

PNEUMA

Serena Kearney
PNEUMA

© Copyright 2014

Serena Kearney

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the author.

Cover Design by

Danielle Romero of Coffee and Characters

Editing by

Danielle Romero

Wendi Temporado of Ready, Set, Edit
Dedication:

For my husband, who knows me better than I know me.

For the connections that go beyond science and rationality.

This is for you.
Other Works by Serena Kearney:

PNEUMA

Book 1

SURGE

Book 2

CAMATIC

Book 3

CLANE

Spin-Off

DAZED BULLET

Scarred Bullet Series Book One

You can also get more updates/surprise scenes if you SUBSCRIBE to my email sign up list!
Chapter 1

When you look back on a moment, you just don't get how real that moment was. How that one look, those couple of words, that one smile could mean more to you than you even realize. And in the rare instances, how that one moment is really almost... destined—fated—that you were supposed to meet. Supposed to talk. And somehow, you kept that moment and made it even more.

When I was nine, I didn't realize that it was one of those moments.

It was our moment.

8 Years Old

My mom hopped me out of the car and took me to the bottom of the steps of this big white building. It was the day before my ninth birthday, and she decided to do this now.

"Stay here, honey, I have to get your Gramps settled in. Don't move." She rubbed my head and went back to the car. I turned to look over my shoulder and saw them wheeling Gramps into the building with the handicap ramp.

I looked away.

I couldn't bear for Gramps to be away from me. The pain in my chest grew heavy and even though there were people around me, I felt completely and utterly alone.

I cried. I tried to hold it back. I really did, but the more I tried, the more I sobbed harder. My nose burned as I sniffed for air. It was getting harder to breath, even though I was taking deeper breaths. I wrapped my arms around myself and brought my chin to my chest. My short black curls tilted down and shielded my face as I wiped my cheeks quickly.

"A-hem." A voice sounded behind me.

I gasped and turned quickly, finding a boy who looked about my age. He had black hair that was so dark it was almost blue looking in the sunlight. I blinked again, making sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me. He tilted his head slightly to the side and that blue tinge was gone. My eyes moved over to what was in his hand; a blue lollipop.

I squinted and glanced back at his face; his eyes were like the sky, except darker. He was still staring at me and I was getting more annoyed by the second.

What? Never seen a girl cry before?

"What are you looking at?" I snapped. I turned away from him and continued wiping my face. Another second of silence passed, but then I felt him sit down next to me. I gripped tighter around my sides.

More silence.

I was getting antsy.

I shifted side to side on the steps. He still hasn't said anything.

Why was he just sitting there? What did he want? What's a kid doing here anyway? Isn't this place for old people?

I finally got the courage and looked over at him. My blurry vision was almost gone, since I wasn't sad anymore and more annoyed than anything. He was staring up at the sky. He took his lollipop and placed it in front of me, making my eyes cross eyed.

"Here, I think you need this more than I do." His voice was gentle and soothing. "It's blueberry," he continued, flashing a smile at me that somehow started to make me feel better.

Before I knew it, I took it and started licking it, "Mmm... blueberry."

"Why were you crying?" he asked.

I stopped mid-lick and moved it from my lips, "Oh..." I looked over my shoulder back at the doors, then back at the lollipop. "It's my gramps. My mom is sending him here and I don't know why."

"Well don't worry, my parents take me here to volunteer all the time, I can keep an eye on him for you." He offered. I don't know why, but another big smile filled my face. His smile got even wider when he said, "Ah, a smile! It suits you!"

My cheeks got tingly and weird.

"Reed!" Someone called. We both looked back and I saw a scrawny red-headed kid waving his hands in our direction from the entrance. "Come on! They want you to play too!" he hollered, waving for him to hurry up.

"Coming, Aiden!" Reed replied. He stood up and faced me, "I gotta go." He gave a small shrug as he looked to where Aiden was, then back down at me, the sun almost making him look like one of those angels on TV.

I held up the lollipop to give back to him and said, "Thanks."

He shook his head, "You keep it."

I nodded and brought it to my lips, hiding another smile. Why can't I stop smiling? He turned and was about to go, but I didn't want this to be the end. I spoke up quickly, "And maybe I can visit you too if-if you want?"

He turned and his eyes softened. He gave a smile that made me feel as warm as the sun. "I'd really like that," he whispered.

I expected him to turn and leave, but he didn't.

He stood there, the sun shining down on him, the wind blowing by; curls in my face and his hair moving to the side.

Neither of us moved and somehow, I couldn't stop looking into those deep blue eyes.

He broke the silence and held out his hand saying, "I'm Reed."

I placed my hand in his... whoa... his hand felt so warm.

"Estelle," I said softly.
Chapter 2

16 Years Old

I saw the blinking red lights stop as the orange bus drove off. I kept running down the street while the bus made its turn around the corner.

Shit. Really?

Sometimes I hated being short. Five foot five meant my short legs couldn't keep up. Trying to catch a bus, who was I kidding? I grabbed my curly black hair and threw it to one side to let the air hit the back of my neck. There were times I hated having long hair, but I still couldn't bring myself to chop it off.

"Damn it!" I cursed and then cursed some more as I continued squinting in the direction the bus left, hoping— willing it—to come back.

It didn't.

Kent's white Jeep pulled up next to me. There in the driver's seat was my tall, blond of a best friend. His green eyes gave a twinkle to match his amused smile and strong chin.

"Again, Estelle? Really?" he teased, raising one of his brows.

"Kent!" I yelled happily. My feet gave a slight bounce to his name, "How do you always know when to save the day?" He had the Jeep's top off, so I leapt into the passenger's side and threw my book bag in the back.

He gave a shrug, "Eh, I can always read your mind." It was sickening how confident he sounded.

He pulled out, but in a split second, a red convertible screeched in front of us. He slammed on the brakes and my head and chest jolted forward.

Aiden was in the driver's seat of the red convertible, with his oh-so-cool, thick, black sunglasses with flames on the side that matched his red, spiked up hair.

He flashed that sly smile.

You dick.

My gaze drifted over to the passenger seat and quickly found those swirls of blue gazing at me. Yup, there he was.

Reed.

Aiden stood up from his seat and opened up his arms wide, gesturing to the cars. "You ought to watch how you drive, Kent," he taunted.

"How I drive?" Kent spat, sitting up in his seat too, ready to jump out of the car.

I placed my hand on his forearm to calm him down and stood up in my own seat, aiming my gaze at Reed, who was still staring.

"Reed, really?" I nodded my head at Aiden. "Tell him to watch where he's going!" I crouched slightly, but then jumped back up and yelled, "And stop cutting in front of us all the damn time!"

Aiden brought both his hands to his heart. "Aw, but Estelle—" he took a small inhale, "—it gives me oh such great pleasure to see the look on Kent's face." He mocked, letting out a small laugh.

I gave them both hard glares as my eyes went to slits. Reed leaned back in his seat and tapped Aiden on the shoulder. "Come on, man, we better go or we'll be late to school."

Aiden rolled his eyes, but then landed his gaze in Kent's direction and his lip curled in a jabbing smile. He gripped the steering wheel as his foot slammed on the gas. His car screeched forward, both him and Reed jolting back in their seat, and he filled the air with that burnt rubber smell.

Kent slowly sat back down and let out a breath as some of his tension rolled off of him. "Shit—" he blew out a breath "—how can I stand those two after all these years?" He gripped his steering wheel and drove in the same direction, slow and steady.

I debated on actually answering his rhetorical question. My smart mouth won. "You know why."

He looked away from me. He didn't want to go there. But I did, I went there; the only reason Kent put up with their idiocy was because of me. I hated to admit it, Kent hated to admit it, but we both knew it.

"Ugg! Still—" Kent looked back in front of him "—as long as I can remember I've always been on the receiving end of their hateful looks." His eyes squinted. "They love to give me a hard time. It's not like I ever did anything to them." His hands gripped the wheel harder.

"Don't worry, you know they are good guys deep down." I said, defending them. Well, actually I don't really know about Aiden, but Reed definitely.

"Ha-ha, whatever you say." He made sure I heard his sarcasm.

Ever since Reed and I met at the nursing home, we had always been there for each other.

Literally.

No. Matter. What.

It was quite eerie how in tune we were with each other or how the slightest movement of my face told him when I was mad or sad. I hated to admit that to Kent, since he thought he was first.

I'd moved here with my mom and Gramps. Both of my parents were doctors and they worked long odd hours, so I rarely saw them. When they divorced, my mom won custody, but my dad was able to see me whenever he wanted. With the distance and his odd hours, though, it was hard to do. I missed him a lot.

My parents went about their business and I took care of myself. I remember when I was younger, I cooked and cleaned and my mom didn't seem to have many set rules, yet I tried to please her when I could. I'd make dinner for her and leave her notes, since she came in late, usually long after I'd gone to bed.

I remember the first day I met Kent, which ironically, was the same day he met Reed and Aiden. It was my first day at my new school here in North Carolina. I was in the fifth grade, just ten years old, and boy was I a spitfire.

*

"I can do it! I can go higher!" I yelled as I swung on the swing, moving my stubby legs back and forth to gain momentum. I loved the air and the feeling that I could fly and soar around the world. I squinted my eyes in the distance seeing three little figures over another smaller figure on the ground.

Oooh! Adventure?

I leapt off the swing and gasped, "Oh no, someone is in trouble in the space world." I started slowly creeping onto the unknowing subjects. I covered my mouth to keep myself from going into my giggle fits.

"Come on dweeb, hit me. Hit me! What are you, chicken?" taunted one of the "invaders". He was quite large in the belly and had red freckles all over his mean face. He was nudging the smaller one on the ground, who had his hands wrapped around his shaggy blond hair for protection. He looked up with fear, his green eyes glazed.

"Hey!" I shouted. Since I was smaller than the average kid, I always tried to make my voice boom, and it did catch their attention. The freckled big kid stared at me with his hate-filled green eyes. The other two brown-haired scrawny kids slowly took a step back away from me. The freckled kid didn't move back like the others. Instead, he was taking a step forward.

"And what are you going to do about it?" Even his voice was nasally and mean. He took another step forward, this time towering over me.

I stared back. Hard. Hard into those gross beady eyes and stood my ground. "I am going to stop you from invading."

"Wait! Calvin... leave her alone!" The boy stood up from the ground, his whole body trembling at the fact he actually said something.

So the invader had a name... Calvin.

He turned his attention back to the boy and yelled, "Shut up, dweeb!" He marched over and pushed him back down on the ground. A small whimper came from the boy as he fell on his butt and hands.

I had seen enough.

Something came over me and I lunged at the back of the freckled beast and started hitting his shoulders with all my might. It did little good, since my hands were so little and he was double my size. He laughed at my attempt and pushed me off with ease. I fell hard on my side. Dirt flew up in my face and hands. I wanted to cry, but I wanted to be strong so I held back my whimpers. Somehow Calvin still heard it.

He laughed at me, "Ha! Now you're gonna cry? A dweeb trying to rescue another dweeb, how lame!"

"Leave her alone!" The boy rammed at Calvin, trying to push him away, but Calvin took his hand and placed it on his head, shoving him back down on the ground. He turned his attention back to me.

I rubbed the dirt off my face and looked up at him. Staring. Glaring.

"Now I have two dweebs to have fun with." He threatened, lifting his foot, about to kick me on the side, when suddenly— BOOM!

He was out of sight.

I blinked a couple of times and saw him on the ground a few feet away, dust in the air from his fall. I found a figure standing in front of me. There he was, those sky dark eyes glaring over at Calvin, who was trying to get up from the ground.

The small boy came running to my side and helped me up. "Are you okay?" he asked. His green eyes were kind-looking, but his brows pulled together like he was mad... or was it worry?

I nodded and turned to Reed's back yelling, "I had the invasion under control, Reed!"

"Wha– who are you?" Calvin stuttered, standing up. He narrowed his eyes atReed. "Doesn't matter, I will crush you just like those other dweebs!" He took a step towards him and something jumped in my chest.

"Actually, you won't." Aiden said, appearing out of nowhere and standing next to Reed. Whenever they were together, I swear they can move mountains and change the color of the sky if they wanted to. They were just that cool. Calvin stared at both of them, fear finally covering that freckled face. His lips started to tremble, but he was hiding it. He turned quickly and started running. I might have heard him calling for his mom too.

I popped my head from in-between them and stuck my tongue out and blew a raspberry. "And don't come back, invader!"

"Estelle, why do you always have to get into trouble?" Reed sighed and placed his hand on my head, rubbing it to mess with my pigtails.

"Reed!" I yelled, shaking my head out of his grasp and trying to pat my hair down back in place. Great, now my hair was messy and my pigtails were crooked. Reed smirked as he watched me struggle.

"Well, I'm gonna go play on the monkey bars." Aiden says, walking away and pretending nothing happened. Wherever one was, the other was never far behind. They were practically brothers.

"You... you stood up for me?" the green eyed boy asked, shocked. I looked back at him standing behind me. His whole body was covered in dirt, his blond hair tossed in different directions.

"Of course I did, I just couldn't stand by and watch that invader hurt you!" I said as a matter of fact.

"Invader?" he asked, confused.

"She likes to think in alien and space terms." Reed answered for me. He rubbed my head once again, ruffling my hair once again. I almost had it fixed.

"Stop it, Reed!" I complained.

He gave me one more tap on my head, "See ya, kid." He waved and headed toward Aiden at the monkey bars.

