against.” Slowly I feel the fear dissipate and I get the burning sensation of tears welling up in my eyes. I quickly wrap my arms around her shoulder and for a moment she is still. I feel her arms slowly reach up around my waist and then the quick stab of cold steel through the back of my rib cage. Pain rips through me and my body crumbles. She holds onto me whispering in my ear, “Long live the Queen.” I can hear my mother screaming as I drop to the floor. Warm liquid puddles around my back and I quickly realize that it’s my own blood. Time seems to be running in slow motion as Travis runs towards me and my mother falls to her knees. Asclepius in at my side before Travis can even reach me. All I can hear is the chants from Asclepius but the words mean nothing to me. Travis sits, sobing in front of me as my vision begins to blur. Then...complete darkness.
I feel nothing, no pain, no fear...nothing. I stretch my arms out trying to feel anything at all but all I can feel is emptiness. slowly I begin to move my legs and the same sensation coats my whole body. I realize that I am floating in midair. I couldn't be dead could I? Could Denise of really done such a thing. She has a soul that is past saving. A bright light begins to illuminated in the distance. As it gets brighter it changes from a silvery haze to an emerald green. I reach out towards it and the light burst into a glittery explosion. Every color of green has covered my body and I begin to hear a far off cry. The sounds begins to get louder and my chest begins to pull towards it. The voice comes into to focus for a brief moment and I realize that its the voice of Asclepius and within seconds I am back lying on the entryway floor. Everyone one around me is silent. Travis begins to reach towards me. His hands shaking and his face covered with tears. “Niki, are you with us?” I nod my head yes and my mother sobs break through the silence. Travis grabs my arm and pulls me into his chest. I wrap my arms around him and the tears begin to fall down my cheeks. I feel pressure on my back and Asclepius has hurried over and wrapped her arms around us both. My mother is right after her, flailing her arms around us and we all just sit enjoying the relief.
I am the first to pull away, looking around the room for Denise. I see a bloody heap of what was onceDenise.Her body lies on it side and her face is turned away from me. Her grey tank top is ripped and bloodied down the back. I see a huge gash up her back and it’s pouring blood all over the floor. There is a heavy metallic taste in the air and my stomach begins to turn. This is not something that I am accustomed to seeing and honestly it’s too much for me to handle. I scrambled to my feet and turn, running out the front down and into the woods. My feet beat against the forest floor as I get further from the house. I hear Travis in the distance calling for me to stop. I need to be alone right now. I thought that I would be able to handle this sort if thing since I have no choice but to watch as Khan and Travis battle for the throne, but seeing it in real time was much more than I expected. How am I going to be able to do this. My legs begin to burn as I whip past redwoods and fallen bratchen scratch my legs. A small twig catches the top and my foot and I come to a crashing stop. I hit the ground like a freight train smashing a truck stuck on the tracks. Pain shoots through my ankle and my wrist snaps on the dirt as I try to catch myself. I scream out in pain and try not to move.
I look up into the trees and see an owl sitting on a high branch directly above me. Ares? The moment I think this, it extends its wings and flys off into the distant trees. I lie there trying to figure out what I am going to do when I hear in the distant, sounds of breaking twigs and bushes being crushed. “Niki!! Where are you!” Travis comes racing through the woods faster than I have ever seen anyone move. The air has been knocked out of me so severely that I cannot yell. I raise my arm into the air and he catches sight of it instantly. He turns towards me and in a split second he is at my side. He slides his arms under the back of my neck and legs carrying me bridal style. He begins to speed through the forest and the trees being to blur together into a brown-green painting. If I wasn't in so much pain, I would be enjoying it.