I patted my head more. "My pigtails, ugg!" I tried to fix them as much as I could until I noticed the boy still staring. "What's the matter, never seen pigtails before?" I huffed.

He gave a loud, hearty laugh. "I like you! I don't think I ever want to leave your side!" He held out his hand, "I'm Kent."

Wow, his teeth are so white! And big! My brows rose in surprise at not only his teeth, but his statement. I didn't really know what he meant by that.

"All right, an ally to help me!" I cheered and clapped my hands, jumping in the air. I held out my hand and shook his, "I'm Estelle!"

*
Chapter 3

I stared at the grown man behind the wheel as the memory flickered in my head. I glanced at his sneakers, watching them grow from a size five, eight, nine and a half, and what, eleven now? Boy had a growth spurt, I gave him that. Forget his feet, what about his height? My eyes slowly hovered to the top of his blond hair that blew through the wind. What was he, six feet and some change? Look at him, trying to be bad ass with his torn rugged jeans, but still trying to be the nice boy, with his white, collared shirt.

Oh puh-lease!

I stifled a laugh, his green eyes still on the road. I should've measured his chest width too; it grew as fast as he did. I hovered to his arms. Why don't we include bicep size too?

To think, he was once that little scrawny kid on the ground hunched in fear. Yet, there he was, the nearly grown teenage man with his head held high, and sickeningly noble.

Ever since that day on the playground, he kept to his word and has never left my side. He was practically glued to my hip whenever he had the chance, and when I was younger, I loved it. He gave me company in the whirl of imagination my young mind could come up with. Adventures of battling aliens and saving the universe and drifting into unknown galaxies. As I grew older I knew he was just entertaining me, but I appreciated everything he did. Even now, I have Star Wars posters hanging in my room, along with E.T., X-Files, and Roswell.

Of course, I know now that "invaders" were really bullies that needed to be put in their place. Even as a child, I hated bullies and always hated seeing anyone put down for no reason. Kent felt the same way. After that day, he was stronger and more confident, standing up for other kids any way he could, which of course got us into trouble.

I remember the very first fight I got into, which also brought me Dana, my other long lost soulmate. I was fourteen and it was my first day in high school. I had to go in alone because Kent was busy and we had to come to school separately, which I knew he hated since we'd always entered a new school together.

I looked up at the gray building sporting bold blue letters at the top reading, "Atlas High School." Four separate sets of stairs led into the front of the building. Parents were dropping off their kids at the front and buses were unloading the kids at the side.

"All right, Estelle, you are going into an unknown planet, be aware of your surroundings and tread carefully," I whispered it just loud enough for myself to hear. If anyone else were to hear me, they would definitely think I was crazy.

The day went by without a hitch. People kept to themselves as I kept to myself. Almost like they couldn't even tell I was new. Fine by me!

It was lunch and I still hadn't spotted Kent anywhere. Of course, this was high school, and much bigger than our middle school. There were teens everywhere; it was like watching a zoo gone wild with tons of noise, chatter, and things being thrown. I couldn't stand it any longer. I stepped outside of the cafeteria, which made me breathe easier. There were still a good amount of teens, but more open air for me to breath. Suddenly, it was like my radar buzzed in my head. I heard a slight whimper to my left. I walked a few feet and turned around the corner of the building. There, against the wall shuddering in fear, stood a girl about my age, her deep brown eyes welling up with tears, her brown wavy hair in a side swept ponytail being mangled by a hand tugging on it. Her loose, deep purple top had three buttons undone. Her mid-length black skirt was hiked up like a mini one. A teenage boy about a few inches taller than me, but triple my size, had her in his grasp. He looked like he was on a testosterone trip; his tight white shirt showed his rippling biceps and bulky shoulders. His legs looked extra thick in those skinny black jeans. His veiny arms and hands were pinning her small fragile ones against the wall behind her.

I felt it inside me: the rage and wrath I was about to unleash on someone taking advantage of another person.

A bully.

I dropped my book bag on the grass and rolled up the half sleeves of my pink tee even higher. I took the pink hair tie off my wrist and threw my hair up in a ponytail, out of my vision so I could concentrate.

"Damn bullies," I mumbled to myself, but obviously not quiet enough, because it caught their attention. Her pleading brown eyes flicked over his shoulder and stared deep into mine. He finally turned his head toward me. He had hard brown eyes, very different from hers, to match his close-cropped brown hair.

The one side of his lip curled into a sick grin, "Well, well, we have someone who wants to partake, yes?" Even his voice was like an evil alien.

"Vincent... don't..." the woman begged, as he gripped her wrists harder.

"Shut up!" he yelled, shoving her further against the wall and then dropping her. She fell hard on the ground, whimpering in pain.

So the evil asshole had a name. Vincent.

My fists shook at my side as my heart pounded in my chest. I knew I wanted to lunge at him—do everything in my power to subdue him— yet, I wasn't a ten year old on the playground anymore. I was fourteen and he was literally triple my size, probably older too. I had to be smarter. Because I knew if he were to get his hands on me, it would not end well.

"Well, do you wanna play?" he asked, slowly stalking towards me, like a predator about to pounce.

"I don't think so." I hissed. When he was right in front of me, I side-stepped him and kicked him in the stomach.

PAIN! Shit. Shit. Leg throbbing pain!

I gasped, "Ow... ow... ow!" I hopped on one foot, grasping my leg that felt like I'd rammed it against a boulder. Luckily I did know how to defend myself thanks to having three men in my life. But his body almost broke my leg— it felt like it, at least.

I turned to face him again. He was slightly hunched from the effect of my kick, which should have brought any normal person down to their knees, but not this guy. He quickly rose back up and turned toward me. I side-stepped again and threw another kick at his back, along with a punch to his face.

His body lurched forward and his head swung to the side. My fist and leg were pulsing and I was slightly out of breath using all the force I could muster up into those hits.

He again stood up straight and turned toward me, "Oooh... feisty. I like that. Frankly, Dana over there—" he nodded his chin over at the girl sitting against the wall, her arms wrapped around her traumatized body, "—she doesn't put up much of a fight anymore." His eyes fell on mine, and his lip curled up again. "I need a new challenge."

I looked back at Dana, her head held down in shame. What has he done to her? As I was distracted, which all three guys told me never to do, his body slammed against me, throwing me a couple of feet away. My breath heaved as I gasped for air and quickly tried to get back on my feet, but it was too late. His heavy body was holding me down on the ground. His hands gripped my wrists like he was going to break them if I struggled.

Nausea rolled though my body.

He pushed me into the ground, making me feel like my chest and back would be crushed any second. I tried to bounce my legs up, but he had them pinned down with his own. His face was inches from mine and I could feel his breath on my nose and smell his stank breath.

"Vincent! Stop it!" Dana yelled, appearing over us. She pounded on his back for him to get off, but it did nothing. He threw some weight in her direction, knocking her over again. She dragged a couple inches away, grasping herself in terror as her face morphed and scrunched into whatever effect he had on her. I hated that he could bestow that kind of distress in a person.

"Now... what is your name, sweet thing?" His gross voice drew me back to him. His lips were close— too close.

I swirled the spit in mouth and threw it in his face.

He roared and growled as he slammed my wrists into the concrete. I let out a small gasp of pain, but made no attempt to give him the pleasure in knowing it hurt.

I kept my gaze strong, smirking at the saliva that was dripping from his cheeks. "Estelle!" I yelled, "And there's your reminder to never forget it!" I nudged my face towards the spit on his, which made him even angrier.

"Well, Estelle, I hope you're ready." he threatened, his lips drawing closer. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his ugly face above me anymore. I moved my head side-to-side, curled my lips in, and fought with all my might while wiggling my hands and legs. His grip grew harder on my, his body heavier, which forced me to breathe harder.

This was it. This was one of my first real fights and I had lost, but I knew I would go down fighting.

Out of nowhere, a grunt and then a loud, piercing yell echoed around the air.

My chest lifted and I could breath. My eyes flew open. Vincent wasn't in my face anymore. I looked to my right where I heard wrestling and more yelling.

Kent.

He was wrestling Vincent on the ground, pounding his fists into his face, his biceps rippling with each blow. This was the first time I had seen Kent in a full-blown fight. His eyes were crazed and his focus on one thing and one thing alone: Vincent's face.

I ran to Dana, who was still holding herself against the wall watching the fight. "Are you okay?" I asked.

She looked at me with wide eyes and nodded slightly while buttoning her shirt. I looked back at the two men brawling, wondering if I should step in, but it looked like Kent was doing fine, until Vincent threw him to the ground and was on him.

My blood boiled and rage filled and blinded me. I jumped up and ran towards them, lunging at his back, forgetting all my training.

Fight or flight. I chose fight.

I grabbed around his neck trying to pull him off of Kent. Seeing my best friend being pummeled made me want to kill.

"Estelle, no!" Kent grunted from the bottom, as Vincent left Kent and grabbed me off his back. He held me by the shoulders and rammed me against the wall where Dana was sitting. I heard her scream and run a couple steps away from us.

I wiggled my legs to get my bearings. Damn. My feet weren't touching the ground. I felt like an accordion being pushed together by brute force. I couldn't stand it. The more I tried to hold in the sound, the more it came out. I let out a scream and all he did was smile, which infuriated me even more. I hated the idea of giving him pleasure over it.

"Let. Her. Go." Each word enunciated with sharp bold tones. It was that voice that always made me feel safe and secure. I looked to where Kent was a couple of feet away with one arm over Aiden, who was supporting his weight from his beaten body and just behind Vincent stood Reed.

His arms were crossed, showing his bulging forearms. His deep blue eyes were filled with a fire that showed me he was pissed. While I was monitoring Kent when we grew up, I should have done the same with Reed. He stood taller than Kent, maybe an inch or two. His jaw was tight, his built legs looked like they were ready to pounce. He taught me all the tricks of the trade to kicking, to use my legs as weapons, since I didn't have brute strength like him.

Vincent eyed them carefully. Bouncing his gaze from Reed to Aiden and back.

"Better do what he says, dude, otherwise you will have to deal with all three of us!" Aiden yelled in an almost light tone. Aiden had a weird mentality, he took serious things light hearted, and then when it was simple, he took it more serious. He was backwards, but that was Aiden for you. If you didn't know Aiden, you would think he was joking, but I knew he wasn't. Growing up, if you messed with me, these three were not far behind. It was a blessing and a curse.

Our bond is something I never wanted to be without. I knew I had a lot to be thankful for.

Vincent squeezed tighter on my shoulders, making me gasp. He was taunting them.

That was all that Reed needed to hear. Before I knew it, I was on the ground gasping for air, rubbing my shoulders. I caught the end of Reed drop-kicking Vincent in the head. His leg threw this testosterone-filled brute into the air and onto the ground.

Reed rushed to my side, his hands everywhere, checking on me. His touch was somehow magically taking my away pain.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice calming me already. His hand brushed against my cheek and tucked a stray hair behind my ear.

I inhaled a couple of times to get my breath back for my voice. "Dana," I finally breathed out.

"I'm right here," she answered. Her warmth sat next to me as she placed her hand on mine.

I gripped it slightly for comfort. "I'm fine, Reed," I said, "don't worry." I rubbed his forearm with my free hand; his muscles relaxed with my touch. A low groan made him tense under me as we looked in Vincent's direction. He was slowly getting up, unsteady on his feet, wobbling from side-to-side to get his bearings.

"Are you okay?" Kent asked, coming to my other side. I cringed at his face. Blood dripped down the sides and it already looked like it was swelling. I nodded and smiled, placing my hand gently on his cheek. He winced slightly at the touch, but then relaxed.

"What do we do about dumb-dumb over there?" Aiden pointed as we watched Vincent slowly stumble around the corner, running like a coward.

Reed let out a breath and his arms relaxed again. "Just leave him, let him absorb what just happened." He gave a small laugh.

"I'm sorry," Dana said next to me. "My brother... well—" she scanned the ground—"stepbrother can be... difficult."

"Difficult?" I yelled, louder than I intended as she flinched. "You have to live with that?" I said softer, trying not to scare her. I could tell she had put up with a lot of abuse and didn't like any type of yelling. Who could blame her?

"Yes, but at home, he's fine," she muttered. "It's when we are out in public he acts up. I don't know why." She got quieter as she said that phrase, twiddling her fingers and holding her head down like she did something wrong.

"Can you stand?" asked Reed, as he held me gently by the shoulders. I nodded and slowly stood up. I drifted a little and felt Kent steady me on the other side.

"I'm okay," I sighed, "thanks, you guys. I don't know what I would have done without you."

"Eh, no biggie!" Aiden blurted out, throwing his hands in the air. Kent and Reed gave him a glare. I gave a small laugh.

"No," Dana said slightly louder than her earlier gentle tone. We all looked at her. "Thank you. No one has ever done that for me before, usually they mind their own business, but you—" her eyes made contact with mine, "—you're different." She avoided my eyes again. She was so... so... submissive. Finally, she got the courage to look up into my eyes again. She held out her petite hand, "I'm Dana." I returned her kind smile and placed my hand gently in hers.

"Estelle."
Chapter 4

Kent and I pulled up to the senior parking lot and parked. I grabbed my red book bag and threw it over my shoulder. It was decorated with stickers from almost every sci-fi show that I have watched throughout my years. I stared up at the blue bold letters of the high school, the same ones I stared at entering my first day.

ATLAS HIGH SCHOOL.

"Hey, spacey, you coming?" Kent asked, pointing to the entrance.

I jogged slowly to his side, "Hey, do you remember our first day here?"

His jaw stiffened. "Ugg, don't remind me!" he huffed as he ran his hands through his golden locks.

"Why do you say that? I thought we had a good day!"

"Well first off, Es, I broke tradition and wasn't here for you when we got here." He started. I shrugged my shoulders to indicate it wasn't a big deal, though we both knew it was. "It was horrible. I was in a panic when I couldn't find you and when I did finally get here, the school was way bigger than I thought and I didn't know my way around. I watched the clock, waiting for lunch time so I could finally have a free moment to find you, and when I turned that corner..." His body stiffened and gripped his backpack, clenching his fists so tight they were turning white. It must have been hard for him seeing Vincent over me like that. The way he was reacting recently, made me more suspicious. We have been attached for so long, and with his dashing looks, most girls swoon at the sight of him— but me... I just didn't feel that way for him. Sometimes he made me wonder if he was straddling the line of best friend and something else.

It was great in the aspect that he was always there and did almost anything I asked, even when it inconvenienced him. It was also bad because I had gotten so used to it, which made the habit hard to break to not give him the wrong idea about us.

He loosened his grip and rubbed his hair, trying to relax. "Well, let's just say it's not the greatest image I want to keep in my mind." he muttered, dropping his arms to the side. I placed my hand on his forearm. He gazed down at me, his eyes filled with that memory. I squeezed his arm slightly and it disappeared, replaced with that gentle kindness and longing I knew. I hated when he gave me that look. He used that very expression to get what he wanted or to comfort me; it had a strange way of making me bend to his will.

But damn, I did love those green eyes.

Another familiar face caught my eye when I looked away from Kent's gaze. We were walking by Aiden's car, him jumping out of the driver's seat. When Reed stepped out, he looked in our direction. I gave a big smile, still thinking about the first day that we had together and waved. His eyebrows raised in surprise, but he relaxed quickly. He gave a small nod and flashed that smile that could wipe out the stars.

Kent must have been looking, because I felt his forearm tighten under my hand, something I noticed occurred whenever he saw Reed. Kent thinks he was hiding his dislike for him from me, but I've known him long enough to know that Reed does get under his skin. I could feel the slightest hint of tension that they both try to hide whenever all three of us are together.

Kent gave a slight chin nod in greeting and Reed did the same. His star-gazing smile wiped away, along with Kent's soulful gaze. We walked through the hustle and bustle of the high school hallways, and were just about to reach our lockers, when our path was blocked by some blond with a too-low-cut of a top, if I do say so myself.

"Hey, Kent, can I ask you something—" she evilly stared at me and back at Kent "—in private?" she asked, batting her eyelashes and sticking out her chest more than a normal girl should.

This happened every once a while. It annoyed me at first, but now that we were seniors, I've gotten used to it. Kent was flabbergasted as usual, never really wanting to turn down conversations, no matter how naive he was to other women's outrageous flirting. "I... uh..." he stuttered.

I rolled my eyes and gave him a slap in the shoulder to snap him out of it. "Go ahead, Kent, I'll see ya at lunch!" I said, stepping to the other side of the blond. I gave her a light bump with my shoulder, just for that evil glare. She let out a scoff and flicked her hair back.

"All right, save me a seat!" Kent's called. I gave a thumbs up in the air without looking back. I reached my locker, undid the lock, and placed my book bag in it, taking out the books that I needed for first and second period.

My eyes got covered and all I saw was darkness. I heard a small voice behind me say, "Guess who?"

"Hmm... who could it be..." I wondered, tapping where the hand covered my eyes, toying with her. "Dana!" She let up and I turned to face her. She was always dressed so sophisticated. Her brown wavy hair was in a side-braid and her thick bangs hung just over her forehead. Her wavy, collared blue shirt made her brown eyes softer, showcasing her innocence with a knee-length black skirt and blue clogs.

"Morning, Estelle!" she greeted. Ever since we saved her from her Vincent, she had come out of her shell more and more. Vincent had kept his distance throughout the years, with small outbursts here and there, but nothing too major. Dana gave me her word that he does behave at home, so that's good to know. "Ready for class?" she asked.

I smiled and nodded, walking with her to first period as she started to babble. I liked to listen to her voice; it was calming, kind of like my soothing morning music. Plus, it helps her become more active, so I mostly keep silent.

Lunch came and Dana and I went to our table in a secluded corner of the cafeteria. It was our table of choice if we didn't eat outside. I loved talking with Dana. I swear we were separated at birth. We just clicked and understood each other. We could laugh, joke, and cry for hours on end about anything and everything. She took me out of my train of thought by throwing a fry at my face. I blinked and laughed as I threw one in her direction.

"Didn't anyone tell you not to waste food?" His voice made my hairs stand on edge.

It meant trouble.

I saw it in Dana's eyes as she stared behind my shoulder. I let out a sigh and stood up from my chair, turning to face him. "Vincent." I gritted through my teeth. His eyes were still as evil as I remembered from our first encounter. His body was still filled with whatever testosterone pills or liquids he was pumping into his veins. Muscles bulged from his dark blue shirt that was tucked into those stupid skinny black jeans.

He relaxed his face and placed his rough hand on my left shoulder, "Oh come on, why do you have to sound like that, Estelle?" He put extra emphasis on the "s", which made him sound like the snake that he really is. At least that's how I interpreted it. I gazed at his hand on my shoulder, then back at him and lifting my brow, giving him a look that said, "You did not just place a hand on me." Before I could even react, his touch quickly left my shoulder and he began groaning in pain. I looked to my left and found Reed at my side, with Vincent's hand awkwardly bent backwards.

"Vincent, Vincent, Vincent..." Reed said, clicking his tongue and shaking his head. "Must we meet like this every time? Have you not learned your lesson?" Reed bent Vincent's hand farther, making him let out a loud, pain-filled groan that attracted some onlookers.

"Yeah, man, really, haven't learned your lesson yet, huh?" Aiden snickered and came up behind Vincent.

"You okay, Es?" Kent asked, coming at my right side, eyeing Vincent as he started to sink to his knees.

"Reed—" I placed my hand on his forearm "—let him go." Even though I did not like bullying, I didn't take pleasure in other's pain when I knew he was no match for all of them. There wasn't much he could do, let alone in a crowded cafeteria with faculty around. I lowered my voice to attract less attention, "Don't attract the teachers. You know they make things worse."

Reed sighed and let go as Vincent grabbed his limp hand and clutched it to his chest, slowly standing back up to regain his height. I felt Dana's presence behind me, her hands lightly brushed against my back, peeking from the corner of my left shoulder. "You okay?" she asked, quiet as to not draw attention to herself. I nodded.

"You know..." Vincent started, taking a step towards me. Right as he did, Kent put his forearm in front of my waist and gave a slight push to make me step back. Aiden took a step closer to Vincent's back, and Reed stepped in front of Kent and me.

Dana held my hand and squeezed tightly. Kent's forearm bulged and tightened against me. I rolled my eyes at the whole thing.

I could have taken care of the problem myself, but I knew from experience. I should stop lying to myself; I did love that about them. They always made me feel safe no matter what.

Vincent, of course, ignored the whole posse I had and kept his eyes directly on mine as he said, "They won't always be here, and when that happens–"

"We will always be here," Reed interrupted.

"Always," Kent reassured.

"Well damn, do I have to agree to that too, because I kinda wanna live my life. You know? I got places to be!" Aiden complained. Dana was always there to give a slight laugh at his comment when no one else would. Good thing about Aiden, he always knew how to bring a smile to not just her face, but mine too. I wish they would profess their love to each other and get it over with already. It used to be that Aiden was always there for me because Reed was, but I think that changed when Dana came in the picture. Now that Dana is usually with me, Aiden isn't far behind either, even when Reed isn't around.

Vincent ignored their comments. "When that happens... I am gonna enjoy every minute of it."

Right then I saw Reed step forward as if he were about to drop-kick Vincent right in the middle of the cafeteria. I grabbed Reed's right arm. Damn, that is a rock hard bicep.

It was ready to swing, but I pulled it to my chest. "Come on, Reed, can we just eat lunch? Please." I begged and tugged again, since it seemed like he still wanted to lunge.

"Yeah, Reed, I'm really hungry, like pass out hungry!" Aiden laughed as he threw his arms in the air. Reed was still eyeing Vincent and Vincent kept his eyes on me. After about a couple of death stare seconds— Reed. Vincent. Me. Vincent. Reed. Me— Vincent slowly turned around and headed outside, making sure to slam the door on his way out.

"Okay, you guys, you can relax now, geez!" I sighed and let go of Reed's arm and pushed Kent's forearm from my waist as I sat back down. Reed eyed the doors Vincent had trailed off through like he was going to rush back in and charge at any second.

"Well, I think I'm awake!" Kent said, yawning and stretching his arms. He took a seat to my left as Dana took her seat again across from me with Aiden sitting next her.

"Um... I made an extra sandwich if you're hungry?" Dana asked Aiden and took out one from her yellow lunch container.

Aiden's eyes widened as he said, "All right! Thanks, Dana, just what I was craving for!" He gratefully took it and started chowing down like a bear. It brought great delight to Dana's eyes, which made my adrenaline from earlier subside to see puppy love at its best.

I turned my head back to Reed. Yup. Still there. Staring. I grabbed his hand and he finally gave me his attention. "Come on, Reed. Sit and eat, let it go. Don't worry so much." I tried to sound nonchalant about it.

He gave the door one more death stare and finally took the other seat to my right. "Why do we not beat him to a pulp again?" he asked, the rigidness starting to slowly creep off.

"Come on, man, you know why." Aiden nudged his head slightly to Dana as she was opening a bag of chips, oblivious to what they were talking about.

"Chip?" she asked, holding it out to Aiden. His face brightened and took a bite right out of her fingers. Reed sighed and placed his elbow on the table and his head on his hand like a boy losing a game.

"Can you guys please stop worrying? Let him cool off or something." I said, waving my hand in the air.

"Really, you need to be careful. I agree with Reed, if he was ever alone with you..." Kent drifted, along with his eyes to the damn spot I just got Reed to look away from. "I don't want a worse outcome of our first meeting with him."

"I agree," Reed said.

With Kent and Reed, they always knew when to back each other up... and it was usually against me.

How ironic.
Chapter 5

School was finally over. I swear the days sometimes went at a snails pace. Although it was Thursday, it really dragged on, probably because my birthday was tomorrow. Not just any birthday, my eighteenth birthday. It was a big milestone and it was taking forever to get here.

Kent usually kept his top off from his Jeep, so I threw my bag in the back and leaned against the driver's side waiting for Kent; he usually didn't take so long.

"Hey, you all right?" Reed asked, coming up and leaning on the car next to me.

"You never can leave me out of your sight, huh?" I teased, tucking a stray curl behind my ear.

He gave a soft smile and took another stray on my other side and did the same. "Well, can you blame me? Especially after Vincent's threat today."

I rolled my eyes. "Geez, Reed, you know he has to be a prick and blow off steam every once in a while. He actually has toned down since freshman year."

"Still—" He placed his hand back to his sides, looking ahead "—I don't like it."

I looked up at his blue eyes that were filled with worry. I knew he just wanted me safe. I leaned my head against his bicep, which compared to earlier was now softer. "I'm sorry, Reed, you're just looking out for me. I will be more careful." A sigh came from his chest as it dipped and his arms unfolded, his free hand grabbing mine.

Oh boy, here it goes. It feels like sometimes we're going to cross that line of friends... and more. I wasn't ready for... whatever more meant. Change subject. Fast. "Why is Kent so late?" I asked, taking my head off his shoulder and looked around.

"Don't worry about it." Reed shrugged. I tried to pull my hand slightly, but he wasn't allowing it. "Were you visiting Larry today?" he asked.

"Oh!" I gasped. Shit, I did need to do that. I looked up at him as he continued to look ahead. It never felt right if Reed didn't come with me. It only made sense that he joined me since that place was what started... whatever this is. I glanced down at our hands and caved. "Wanna come?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Why not? I need to get in my volunteer time anyway." He walked toward the red convertible a couple of spaces ahead, with his hand still on mine, tugging me along to follow.

"Wait a minute," I said, letting go of his hand—freedom! I went to grab my bag, throwing it over my shoulder. His hand was still where I left it, ready for my hand to go back to where it was... which I did... on instinct.

Damn it!

"What about Kent? And where's Aiden?" I asked, still looking around, neither of them in sight.

"Aiden is busy, so he gave me the keys—" he pulled them out of his pocket and dangled them in the air "—and Kent won't mind. I'll text him that you're with me." He quickly grabbed his phone from his back pocket and typed in a message before placing it back. "Done, let's go."

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and it was Kent.

Sorry, forgot to text, had to do something after school, have fun with Reed and say hey to Larry for me =P.

Huh, that was weird. Kent usually never ditched me at the end of school. I got in the passenger side of the convertible and threw my bag in the back and put my phone back in my pocket.

It hit me. Like a damn snake was on my head and bit me.

Aiden, Kent, and Dana were not in sight and my birthday was tomorrow. I eyed Reed as he started the engine and threw it in reverse. He turned to look behind him, but caught my glare. "What?" he asked, lifting his hands slightly off the seat and wheel.

"What are you guys doing?" I asked suspiciously. I glared at him harder.