He gets me back to the house in no time at all. Asclepius is standing on the porch with her hands on her hips and tapping her toe on the deck. “What was that all about!? Now I have to heal you all over again and i'm tired!” I can’t help but giggle at her anger. Travis walks up the steps and places me on the porch swing, Asclepius stomps over to me and kneels down at my side. She looks to my face as she rubs her hands together, “I can tell and you are going to need me a lot.” I smile down to her and she looks away. She opens her hands and the same emerald green is pulsing in her palms. She places one hand on my wrist and the other on my ankle. I get instant relief and the pain slowly begins to subside. She looks down to me and says, “Here comes the painful part are you ready.” I look up at her, “Wait? What?” She makes a quick flick of both her wrists and my bone snap back into place. An instance of the most intense pain I have ever felt rushes through me and then dissipates. She removes her hand and gets to her feet,”Please be more careful Queen. Now please explain what happened?!” I catch my breath and push by self up. I look to Travis who is standing with a blank expression on his face. “I saw...her laying on the ground… there was blood every where. I just couldn’t handle it.” I look to the ground feeling ashamed of saying this in front of Travis. I can't believe how selfish I am being. Travis just killed his own mother and I freak out over just seeing her in a bloodied mess on the ground. I get up and walk to Travis. I place my hands on his biceps and feel his muscles tense up. “Are you ok?” He looks to the ground and then back to me. “I will be ok.” I release him and give him some space. I turn to Asclepius and ask, “What happened after I blacked out?” She looks to my mother who is standing in the doorway of the house. I look to her and she looks as if she is going to vomit. “Mom are you ok?” She brings her hand from behind her back and its covered in blood. “Mom...is that from Denise.” She looks to her hand and back to me.”I couldn't let Travis do it...I couldn’t.” I run to her and wrap my arms around her tightly. There are no tears...no words...just silence. I look over my mother's shoulder and I see Denise beginning to stir as her body begins to heal itself. “Travis...she is moving!” My mother releases me and rushes to Denise. Grabbing her by the arm she begins to drag her from the house. A thick trail of crimson follows them out of the house and down the deck steps. Her head bangs on the step as mom drags her to the front of the cars. She drops Denises arm to the ground and turns to us, “Go inside! All of you!” We all stay where we are trying to let her know that she doesn't have to be alone during this. She turns her palms up and smoke begins to pour out from them. With a flick of her wrist a ball of flames ignites. She thrusts the the flame towards us and it hits just in front of our feet. “Move! NOW!” We all turn and rush into the house slamming the door. All three of us rush to the front window watching my mom circle Denise as she lays beaten on the ground. The flames ignite in her palms again but this time and flames travel up her arms, and to her shoulders. Her mouth is moving but we cannot hear what she is saying. She lifts her hands into the air thrusting them down towards Denise with force. The flames change from a orangish red to a cobalt blue. She raised her head to the sky and screams out. It only last for a few seconds and then she falls to the ground. We rush out to her and pull her away from Denise’s burning corpse. The smell is enough to make anyone vomit and I get mighty close to it. Travis picks my mom up bridal style and carries her into the house. We all follow him back up the steps. I turn back to look at Denise and there is nothing to be found but a pile of ashes. A strong gust of wind rips through the woods and spreads her ashes across the sand. I wish that it didn't have to come to this. I was really hoping that the moment we all had with her would last. But it just goes to show that there was really nothing that we could do to save her. I just hope that Travis can recover from watching his mother go up in flames.
The storm we all were dreading looms over the lake. The sun has began to set, the sky is painted with purples and pinks. I sit on the large rocks on the edge of the lake just listening to the water lap against the stones. The summer breeze is no longer warm on the skin and the fear that is climbing up my back is giving me chills. I am not ready for this… i haven't seen Travis since everything happened. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling. Asclepius has been inside with my mother trying to convince her to let her remove the anguish and guilt she is feeling but she will not budge. I wind blows my hair around my neck and across my face. I pull my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around them. I get the faint scent of cologne, I turn my head and see Travis walking from the house towards me. He looks as if he has been crying for hours. He walks over to me taking a set on the large rock next to me. For a moment he says nothing and just stares out at the sunset. I look down to him and reach out my hand to touch his shoulder. THe moment my hand touches him and turns his head to me. The pain in his eyes breaks my soul and i can’t help but cry. He gets up and sits behind me wrapping his ares around my shoulders. “Travis… are you ok?” He lets out a deep sigh and plants a gentle kiss on my neck. “I will be.” I look up to him wiping my eyes, “I am sorry...I feel like this is all my fault.” He takes his hand and places it on my cheek, “I don't ever want you to think that this was your fault. She made her choices on her own and made her own mistakes. You have to understand Niki, you’re my mate and there is nothing in this world that would make me stop loving you.” My heart begins to flutter and he leans in kissing my lips softly.” This time I feel no passion but an overwhelming feeling of...love. In any other circumstances this man would have left me, but this new world bonds people for life where no situation can change how you feel about each other. It’s something that no human will ever be able to experience and for that...I am grateful. I never wanted to have love again, but Travis has shown me that love is worth fighting for. I heard once that the greatest thing that you can ever do is just to love and be loved in return and being with Travis has finally made me realize its true meaning. This experience has been hard and painful, but I wouldn't change it for anything else and i just hope that Travis feels the same.