His eyes went back to the rear as he reversed out of the spot. "I don't know what you're talking about." He held his poker face. Still and unemotional, his eyes were a blank ocean. He was trying to hide something from me. Took me years to figure out that look, but I did.

"Reed Powell, you tell me right now what's going on!" I demanded. He shifted into drive and gave a smirk, but said nothing. "Reed, I'm serious, what are you guys doing? I said nothing big, I just want to be with you all, and that's enough for me, you know that." I stared at his face as his dark hair blew in the wind, his expression still unhindered by my threats.

Complete poker face. Damn him.

Silence was in the car for most of the ride as we headed to the nursing home where Gramps was. Finally, I heard a slight snicker his way. I turned my eyes in his direction, keeping my head still.

He stared back at the road and asked, "What are you doing? Are you... pouting?" He was trying to hold back his laugh as his lips twitched.

I stared down at my crossed arms against my chest; my shoulders were slightly hunched over, and my bottom lip stuck slightly out. I was the definition of pouting. I unfolded my arms, stuck my chest out and bit my lower lip. "No," I answered.

Reed let out another snicker as he parked his car in the lot. We approached the entrance as I took in the intricate details of the nursing home. I didn't understand when I was younger, but since my mom was a doctor, she made sure Gramps had the best care. The building was four floors tall and pure white. It had tons of windows, with big gaps in-between to show large spacing. The front had beautiful landscaping with multi-colored flowers. The entrance had a handicap access on the side, and at the front were three sets of little steps. I looked at the bottom step and it brought back memories of the first time I met Reed.

"Oh hang on, forgot something." Reed said, jogging back to the car. I stared back at the step and saw a vision of my nine-year-old self, crying on that very step. I walked over to it and sat down. I stared up into the sky, squinting from the sun's glare. I closed my eyes, inhaling deeply, remembering our first encounter. A small chuckle escaped my lips, remembering the blue lollipop he gave me to cheer me up. As if on cue, I heard Reed clear his throat. I opened one eye and found a blue lollipop in my vision. I laughed and opened both, staring into his. The sun was slightly behind him, making him look like the same TV angel staring down at me. I don't know how my life would have been if I didn't have Reed to help me through it.

I stood up and took the lollipop, "You remember, huh?" I twirled the lollipop back and forth with my thumb and forefinger.

He gave me his star-gazing smile. "Always." He held out his hand and asked, "Ready?"

I took it. Damn that hand! I mentally kicked myself in the head, but that didn't stop me from lacing it with his. He motioned his head to the entrance. The minute we walked in, I heard shouts all around.

"Hey, Reed!"

"How's it going?"

"Hello, Reed!"

"Reed! About time you came back!"

I also noticed the flirtatious greetings from some of the younger nurses as we walked down the spacious hallways. Reed nodded politely back and gave small waves where it was needed, but never let go of my hand as we went farther into the building. Damn those small gestures he made! I hated that I loved it. We walked by multiple rooms of the residents, and I could never get over how gorgeous they were. That place was more like a hotel, or a spa, instead of a nursing home.

At the end of the hall we crossed through two big doors and entered a huge living room. It was filled with residents doing different activities in different sections. There were card games, art tables, video games, a television, and a snack bar. One door on the left side led to the garden area. Another door in the middle led to the outdoor activities. And the door to the right led to their indoor pool.

We, of course, headed straight to the board games section, because we knew that was Gramps' favorite pass time. At a small table in the corner by a vast window, I saw him, laughing and smiling in the sunlight. For being eighty-four years old, he held his age well. He was seated in a wheelchair, a gray long-sleeved shirt on his body, with a thick blue blanket in his lap covering his legs. He had close-cropped gray hair, but in the light, it looked pure silver. I remember Mom used to tell me how I got his deep blue eyes, but now because of his aging, they were more light blue with a hint of gray. His face was soft, with a few wrinkles at his nose and forehead, but his chin was still strong and chiseled. I bet he was a looker when he was younger. My mom didn't have any photos of him from the past and she could never remember why. He was playing chess with one of his resident friends when we approached.

"Gramps!" I squealed, letting go of Reed's hand, and wrapped my arms around his neck from behind.

"Why, Estelle! What a great surprise! I didn't expect you!" His gentle voice soothed me. I inhaled deeply. Not only did I love his old, raspy voice, but his constant smell of lavender made me feel even safer. He gripped his hands around mine, returning my embrace.

"Hey, Larry, how are you doing today?" Reed asked, holding his hand out for a handshake as we pulled apart.

Gramps looked at his hand and raised his brows. "Really, son, you want a handshake?" He opened his arms wide. "Get over here!" he said, waving for him to come closer. Reed chuckled and leaned down as they hugged. Gramps gave him a strong pat on the back before letting him go.

"I'm tired of this game anyway. I'm gonna go to the garden. See you later, Larry!" His old friend from across the table slowly got up and tilted his head goodbye.

"All right, next time!" He waved to his friend. "Here, sit." He pointed at the now empty seat. I sat down as Reed went to grab an empty nearby chair and sat next to me.

"So, what do you guys want to lose in today?" Gramps asked confidently. He stared at the shelves of board games they had against the wall as he rubbed his chin. It was lined with every board game you can think of, new and old.

"Are you talking smack?" I teased.

"Yeah. I am!" he scoffed, a wrinkle forming as his smile got wider.

"Well then..." I stood up and pointed at all the board games, drumming my fingers over which one I wanted to play. "How about... SORRY!" I pulled it off the shelf and placed it on the table.

"I don't know what you two are talking about, but I am a SORRY! expert!" Reed laughed as we started setting it up.

Hours passed as we played, laughed, joked, and updated him on our lives since we last visited. He listened intently and asked questions. Reed and I told him mostly everything that was going on, even our recent incident with Vincent. We felt so relaxed with Gramps that we had no secrets from him. He never yelled or criticized us about anything we told him. Instead, he listened, nodded, and gave advice when we asked him. That was probably why we always told him everything. He wasn't an ordinary grandparent, he was more.

The sun was setting and our light from the window was diminishing.

"And... SORRY! I win! HA!" Gramps yelled at the top of his lungs as he slammed his final game piece in the circle. After spending hours here, by the end of our game, we were the only ones in the room.

"Well damn!" I sighed and sat back in my seat, defeated.

"Well played, Larry, well played." Reed said, shaking his head.

"Oh come on, another round?" Gramps chuckled as he started to set it up again.

"No, Gramps, we gotta go. We have school tomorrow and I gotta finish some homework too," I said as I stood up.

"Oh all right, all right," Larry sadly agreed. "Oh hang on, can you wait a couple of minutes?" I shrugged and sat back down. "Son, can you wheel me back to my room? I need to get something." Gramps asked, pointing to the doors. Reed nodded and went behind his wheel chair and headed out of the game room and back to the resident hallways.

In a couple of minutes, they came back in and Reed wheeled him next to me. I turned so my body was face to face with him. He pulled out a black-velvet square box with gold and silver lining on the outside.

"You didn't think I would forget, did you?" Gramps said, smirking as he placed it in my hands. "Happy early eighteenth birthday, darling."

I gasped and felt my face stretch with a huge smile. "Gramps! You didn't have to get me anything!" I traced the outside and felt its smoothness under my forefinger, anticipating what would be in it.

"I didn't have to get it, I have had this for a very, very long time." He emphasized each very. "It has been passed down through generations. It has a lot of sentimental value and is indeed an antique." I gasped in awe, feeling the importance of the gift settling in my bones. "And now I am giving it to you, go ahead," he nudged for me to open it.

It made a slight creak as I opened it. A necklace rested against the black pillow padding. The chain was a shining silver luster that could blind eyes if you stared at it long enough. I slowly pulled it out of the box and brought it closer to my eyes, gazing at what was attached to it. Hanging from it was a small circular globe, like a pendant, no bigger than a quarter. It almost looked like glass on the outside, and inside was different shades of black, gray, and blues mixed together. I stared closer and noticed it had white twinkling speckles all throughout the pendant that reminded me of stars and space. In the very middle was a slight hint of a pink speckle.

"Gramps..." I gasped, my breath was taken away. "This is beautiful! I can't take this!" I tried to hand it back, but found his hand pushing it closer to me.

"Nonsense, you are my granddaughter and as such, you are next to get it. You will take it." His voice was firm, almost like a command. I knew not to argue.

"Thank you, Gramps! I love it!" I wrapped my arms around his neck, squeezed, and inhaled once more.

"Well I'm glad!" He rubbed my back. "Reed, do you mind putting it on her, my fingers aren't what they used to be." He held up his fingers and moved them in an up and down motion.

"Sure." Reed nodded.

I stood up, forgetting he was here, standing behind Gramps. Gramps had that effect on me sometimes. He made me feel like it was just the two of us in a room when we got swept up in anything. I slowly handed it to Reed like it was precious and fragile. He gently took it and stepped behind me.

I lifted my curls as he put the necklace in front of me, feeling his fingers brush against the back of my neck as he clasped it. It was just long enough where I could hold it and still see it with my eyes.

Right when he put it on me, something ached and jolted in me. What the hell...? Some sort of a tingling? I wiggled my fingers, but it was like I didn't have control. I tried to move my legs, but it didn't work. It was spreading— spreading all around every bump on my skin. Even the sensation tingled all the way down to the tips of my big toes. It shot back up my body and rammed into my head. I gave a slight curse as I swayed to the right, gripping my head.

Reed's hand stopped me and pushed me back, "Are you all right?" His voice was slightly muffled. "Es?" I felt him turn me slowly to face him, his face was slightly blurry, then clear. His eyebrows furrowed with concern and his eyes were tight. He lifted my face gently with his thumb on my chin. His eyes widened again and he stared closer. He rubbed his eyes, and then stared back at me.

What was his problem?

Then my head was in control as I shook it slightly. My body felt normal again, I could feel my feet on the ground and the feeling was gone.

"Estelle!" Reed called out.

I covered my ears from Reed's yell. My hearing was back to normal too. "All right, all right." I said, putting up my hands for him to quiet down. "Sorry, I just felt a little..." What the hell did I feel? "Weird?" I stared at his bewildered face, where his eyes roamed mine.

He still continued to stare silently, but curious.

I let another couple of seconds go by, but he still didn't say anything.

"What's wrong with you?" I finally asked. He still had that confused look. He was staring into my eyes so intently, like he was looking for something. He started to make me uncomfortable, so I wrapped my hands around myself. "What? Quit staring at me like that!"

"I'm sorry, I just..." He lifted my face up again with his hand, turning my face to the left, then to the right again.

I slapped his hand off my chin. "Reed! Quit it!"

"Sorry, I just... for a second I thought your eyes were—" he squinted again as his finger brushed near my eye "—completely black or something."

"Something wrong?" Gramps asked. We both turned to him, who had an eerie gaze that didn't settle well on me, his eyes focused on mine.

"Um... no, must have been the light in here or something," Reed said, as he looked up and around the room, still baffled at what he thought he saw.

I looked down at my necklace. "It reminds me of space," I whispered.

"That describes it pretty well. Good choice, dear." Gramps said, letting out a big yawn and stretched. He was back to his goofy self. "Well, as much as I loved your company, I must be off, being old and all." He turned his wheel chair with his hands.

"Do you want us to walk you back?" Reed asked, reaching for the handles on his chair.

"No, no, no, I'm fine." Gramps said, holding out his hands to stop him. "I hope you celebrate a lot tomorrow." His small smile fell, his voice low as he muttered, "While you still can."

"What?" I asked, wanting him to repeat it.

"Celebrate! It's a big milestone!" he said loudly this time as he started to wheel off. "And, Essie?" He looked over his shoulder at the ground.

"Yeah?"

"Sweet dreams tonight, all right?" he said, pushing the handicap button for the doors to open and carted himself away.

"Sweet dreams?" I muttered. "Uh, you too!" I shouted hoping he would hear as the doors shut automatically. "Was he acting weird just now?" I asked Reed, a question on his face too.

He shrugged his shoulders. "He's just old, don't worry about it." He took his fingers and held the pendant in his hands. "It does suit you though." He leaned down slightly to look closer at it. "Very space-like, very you." He let it go and ran his thumb over my chin. Damn blush on my cheeks. "Are you sure you're okay? You seemed like you were going to fall." Reed asked curiously.

I shrugged. "Yeah, I don't know." I sure as hell didn't know what I felt, but I was fine now. "I'm sorry, must be getting late." I looked out the windows. "Come on, we better go, I still have stuff I need to do." I headed out the doors with Reed beside me. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling of what the hell happened to me in that split second. I didn't even realize when Reed clasped his hand in mine. Damn hand. Even worse— damn smile I had to hide.

We arrived at my house, our ride silent the whole way. I was still thinking about what my body was doing and why it felt that way. Reed usually knew when I was thinking deeply and didn't interrupt.

"You okay?" he asked, placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah. Sorry, I'm such a space case," I said, waving my hand to try and dismiss his worries.

"Es," he said firmly.

Damn him! I could never get by him when something was really bothering me.

"Oh quit it, Reed!" I said annoyed. I grabbed my bag from the back, slung it over my shoulder, and made a quick exit out of his car so I didn't have to hear him pry into my brain more.

"Here, let me walk you." Reed said, about to jump out of the convertible.

"No, no, go home, Reed." I held out my hands. "I can make it from here!" He paused mid-stride. I could see his mind ticking, whether to do what I said or totally defy me. "Reed," I mocked his firm tone and I was already halfway to my blue door. "Thank you! See you tomorrow!" I waved as I turned my back. I heard my victory as he sat back down and started the engine.

"Oh, Kent, is picking you up tomorrow at seven-thirty to meet us for dinner at eight o'clock. Don't be late!" Reed called out.

I gave a thumbs up in the air as I opened my door and closed it with a sigh of relief. Sometimes having him pick my brain was exhausting.

"Mom! I'm home!" I walked to the left where our living room was, the light tan sectional couch was empty.

No sign of her.

I turned to the right, where our mahogany dining room table sat and peeked in there.

Still no Mom.

I went straight down our hall, which was lined with pictures of my mom and me on random vacations, even one with my parents when I was a baby. That was a good memory of our family together. I had curly black hair popping out from my head and I was sitting on my mom's lap; her legs slender and curvy with her skirt.

She hasn't aged much since that picture. Her brown eyes were gentle as they stared at me, her short, straight brown hair sitting at the top of her shoulders. My dad was on the left, holding my little hand like I was a princess. His spiked up brown hair was stylish like men in magazines and his hazel eyes were focused on me. His posture was perfect, showing off his broad chest and shoulders. His chin and cheeks were chiseled to near perfection.

My mom and dad made a great couple. I wish I saw them at their best, but I was too young to remember. Every once and a while I asked her why they got divorced, but her excuse was always their jobs. Since they were both doctors, it took a toll on the family. But I always had a feeling there was something more that they weren't telling me.

And of course, next to that was a picture of Kent, Reed, and me on our first day of high school; we were fourteen. I was in the middle staring up at Reed on my left and Kent on my right, with an annoyed, yet blissful smile, and both their elbows were resting on my head like a piece of furniture. Reed's eyes were intently fixed on mine, as he gave his star-gazing smile. Kent's eyes looked at the camera giving a soulful gaze. It was one of my favorite pictures of us, really defining our screwed up—but perfect— relationship. I walked into the kitchen, which had a little table in the middle that sat four. The tiled floor was actually clean right now and the pots and pans were quiet as they hung from the ceiling.

"Mom?" I checked my phone and found a text from her.

Working late again, stay out of trouble. I love you!

I sent her a reply that I just got home from visiting Gramps and for her to drive home safe and not work too hard. I headed upstairs to my room and prepared for bed. I did my homework while having the new Star Trek play in the background. By the time I finished, it was almost midnight and I decided to hit the sack.

As I laid my head on my pillow, feeling my eyes grow heavier, Gramps voice rang in my head.

"Sweet dreams tonight, all right?"
Chapter 6

I was soaring through space in an ocean of stars. I held out my fingertips as it ruffled through them.

Warmth and familiarity filled my heart and body.

I looked down at the Earth below me, then ahead of me and saw the aligning planets.

I felt at ease. Safe.

I knew I was dreaming. I've had this dream multiple times. I grabbed a bunch of the stars and pulled them into my hand and threw them back into space as they fluttered all around me like confetti. I let a big laugh and closed my eyes and twirled. When I opened my eyes, I gasped. I found my dream very different. In fact, the air about it all felt... real... too real.

I wasn't in space anymore. I was in a room. It had a huge circular pad in the middle, slightly lit with a blue hue. Off to the right was what looked like a huge computer screen with a map of space and planets I'd never seen before. Below it were a bunch of colorful buttons and shapes. I heard the door burst open and quickly shut. A woman was holding a baby wrapped in a golden blanket. She was comforting it, keeping it from crying.

She was breathtaking.

She had flowing curly blond hair that fell down to her butt. She had a beautiful blue gem tiara at the top of her head, making the blond and red accent each other. Her eyes were deep blue and swollen from crying. She had a beautiful blue dress, that was so dark it almost looked black. A little train followed her at the back of her dress.

Her dress reminded me of space as it twinkled at different times in the light. I couldn't quite see the baby, it was too tucked in the blanket, which looked... oddly familiar. There was also a man next to her. I watched him frantically barricading it with other things in the room. He had a small silver loop in his hair with a small red gem in the center. His hair was as black as mine, even deeper if that was possible. His eyes were light brown and filled with panic. Even though his face was in a state of anxiousness and anger, I could tell by his rounded features that he was gentle at heart. I wanted to say something, to move, but I couldn't, or I didn't. I didn't want this to end. I wanted to see where this would go.

"Perseus, we don't have much time." The woman's voice was heavenly, even though she had panic in her tone. She cradled the baby gently, rocking it back and forth. Perseus ran over to the big screen and starting pushing the colorful buttons. The screen changed and showed Earth. As he did that, the light on the circular pad in the middle room started to grow brighter.

"Astra, are you sure you want to do this?" he asked. He went up to her face and cupped it gently with both hands, staring into her eyes. Tears were beginning to well up as she nodded.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

The barricaded doors shook.

"Astra!" a booming harsh voice yelled. It had an evil tone that made my spine shiver. Another bang came from it. "Open this right now!"

"Quickly, get in!" Perseus said, leading Astra to the pad in the middle of the room. They stopped right at the border of the pad meeting the floor.

"No," she said, her voice quiet as she stepped back.

His eyes widened in anger and concern, "What are you talking about? Go, Astra!"

"You have to take her." Her eyes met his as she held the baby closer to his chest. She stepped closer and gave it to him.

He quickly cradled the baby in his arms, treating it like a precious egg, "What? I don't understand, Astra, why are you doing this now?" He started to slowly rock the baby in a comforting motion.

Astra placed her hand on his cheek and the other on the baby's head. "I can't leave here. Vega will kill you the second I'm gone and he bursts through that door. You have—" her voice cracked with a slight sob "—to take her." I didn't even know what was happening, yet I felt a tear running down my cheek.

My eyes welled up with more. I wiped my cheeks and rubbed them. Why was I getting emotional? Why did it feel like this touched a spot deep in my heart that I couldn't understand?

Before I knew it, my feet were running to them. I stopped right in front of them as they gazed into each other's eyes, her thumb gently rubbing the head of the baby. I turned my attention to the baby, as they shifted more toward my way.

My eyes shot up.

I took a slight step back, catching myself from falling. I saw the face, the familiar face from pictures in my house and the deep blue eyes I stare at every time I'm in front of the mirror. Not only that, what was written on the blanket sealed my fate. I have run my fingers through the intricate silver calligraphy embroidered on the golden blanket, feeling its soft letters a hundred times. I had written it a dozen times, trying to perfect the exact way it was written on the blanket.

It was my signature.

Estelle.

"Astra! You open this door right now!" There was more pounding on the door and feet shuffling and scrambling to break it open.

Was this a dream? Or a memory? What was this?

"Please! Go!" Astra pleaded with her eyes as she stared at Perseus. The charge between them was crackling throughout the whole room. There was some sort of invisible energy that they emitted by being together.

My heart ached for them both. Perseus leaned down and gave Astra a kiss that melted my heart. I felt the blush rush to my cheeks, unable to tear my eyes away from their private moment. His last breath on her face was a desperate force as he tore away and stepped onto the lit pad with the baby in his arms held close to his chest. Astra ran to the machine and hit a button. I shielded my eyes as the light grew to an immense blue.

After a couple more seconds, It subsided and I stared back at the pad.

They were gone.

Astra scurried to the buttons and Earth disappeared from the screen. The doors burst open and she fell to her knees in, weeping and sobbing uncontrollably. I stared at the man now towering over her. He had a thick dark beard framing his sharp chin. His chocolate colored hair was tied in a small ponytail that held a gold crown with a blue gem in the middle, matching the same one on her head. His hard, deep-brown eyes stared down at her. He had silver-plated armor on his broad shoulders and chest, along with his long chiseled legs. "Where are they?" he gritted through his teeth.

So this was Vega.

Astra kept her face toward the floor, stifling her cries.

"Astra, look up at me when I am talking to you." Vega commanded.

She didn't.

"Look at me!" his voice boomed again. She quieted her cries, wiped her face, and patted her dress with her hands. She rose using the machine as support. She lifted her face and wiped the sorrow that was splashed all over her, replacing it with a sense of pride and courage. She stared harshly at Vega towering over her.

"Where are they?" he repeated, demanding.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Astra told him while she gritted her teeth.

His eyes widened in fury as he shouted, "You're protecting him! And that... that..."

"My child?" Astra interrupted boldly, "Yes! I am!" Astra's tears flowed down her cheeks, but she didn't trip on her words, or his yelling. Vega lifted his hand to throw across her face. Her eyes squinted in reflex. His face was conflicted as he held the pose, battling with what looked like his own inner turmoil.

"Vega!" Another man's voice echoed in the room.

I know that voice.

I'd recognize it anywhere. I shook my head in disbelief. I took another step back shocked at who I saw walk in the room.

Gramps.

He strode in with a sense of purpose; different than how I had known him my whole life. He stood tall and superior. His muscular shape showed through his silver and gold attire. His silver hair was slightly fuller as it bounced when he walked. But his eyes had the same gentle soul that I always knew. He walked past five other men, guards I assumed, who made a path for him quickly. Vega slowly turned his head in Gramps' direction. Gramps was the same height as Vega, about six and a half feet, and stood tall and domineering next to him.

"Don't even think about it." Gramps snapped, placing his hand on Astra's shoulder and pulled her back.

Vega gave a devious smirk and lowered his hand back to his side. "Stay out of my business, old man!"

Gramps put himself between them. "My daughter is my business—" he looked at Vega from head to toe "—little boy." he spat.

Holy. Crap.

I had never seen Gramps that way. He was an old man that smelled like lavender, would beat me in board games, was always kind, and would never hurt a fly. This man that I saw was... different; headstrong, brave, and ready to tear off a head was what it looked like.

Vega waved his hand in the air, unfazed by the death stare he was giving him. "You will not be here forever and when that time comes, I will enjoy it," he said as he turned his back on Gramps and started to walk out of the room.

"But, sir, what of King Perseus and the child?" one of the guards said, causing Vega to stop in his tracks.

"Ah yes, those matters." He turned back to face Gramps and my mom. "I, King Vega, ruler of Planet Valen," he announced in a loud tone, his eyes falling to Astra's. "Hereby declare King Perseus, ruler of Planet Galas, public enemy number one!" Astra's eyes shrunk. "As of this moment, our treaty with Galas is null and void because of his crime of adultery and conspiring against me!" He lifted his arm and pointed straight to Astra.

"No! You can't do that!" Astra screamed.

"And..." he continued, ignoring her plea. "As of right now—" he placed his arm back at his side "—we. Are. At. War." he said the last sentence as if he was stabbing Astra with every word.

"Our treaty has lasted decades, you cannot do this. Think of what the planets will have to go through! Your people!" Gramps argued.

"The treaty was gone the minute he fucked my queen—" spit flew out of his mouth "—leaving her with a bastard child she led me to believe was mine!" Vega's voice echoed in the room. The room was on fire with his fury. The five other men cowered in the corner, but Gramps held his ground unaltered. "And that... child." Vega cringed at the word. "I want it found and I want it dead!" Vega tromped out of the room.

"NO!" Astra screamed and leapt to go after him, but Gramps grabbed her waist and held her back. She sobbed uncontrollably and fell to her knees using Gramps as support. The other five guards bowed their heads in the queen's direction and ran back to their king.

I was on my knees, sitting back on my heels as I watched Gramps console his daughter.

What the hell just happened?

"Shh... sshh... sweetie, it's all right. Daddy's here." He used that soothing voice I am so fond of. He gently caressed her hair as she sobbed into his arm.

"Father, what am I going to do? What if he does find her?" Astra mumbled.

Gramps lifted her up, so she was sitting. "He will not, I will make sure of it."

"How?"

"You remember where you sent her?" he asked. She nodded. "Then you will send me as well." He stood up and stared at the pad in the middle of the room.

"Father! I have already lost my king, the man I love, and my child," she cried, her voice quaking with every word. "I can't lose you too!" She placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned into him.

Gramps turned toward her and lifted her chin to face him. "She is my only granddaughter; I will not leave her alone. She needs someone and it has to be me. You must stay and stall the war or fix the treaty. Anything! Just keep things at bay until I can return. Do what a queen must for her planet," he told her as he brushed her hair gently.

"And when will you be back?" she asked, almost begging.

"When she turns eighteen. She will be ready to come back and fix what needs to be fixed. It is her destiny." Gramps answered.

My mind was spiraling. His words echoed in my head. I leapt up to run to them, but found myself staring at my ceiling.
Chapter 7

I was panting harshly. I could feel the sweat dripping off my forehead. I scrambled for my phone on my nightstand and my instinct was to call Reed and Kent, but the illuminated time on my phone stopped me: 2:17a.m.

If I called either of them now and they saw it was two in the morning, they would come rushing over, no question. That's what was great about having them, knowing they would always be there for me. I knew I couldn't burden them with this right now. I mean, it was just a dream, right?

There was one way to find out.

I got out of bed and tip-toed downstairs, avoiding waking up my mom if she was home. I kneeled on the floor by our coffee table in the living room and opened a hidden drawer at the bottom. I pulled out a neatly folded quilt. It was a quilt my mom worked on for years, sewing souvenir patches or old t-shirts from the trips and vacations we had taken. I went to the very top right and found it.

There, bright as day, the golden blanket I had when I was a baby, with the silver embroidered word: Estelle. I remembered I grew tired of it around eight or nine and my mom said she would put it right here so if I ever miss it, I could still sleep with it.

I traced my fingers through the name.

This can't be. It can't be real.

"What are you still doing up?" I jerked my head up to find my mom standing in the doorway. I didn't even hear her come in. She let out a big yawn, her stethoscope still around her neck. Her driving glasses framed her gentle brown eyes, hiding the dark under-eye circles.

"Oh, Mom, you just got in? I thought you were sleeping already." I asked. She shook her head and let out a big stretch. "I just got a little cold and wanted to bring this up with me." I held up the quilt.

"Oh, I love this thing!" She bent over and ran her hand lightly over the golden blanket.

I got suspicious. Was my dream true? Was she my real mother, and was it more than just a dream?

"Where did you get it again?" I pried. She paused for a second, confirming my suspicions. She knew something and she didn't want to tell me.

"Oh, I think Gramps had it made for you. I don't remember really, honey, it was a long time ago. Go to bed." She quickly stood up, then paused and leaned down over my head. "Oh, and happy birthday, honey." She kissed me on the head and headed upstairs. I opened my mouth to ask more questions, but then closed it and found I was too exhausted and didn't know what to think of the dream I just had. I picked up the quilt and took it upstairs to my room and placed it over me as I laid back down. With my golden blanket right at my face, I let exhaustion take over.

It was a little after six and as I stared at my phone, I debated calling Kent for a ride to school. I usually just took the bus, but this morning I didn't want to be alone. I had so many questions that I needed to ask Gramps, but I didn't want to disturb him this early either. I set it down on my dresser and rubbed the necklace Gramps gave me hanging from my neck. My phone rang on its own. A blond haired, floppy-grinned face popped up on my screen with the name Kent at the bottom.

I answered, "Kent? What are you doing calling me this early?"

"Well, I figured it's your birthday and didn't want you alone on the bus today. Want me to pick you up?" he offered. I wanted to say, "How the hell did you know what was on my mind?" but didn't want him to be suspicious. Reed and Kent always knew when something was bothering me and I didn't know how I could even begin to explain this to anyone.

"Thanks, Kent. That would be awesome!" I tried to hide the disturbance in my voice. There was a pause on the line. "Kent? You there?"

"Es." Oh boy, here it comes, the prying. "What's the matter?" he asked gently, but suspiciously.

"Damn it, Kent, why do you always have to think something is the matter!" I snapped. That didn't help my cause. I squeezed my eyes closed hoping he couldn't hear that.

"All right, Es," I could hear his eyes roll. "Well, I'm on my way, see you soon," he said softly. He wasn't going to let it go, I could already tell.

"All right see you soon," I pushed the end button and let out a heavy sigh. I found three texts on my phone. One was from Dana.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! See you at school! =)

One was from Aiden:

So Dana will kill me if I don't send you this text right now even though I will see you anyway. Lol. But whatever, happy birthday!

And one from Reed:

Happy Birthday love, see you soon! <3.

All three texts brought a smile to my face and almost made me forget about my dream. Reed's kind face popped on my cell only seconds after reading the messages. His kind eyes and pearly whites could melt a girl's heart and I was lucky to captured it on my phone. Score for me!

I answered, "Hey! Got your text!"

"Good, I figured I'd call too, happy birthday, Es!" Reed said.

"It's good to hear your voice," I said it too quietly. I wasn't doing a good job hiding this from Reed or Kent. But something about them, their voices, and company just made me want to spew my guts out to them all the time, which can be very annoying.

"Es, what's wrong?" His cheerful tone turned an octave lower and had the rough set of worry etched in.

I let out a big sigh, annoyed, "Nothing! Geez! Can't I just, I don't know, compliment your voice?" Even I knew that was a ridiculous comment. I silently knocked my head with my hand.

"I think I should come pick you up," Reed said quickly.

"No, don't. Kent is already on the way." I grabbed my bag and headed out the door. "Don't worry." I saw his white Jeep pull up to my curb. "In fact he's here now, see you soon. Bye!" I ended the call before he could protest.

I waved as Kent jumped out of his car and bounded up to me. He quickly grabbed me by the waist and twirled me in the air before he gently put me back on my feet.

"Hey, birthday girl!" he whispered and planted a kiss on my cheek. I felt the blush start. Damn it.

"Cut it out, Kent!" I playfully shoved his wide shoulders. He placed his arm around me as we headed towards the Jeep.

"Aw, come on. I gotta treat my girl special on her eighteenth birthday!" He opened the door for me, and said, "Your Majesty!" Then he bowed his head as I sat in the Jeep.

He didn't even know how much that applied to my problems right then. I cringed at the word, but held my tongue before he knew something was really up. He closed my door and got in the driver's seat and headed for school.

"You okay? You sounded off on the phone." His voice broke me out of my trance as I stared at the buildings we drove by, still thinking about every detail of my dream.

"What? Oh yeah, I was just tired, didn't get much sleep last night, but I'll be okay." I shrugged to indicate it was no big deal. I think I failed miserably. He was quiet the whole ride. He knew something was up. He pulled into his spot and we found Reed, Aiden, and Dana all there.

"Happy birthday, girlie!" Dana screeched and wrapped her arms around my neck.

I returned the gesture, and said, "Thanks, Dana!"

"And again... if you didn't get my text, happy birthday!" Aiden joked as he gave me a pat on my back while I was still locked in an embrace with Dana.

"I got it, Aiden, thanks again." I smiled politely.

"Oh shut up, Aiden!" Dana let go and gave a small tap to his shoulder. Aiden's face lit up at her touch. These two are so cute together.

"Hey, you," Reed said as he brushed up to my side. I looked up with the corner of my eyes. His tender face looking down at me made me give him a smile. He slowly leaned down to my face and paused. I lifted my face up as to give him the okay, and he gently planted a soft kiss on my cheek. I felt a surge go throughout my whole face, wondering if everyone could see it as they stared. Even though I loved both Reed and Kent, they both had different effects on me, and Reed's touch was something I could not explain sometimes.

"Yeah, yeah, come on you guys, we're gonna be late," Kent interrupted. I saw his face and it was stone cold.

I had to come to reality that as we got older, Kent was seeing me as more than a friend. I knew there was gonna be a time that he would ask me the question I dared not answer.

And I would avoid it at all costs. Yup. I was an idiot. A dumb, scared, confused... idiot.

Kent turned and we all headed for the entrance while Reed stayed close by my side. I wanted to make Kent feel better; I hated seeing him upset. A devious smile crept on my face. I ran up behind Kent, jumped up slightly to reach his head, and smacked it with my hand before I darted past him.

His head jolted forward, his hand gripping his head where I smacked it. "What the–?" he stuttered and his eyes lit up when they locked with mine.

"You're it!" I teased and ran off, watching a smile grow wide on his face. It was one of the childhood games we used to play for days on end, eventually losing track of who was it until one of us started it again. Since we were older now, we strayed from that game, but I knew it would cheer him up.

"Damn it, Es. I'm gonna get you!" His voice lit up my ears as I heard his footsteps running after me.

They all made sure I was going to dinner tonight as planned, which I assured them I wasn't going to bail. It's not like I could with all the threats Dana was giving me. It was finally lunch and Dana and I headed to the cafeteria. She was talking a lot about her science project while I just nodded and listened. I didn't want to tune her out, but I did— I couldn't stop focusing on the dream I had last night. King Vega and his ruthlessness. Queen Astra, so kind and loving. How a woman like that could be with a monster like Vega I didn't know.

And war on King Perseus?

If he was my real father, I found myself hoping he was still alive so I could meet him. I shook my head of the thought.

What was I thinking? I was thinking about them like they're real!

It was just a dream!

But, something deep down told me it wasn't and I was beginning to think I'd gone crazy. I was quiet at lunch as all of my friends chattered excitedly around me. I picked at the half-eaten sandwich in front of me.

I let out a big sigh without knowing and heard the table go silent. I looked up and everyone was staring at me.

"Are we boring you, Miss Estelle?" teased Dana.

"No, no!" I said quickly, waving my hands, "I'm sorry, I just didn't get much sleep last night, continue."

Dana and Aiden laughed and continued the chatter. I stared at Reed and Kent sitting across from me.

They both looked at each other, then back at me. Kent lifted one brow in suspicion and Reed stared at me with those worry-filled eyes. I hated it when they saw right through me.

I let out a frustrated sigh, "I'm gonna get some juice, be right back." I quickly got up and walked to the line, feeling Reed and Kent's eyes on me the whole way. I felt like I couldn't even get any privacy in my head sometimes. Finally, at a distance, I felt my mind at ease, like they were out of range of hearing my thoughts. I grabbed an apple juice and waited for my turn to pay.

"Hello, Estelle." His voice hummed behind me.

Shit.

I turned slowly. He flicked his head slightly to the right, moving his strands of black hair from his gorgeous brown eyes. He flashed those pearly white teeth at me, with a mouth I used to know how to kiss.

My ex-boyfriend, Dennis.

"We always loved our apple juice, huh?" He waved the same bottle in his hand that I had in mine. Memories of our fling came flooding back, along with the heartbreak I had to endure because of him. It was a couple of months after I started freshman year here.

*

Dana waved at me as she was sitting with Reed, Kent, and Aiden at a corner table. After our first encounter here and my first official fight with her stepbrother, Vincent, Dana never left my side or our group. Frankly, Aiden had taken a shining to our newly acquired friend and everyone seemed to get along with her just fine, which helped her to come out of her shell and make other new friends around the school. I looked at the selection of juices and one bottle in particular caught my eye.

"Ah, apple juice!" I squealed to myself and went for it. As I reached for it, another hand collided with mine. The touch sent a shiver down my arm. I pulled back quickly and stared up at the face attached to the hand that had touched mine.

He had the most gorgeous brown eyes and his silky black hair hung just above his thick eyebrows.

His smile froze me. "Oh sorry," he said. His voice almost made me melt. He picked it up, then looked around at the other juices. "Huh, it's the last apple juice, boy I do love apple juice, but—" he handed the bottle over to me "—I don't want a frown to come on that beautiful face of yours."

I laughed at his cheesy comment and found myself relaxing as I said, "Really, that's the best you can come up with?" I snatched it from his hand. "But all right, I'll take it. I got to it first anyway, before you got in my way." I turned my head away and followed the line. I was not about to let his handsome looks fool me with his cheesy lines.

"Oh, well in that case," he muttered. The juice was pulled from my hand making me turn quickly.

"Hey!"

"I think it was you who got in my way, so I will take that!" he said, holding it high above my head. I laughed and tried jumping to reach it.

That was the beginning of our relationship. He pursued me and followed me to my classes making his presence known. I was a freshman envied by all the girls. We started to go out.

He was my first kiss and my first love.

We did almost everything together, leaving no time for Dana, Reed, or Kent. As I looked back in hindsight, the signs were there. The scowls that Reed and Kent would give us when we would walk down the halls hand-in-hand. The glares we would get when he would kiss me good bye. They told me they didn't trust him, but I thought they were just jealous so I didn't take it to heart. I was so blinded by our love that I couldn't see it until it was too late. I will never forget.

He was also my first heartbreak. Hopefully, my last. I didn't really know or understand why it was called "heart break". The dictionary says it's overwhelming grief, or disappointment, something to that extent, which I totally agree. But what they really need to include in the dictionary is heartbreak is what it is.

It literally broke my heart.

It was lunch and our six month anniversary. I packed a few extra goodies in my backpack so we could go somewhere quiet and celebrate. I glanced throughout the cafeteria but couldn't find him. I stumbled upon Dana, Reed, Kent, and Aiden at our regular corner table.

"Hey!' I greeted, they all smiled back, "Have you guys seen Dennis? We were supposed to eat together for our six month anniversary and I can't find him." I heard the sadness in my voice before I could mask it.

"Come on, I'll help you find him." Reed said, standing up to my surprise, because I knew he did not like Dennis from the start.

"I guess I'll come too," Kent grunted, knowing he was just helping because Reed volunteered.

"No, it's fine," I argued, "I can go find him, I was just wondering if you–"

"Come on, Es," Reed interrupted as he walked off with Kent following close behind.

"All right, I'll wait here," Dana replied. "Don't you want to go?" she asked Aiden.

"Naw, Reed and Kent can handle it, I'll eat with you," he answered as he smiled and bit into a chip. I nodded and ran after Kent and Reed.

"Have you looked outside?" Reed asked, staring around the cafeteria, then opened one of the side doors leading outside. I shook my head and went out the door he opened.

"I'll go this way, you guys go there." I pointed to the right and I went the left. I turned the corner and found a sight I wish I could erase from my memory.

Dennis had some dumb, big-haired, big-breasted girl up against the wall. He was kissing her passionately on the neck as she moaned his name. His hand was riding up her thigh and onto her breast. I grasped my chest, as he had done the same to me in our moments of passion. Every spot on my body was aching from his touches.

I knew I would never feel, or want to feel, ever again. It felt like my heart fell out of my chest and fell dead in front of me. I was miserable and angry at the same time. It was so confusing. I wanted to lunge at him and throw his head against the wall, but somehow I was still frozen.

Frozen in shock— frozen in pain.

I didn't know where to begin or what to do.

The girls' gaze caught mine as she was arching her neck to him for more. "Oh, cat's out of the bag!" she giggled.

He lifted his head and once his eyes met mine I felt nothing but pure fury. His eyes sunk at my presence and he quickly jumped off of her, shoving her away and yelling, "Get out of here!"

She flicked her hair back. "Whatever, I'm like, so out of this drama fest!" She swayed her hips past me and around the corner. It took every ounce of my strength to keep from grabbing that hair of hers and slamming her face against the wall next to me.

He took a step towards me. "Es–"

"Don't call me that!" I snapped and took a step back. "You have no right to call me that anymore!" I didn't even recognize the voice coming out of my mouth.

"She doesn't mean anything! You are the one I want, she was just... just a moment of weakness, that's all," he pleaded as he slowly walked toward me with his arms open.

I took another step back. "Don't touch me," I seethed through my teeth.

He paused, but then quickly grabbed both of my sides. "Es, I love you! Not her! You! I'm sorry, I'll never do it again!" His touch and his voice was venomous to me.

"Let me go!" I struggled to get away from him, but he kept pulling me toward him, begging.

"Es, please!"

"Don't call me that! Don't touch me!" I screamed and felt one of his hands come off of my right side. I stopped struggling and he stopped pulling. I looked next to me and found Reed. He had grabbed Dennis' hand off of my side and bent it backwards. Dennis arched in pain and let go of my other side. I took that opportunity and stepped back behind Reed, using him as a shield.

I leaned my forehead against his back. My heart was racing and my face was flushed. I didn't want either of them to see me that way.

"So I heard from a blond what he was doing," Reed said to me. "Was it true?" He tilted his head slightly to look behind at me, his voice unwavering. I slowly nodded my head so he could feel the answer on his back. His chest took a deep inhale and I swore I could feel his shoulder blades shudder.

"Reed, now hang on, there's more to it—" Before Dennis could finish, I heard more screaming as Reed restrained him further.

"Reed," I found myself whispering, but I knew he could hear me. His head moved slightly. "Please, can we just go, I don't want to be around him anymore." I leaned my head more in his back and squeezed my eyes shut as I felt tears roll down my face. I wanted Reed to give him pain and make him feel the torture that I was feeling, but I couldn't bring myself to hear my first love like that. Reed let out a deep sigh and threw Dennis' arm out of his grasp. I heard Dennis take several steps back.

"This is her way of breaking up with you, you are done. Don't let me find you near her again." Reed threatened, a stillness in his voice that made it even more intimidating than yelling.

"You can't do this!" Dennis shouted.

"Watch us," I heard Kent say beside Reed. I slowly looked up and found the two men in my life standing in front of me.

The ache felt better.

I was thankful I had them. All that time I had wasted with Dennis. I would make it up to them as much as I could. After that experience, I knew better.

I grabbed Kent's fist that was near. He flinched at the surprise of my touch and looked over at me. I begged, "Can we go? Please."

Kent's fist unraveled and he entwined his fingers into mine. "Let's go, man," he whispered to Reed, who was still giving Dennis the death glare. He nodded and turned, moving my body with him. Kent let go of my hand and placed it around my shoulder.

"Es, wait—" Dennis was immediately cut off as Reed, in one swift motion, turned to him, grabbed his throat, and slammed him against the wall.

I gasped in shock and took a step back.

Dennis tried to throw a punch, but Reed easily blocked it and held his fist with his hand. His face was just centimeters away from Dennis' as he loudly whispered, "You will not call her that ever again. Do you hear me? You are dead to us and especially to her." His voice was so ice cold. I didn't even know who this man was.

I took a step back to Kent and grabbed his hand, gripping it hard.

"Come, Reed, let's go. As much as I'd love to see this—" Kent nodded his head toward me "—Es doesn't need this. She needs us. Let's go." Reed gave Dennis' throat one more good squeeze and dropped him. Dennis then started coughing profusely. Kent and I turned around, his hand still entwined with mine for comfort. I felt Reed's hand on my head as we headed back inside. He rubbed it gently to console me. That's when I knew everything would be all right.

*
Chapter 8

I took a big gulp, holding back the memories his face brought to me. I looked down at the apple juice I had in my hand.

He has spoiled apple juice for me. That bastard.

I felt a sour taste in mouth, imagining drinking it with him in my memory. "Actually, I don't drink apple juice anymore." I said, placing it back and took an orange juice instead, wishing the line would go faster. It was the first contact I'd had with Dennis in years. We would see each other in the hallways or by our lockers, but usually he wouldn't say anything to me, especially if Reed or Kent were around. I could always feel their disparaging thoughts whenever either of them would see him with his chick of the month.

"Hmm... funny, because I see you drink it all the time at lunch." Dennis pointed out.

My heart dropped.

He's been watching me this whole time?

I shook my head, snapping my puppy love wishing thoughts out of my mind.

"I've missed you," he whispered behind me, his breath by my ear. "It's hard to talk to you with your posse so close by your side." He motioned over at our table, all of them unaware of what was going on right then. It actually made me slightly happy, because I didn't want them to be burdened by this.

It was my problem to fix.

We finally reached the register and I was about to hand over my money when Dennis interrupted the transaction, "I got it," he said as he pushed my hand aside and she took his money over mine. "I didn't forget it was a special day today." He winked at me. It made me furious. He must have seen it in my eyes because his face fell. I ignored him and felt the need to reach my friends before I did something I would regret. I headed for the table quickly.

"Estelle. Es, wait," he yelled as he grabbed my arm and spun me around.

I glared at his hand. "Let go!" I yelled louder than I intended. I heard chairs begin to squeak. As I looked through my peripheral, Reed and Kent heard my cry. Their faces were rock hard and Dana's eyes traced the situation with concern. I held out my hand in a stop motion as they took a step toward us.

"Oh geez, is your posse coming over to handle me again?" Dennis asked annoyed, noticing their movements as well.

"No, I can handle you all on my own, Dennis." I spat back. His name burned as it exited my mouth.

He quickly let go of my arm. "I just– I just wanted to say happy birthday without any conflict or anything. Just a simple happy birthday, is that wrong?" he said quietly. His eyes showed truth in them, but then the memory of what he did to me edged into my heart.

"Wrong?" I could feel my tone deepen. "Wrong!" I squeaked, trying to hold back my tears. I inhaled deeply, focusing on my anger and not my sorrow. "You want to know what's wrong, Dennis? Finding you making out with a bimbo on our six month anniversary!" I felt myself falling apart. After all these years of not telling him what I felt, I decided to do it now.

"How long were you cheating on me, huh? Because I thought we had... we had...something... and you ruined it! Was it always about sex, huh?" I found myself stepping closer, as he took steps back. "Huh? Because I was saving myself and you just wanted any vagina with legs? If you didn't want to be with me, you should have broken it off instead of cheating on me!" I couldn't stop my voice from cracking at the end so I paused to compose myself.

"No," Dennis argued, "it was just that one time! And she came on to me."

I found my voice again to say, "Oh and that makes it okay?"

"No! No, I just—"

"What? You just what, Dennis, fell onto her neck slobbering?"

"I made a mistake! I'm sorry!" he yelled and threw himself in my direction as I jumped back. I heard footsteps and knew Reed and Kent couldn't hold back. I immediately felt them on each of my sides. Dennis stared back and forth behind me.

> > > > > "That's close enough," Reed said next to me.

I placed both my hands in front of their chests to stop them and took a step forward at Dennis. "I can handle it myself." When I knew they were staying put, I crossed my arms over my chest. "Go on," I said to Dennis as he stared at them, then back at me.

"I'm sorry. Every girl I have dated was to get my mind off of you, but nobody else was like you, Es... telle," he finished as he remembered who was behind me. "What I'm saying is, I want you back. I've sat on the sidelines long enough, and I want you back." His words hit me like a ton of bricks.

If he would have said that two years ago, I would have leapt in his arms and forgiven him instantly because that's how stupid I was. Luckily, after two years, I was smarter and knew the real value of love and friendship. I didn't need him like I did before. Reed and Kent's breath started to grow deeper behind me. They were both ready to pounce if I gave the signal.

I let out a breath. My shoulders sagged and I straightened them back up again as I said, "Dennis, I appreciate the apology, but trust me, we are never getting back together. End of story. I hope you find what you're looking for because it's not me." I stared into the brown eyes I once knew so well as they widened with dismay. I turned on my heel and faced Reed and Kent. "Come on, I'm hungry," I grabbed both their arms and led them back to the table, leaving Dennis in a speechless stupor. We sat down and I stared at my half-eaten sandwich.

I felt Dana's small hand on my back. "You okay?"

I nodded. I looked up at Reed and Kent, who were eyeing me with worry, both pairs of eyebrows furrowed.

"Don't worry, I'm fine, you guys. I have all of you to thank for helping me through it." I said, trying to reassure them.

"I bet he will give you a free booty birthday call, you know what I'm saying." Aiden laughed as he gently poked Kent with his elbow.

"Aiden!" Dana scolded, smacking him on the shoulder.

"What, it's a joke damn it. Laugh!" Aiden said, still laughing. And I actually did laugh with him. I laughed harder as Reed and Kent's eyes widened as Aiden made that joke. It looked like they were gonna kill him. "See, Estelle thinks it's funny!" he pointed out.

They still didn't find it funny.

Throughout the remainder of the day, I was a mindless zombie. My thoughts were always somewhere else whenever someone would try and catch my attention. With the dream bothering me, my birthday stressing me out, and Dennis approaching me after all these years... let's just say my mind was about to explode. My friends could tell, but they let me be. They knew I was stressing and didn't want to add to my concerns. Kent and Reed insisted I got a ride home from one of them, but I bypassed them at the end of the day and took the bus. I didn't need their eyes or their mind on me the whole time. I got home and went straight to my room and fell face down on my bed.

My phone vibrated. I pulled it from my jeans and laid on my back, reading the incoming text from Kent.

I really wish you would've let me drive you home. Let me know you're okay. I'm still picking you up for our dinner, right? 7:30pm okay?

Geez, can't a girl get a break. I looked at the next message, from Reed of course.

You're still coming to dinner right? Kent's picking you up at 7:30pm, don't forget. <3.

He always ended his messages with a heart. I always adored that about him. I sent them both a text saying I remembered about dinner and would see them soon. It was a little after three now, so I had a couple of hours. I decided to catch up on some homework and get my mind off of Dennis and my dream.

Before I knew it, I picked up my phone and it was almost six. It was time to "pretty" myself up. I took a shower and threw some products in my hair to accentuate my curls and slowly blew it dry so it wouldn't turn into a frizzy mess.

I applied foundation, eyeliner, and mascara on my face, then I applied my favorite pink lipstick that made my lips look even fuller. I stood in front of my full-length mirror as I slipped on my sleeveless baby pink dress. It was almost a silky feeling and flowed just above my knees. I turned to see the back, which showed my bare back in a V-shape. Since my hair came down to my shoulders, it wasn't that revealing. I continued wearing the necklace Gramps gave me, running my finger along the chain and the globe hanging from it.

"I think it matches just fine," I said aloud, and left it on. I took a mini white flower hair-pin and swiped it onto the corner of my hair just above my ear to keep some of the curls away from my face. I could pamper myself up pretty good when I wanted to.

Normally, I was more of a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl. But for my eighteenth birthday, I made an exception. I went to my closet and looked at the different types of shoes sprawled on my floor. I really hated wearing heels, so I picked up my comfortable black flats that had a slight wedge and slipped those on.

I had ten minutes to spare and I knew Kent could be very punctual, so I grabbed my pink wristlet that had my phone, keys, and wallet, and headed down the stairs. I paused as I was about to exit our front door and heard voices. One voice in particular I recognized. My dad's.

Dad was here?

I tip-toed to the kitchen side door that led to the garage where it was cracked open. I peeked through the slit. My mom and dad were standing next to her car. I didn't even hear the garage door open. I haven't seen my dad since his last visit down here, which was before I started high school four years ago. He looked angry right then, his hazel eyes hard with concern. His hair had grown out a little more since the last time I saw him, but it was still spiked up to perfection. I'd forgotten how much of a looker my dad was and wondered why he hadn't found another girlfriend or anything. But I knew why, judging by the way he was staring back at my mom. He seemed pissed, but the affection he had for her was still apparent in them.

"You can't do this, not now!" he said, his voice was both raised and hushed.

"Simon, it has to be now. You're never around and she's eighteen. She has a right to know!" My mom argued, flailing her arms around her.

"Yes, I know, Gabbi, but does it have to be now? I don't want my visit to be a bad memory for her!"

"You will not leave me with this burden alone! You cannot let me tell our daughter by myself that she's adopted! I won't have it!"

Adopted. Adopted. Adopted. Adopted.

Adopted?

That word echoed in my head.

I found myself stumbling forward, hearing the sound of the garage door opening. Both my parent's eyes flew to mine. I could feel my eyes as wide as they could get, the tears easily flowing to the corners.

"Estelle." My mother's whisper was so faint, yet I could hear it like it was right next to me.

"Estelle, honey, listen, that's not what..." I ran before my father could finish his explanation. I was happy to see him. I was happy that he flew down to surprise me. But it was more of a surprise that I could take.

"Estelle!" I heard both their voices yell, footsteps running after me as I flew through our front door. I found myself hyperventilating, gasping for air as I looked around me, wondering where to go.

This must be what a panic attack feels like.

The door creaked near me and that made me start running again, even farther. I saw Kent's white Jeep drive towards my house, as I ran the opposite direction. The screech of his brakes echoed into the night.

I had to go far away. Far away from everything. I knew the exact place I wanted to go.

The playground.

It was a few miles away, but I didn't care. I couldn't feel my legs as I kept going, refusing to stop. The playground was one of the places I felt the safest. It was the top thing that my mom and I bonded over when we first moved here.

*

I heard my door creak open and slowly lifted my head off of my pillow and I rubbed my eyes. "Mom?" I called out.

"Hey, honey, I know it's late, but I have a surprise for you, you ready?" She leaned down and kissed my forehead. My eyes were so heavy, but I lit up at the word surprise. She got my coat and put it over my pajamas and led me to her car. She drove for what seemed like forever. I stared outside at the quiet neighborhood and lit lamp posts I wasn't used to seeing, since I was always asleep by that time. The neighborhood got farther and the lights dimmer. She pulled her car into a spot, got out, and took my hand.

"Alright, you ready?" she asked. I nodded. I looked around me and saw nothing but trees. We went past some bushes and rocks lined up in a straight line, and what I saw as we came to a clearing was the greatest thing I have ever laid my eyes on.

It was a small playground. It had a set of four swings to the right, a little slide to the left, along with some monkey bars, and in the middle was a slight rustic merry-go-round. But that wasn't what caught my eye.

What caught my eye was the view.

I stared up into the sky at the brightest stars I have seen since we moved here. There were no trees in sight, just the big dark sky hovering over this small playground. I squealed with such intense energy, I felt like I was going to pop.

"Go on, have fun!" My mom gave a little push on my butt as I ran to the merry-go-round. I leapt on it and twirled it with my small jump and stared up into the bright stars. I jumped off the merry-go-round and ran to the swing sets and hopped on, quickly gaining momentum, as I kept my eyes on the sky. It was like my dream came true; I was flying with the stars.

I played for what felt like hours, until my mom caught my attention. She was on a small green bench by the slide, her eyes closed as she kept her head up with her hand, using the arm bench as support. I ran to her and placed my tiny hands on her knees asking, "Mommy, are you okay?"

She quickly sprouted her eyes open, "Oh, yes, sorry, honey, I was just resting my eyes." I could tell Mom was tired and I did have enough playtime, even though I should be in bed. Mom did this just for me.

I held her hand in mine. "Come on, Mommy, I'm tired, let's go." Even though I could still play more and more, I knew Mommy needed rest.

"All right, dear, did you have fun?" she slowly got up and we walked back to her car hand-in-hand.

"It was the best! I loved it! I can fly through space here! Can I come here all the time?" I asked, too excited. I wanted to be there as much as I could at night.

"Sure, honey, anything for you." She rubbed my hands as I skipped next to her.

*
Chapter 9

As I approached the park, my mind swept back to my dream.

Was my dream real? Am I really adopted and I dreamt of my real parents?

I rammed through the bushes and found myself at my sanctuary: my playground. It hasn't changed all these years. I ran to the merry-go-round and laid down with my legs dangling over the edge. I used my feet to push off from the ground as it started to turn slowly. I stared up at the glimmering sky above me.

I took longer breaths. My panic subsiding.

The wind brushed through my face to cool the sweat dripping from my forehead. I heard tires screech in the distance, an engine turn off, and footsteps running to me.

I slowly sat up and found Kent kneeling in front of me, placing his hands on my head, shoulders, and legs, "What happened, are you okay?" He felt all around me checking for injuries.

"Kent, stop. I'm fine." I placed my hand on his to stop his searching. His eyes and face had the most distressed and confused features. He pulled his phone from his back pocket. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"Calling Reed," he answered. I placed my hands on his to stop him. That was one thing that I loved about them but it could be my downfall at the same time. They both had this unspoken rule that if anything was wrong with me, they contacted each other immediately.

"Stop," I sighed, exhausted, "can I just have a moment? It's hard enough having you here, I can't take you both, not right now."

He put his phone back in his pocket and placed his hands on my face asking, "What happened? I saw you running and your parents yelled at me to follow you and make sure you were okay. I lost you through the neighborhood, but I knew if something was wrong, you would come here."

Only Kent and Reed knew where I would go. I'd taken each of them here before, sometimes all three of us together, and we would sit on this exact merry-go-round and talk for hours, or just stare at the stars. Soon, it became their sanctuary too.

"Kent, I overheard my parents arguing. I'm..." I choked, knowing that hearing the word out loud from my own mouth would confirm the truth. "Adopted."

Kent fell back on his butt and caught himself with his hands.

"Yeah, I know, that's how I feel, multiply that by like a billion." I said, frustrated. He stood up and sat next to me. I used my foot to start the merry-go-round.

"And they decided to tell you on your birthday?" he asked, trying to hide his anger.

"No, they didn't tell me. I mean they were planning to, I eavesdropped and heard it. I actually spoiled their surprise too, having my dad here for my birthday." I gave a small shrug. "I guess it's moot now."

"I'm sorry you had to find out that way." He placed his hand on mine. "What are you going to do?"

"I have no idea! I'm just so, so... mad right now. I don't know!" I shut my eyes, holding back my tears.

"Look, this probably won't help but, they have raised you since you were a baby, right?" he asked. I nodded. "Well to me, it doesn't matter that you're adopted. They love and care for you like no other. They are your parents, no matter what."

I laid back down on the merry-go-round, staring back up at the stars. He had no idea what else was thrown into the mix. It was one of the few times I hadn't told him everything that was on my mind. He laid back as well and we stayed there in silence, just like we did when we were younger.

We stared aimlessly into the never-ending sky.

This was nice. Comfortable silence. This is what I needed.

I didn't care how long time went by, but it was interrupted by the buzzing of his phone against the metal below us.

"Shit!" he cursed as he sat up. I looked over at him as he answered his phone with, "Hello, yeah, sorry... I know. Yes, she's here." He stared over at me. "No, not really, she doesn't want to—" He rolled his eyes and handed over the phone "—Reed wants to talk to you."

I shook my head and mouthed the word no. I couldn't deal with him right then, at least not over the phone. Kent placed it back to his ear and said, "She can't talk right now. Yes, she's fine, she can't talk over the phone. I know, I know! We will be there soon. Bye." He placed his phone back in his pocket. "It's 8:45, we're late for your dinner." His phone vibrated again and he let out a hard sigh, "Oh geez, it's Dana. She's gonna be furious." He answered, "Yeah, I know, on the way, sorry! Bye!" He quickly stood up and held out his hand, "Come on, we gotta go."

"Can't we skip dinner, I'm not even hungry!" I whined. I just wanted to lay there and do nothing.

"No, we can't," he said before he stared off into the playground.

"Why?"

He shifted his feet, then stuffed his hands in his jeans. "Well... it's a surprise party so it's not just Dana, Reed, and Aiden there. Guess there's no surprise now." His shoulders slouched in disappointment at revealing it.

"All right, well at least you told me. I don't think I can deal with any more surprises, you know what I'm saying?" I gave a light chuckle to lighten the mood.

"I mean, I guess we can, but–"

"No, we'll go, I don't want you to take the heat for me." I grabbed his forearm and squeezed lightly. He gave a smile and lifted me off the merry-go-round and walked to his car.

"By the way—" he opened the door for me as I hopped in his Jeep "—you look beautiful." he said quickly, going to the driver's side before I could react. I smiled shyly and straightened out my dress. He got in the drivers seat and drove off.

I pulled down his visor and started making faces in the mirror as we approached the restaurant.

"What are you doing?" he asked, chuckling.

"You know if I don't act surprised, Dana will know!" I pointed out.

"And practicing it will make it less fake how?" he teased.

"Oh shut up!" I threw the visor back up and stepped out of the car. The hostess walked us past all the regular tables and showed us to a private dining room area.

"Really, how was I not supposed to know even if you didn't tell me. We're at these doors that lead to a room that holds like thirty people!" I waved my arms at the big doors in front of us.

"Just... act surprised," he whispered as he slowly opened them. The room was dark and as the lights lit up, I felt my practiced expression about to come on my face, when I felt a huge pinch on my left butt cheek.

I let out a huge scream–gasp as I leapt up in the air.

"SURPRISE!" All the voices echoed all around me. There were confetti and streamers thrown all around. A huge banner high above titled "HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY ESTELLE!" greeted me. Lots of high school friends were around. Buffet tables of food were set up all around the room along with a mix of tables and chairs.

"I got you!" Dana rose from the other faces and wrapped her arms around my neck. "You were totally surprised! I was a little concerned Kent blabbed, but you totally didn't know!" I eyeballed Kent, knowing he pinched my butt. He shrugged his shoulders, with a face too happy for my comfort.

Dana looped her arm into mine as we walked into the room. Multiple people gave me hugs and wished me happy birthday. It almost made the pain in my heart disappear... almost. Dana was talking about how much she had to plan and how she had to make sure nobody else told me about it. Her voice was slightly muffled as I stared around the room full of people.

My eye caught Reed and Kent by one of the food tables. They were arguing. I knew it was about me, since both their gazes found mine. Reed caught Kent's attention again as they continued their discussion. I knew Kent wouldn't tell Reed. He would let me do that on my own and I knew Reed was likely angry over that very fact. I had to go tell Reed myself before it jeopardized their friendship.

"Sorry, Dana, I gotta talk to Reed really quick. I'll catch up with you later?" I said, dropping her hand to her side.

A frown came upon her face. "Oh, well, all right."

"Hey, Aiden," I called out, "can you keep her company? I'll be right back." He left another girl he was talking to, who was obviously flirting with him, and was by Dana's side in a second. Her frown went away as she started talking non-stop to him. His eyes gazed into hers like she was the only person in the room. I approached Kent and Reed as I heard the end of their conversation.

"I am telling you, I will not tell you! She has to!" Kent hissed.

"This is killing me, Kent! What is wrong? You have to–" Reed stopped mid-sentence as they both became aware of my presence.

"Thanks, Kent, I'll take it from here." I said to him. He nodded and brushed his hand on mine as he walked away.

"Are you okay? Kent is like a mime all of a sudden, he won't tell me anything!" Reed said annoyed, but worried. He rubbed his hand on my shoulder.

"I know, I told him not to tell you." I shuffled my feet back and forth. "Reed, I overheard my parents fighting and I'm... adopted." Let's see how many times I can say that word until it fully registers with me.

I looked up into those deep blue eyes as he took a step closer to me and wrapped his arms tightly around me, as if he was never letting go.

"I don't know what to say," he whispered as he kissed the top of my head. "I'm here for you, no matter what."

I wrapped my arms tightly around his broad back and nuzzled my face into his chest. "I know."

"Estelle! We have another surprise!" I heard Dana's voice as I pulled my head out of Reed's chest and found my parents in front of me.

Shit.

I quickly pulled from Reed in shock that they were both here. I looked at Dana's innocent face, knowing she knew about my dad's arrival, but did not know what happened in my house. I stared at my parents as if nothing happened and threw on a fake mask. "Dad! You're here!" I embraced him in a hug awkwardly, trying to put up a good front for Dana. "Mom! You sly dog, you!" I let go of my dad and hugged her.

"Yes, I sure fooled you, dear!" She was using her sarcastic voice. "Dana, dear, we're going to go have a little chat in private, if you don't mind."

"Oh yeah sure, take all the time you need!" Dana said.

My mom placed her hand on my elbow as she guided me out. I looked back over my shoulder at an oblivious Dana, and a concerned Reed. He took a step toward us, but I gave the slightest shake and he stopped.

He gave a comforting smile and I returned it.

All three of us stepped out of the party room and into the empty hallway.

They stood in front of me in silence. Both their faces were so confused on how to start. I took a breath and remembered what Kent said at the playground. "Mom, Dad–"

"Wait, honey, we are sorry you had to find out that way. Believe me, this is not how we intended it to be," Mom interrupted.

"Yeah, we were going to surprise you and let you have fun during your birthday, then we were going to tell you before I left to go back home. I'm sorry, honey." Dad said shamefully, rubbing the back of his head.

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions for us." Mom asked.

"Mom, Dad, it doesn't matter that I'm... adopted." I had to swallow after that word. "You both are the only parents I know and the only ones I will ever need. I love you both." Their looks were of utter shock and relief at the same time. My mother's eyes welled up with tears. My father held her hand and squeezed tightly.

"And you are our daughter no matter what," Mom blurted out past her tears as she wrapped her arms around me. Dad soon followed.

"Come on, Gabbi, we can talk about this with her later. She needs to have fun with her friends right now." Dad said. She let me go and wiped her face.

"Yes, we will talk later." I said, swallowing hard. "When are you going back, Dad?"

"I'm here for a week. You think you can stand me being here that long?" he teased and tapped my chin.

"Yes, of course. Before you go, you want to say bye to my friends? You haven't seen them for years either." I said, cracking the door back open.

"Ah yes, how are the little guys?" Dad asked.

I chuckled at the word little. He hasn't seen Reed or Kent since before their growth spurt. We went back in and spotted Reed, Kent, Aiden, and Dana talking together.

"Hey, my parents are heading out and they wanted to say bye," I said. All their attention diverted to us. "Dad this is Dana, Dana, this is my dad, Simon."

He shook her hand. "Ah yes, the one who planned all this. Now I have a lovely face I can put the voice to." She smiled timidly.

"This is Aiden, I don't know if you remember him," I said as I pointed to him.

"Mr. Caldwell," Aiden greeted as they shook hands.

"The little redhead following Reed around, I remember! Boy, you sure have grown!"

"And of course Reed and Kent." I pointed.

He went and stood before them, crossing his arms, and eyed them keenly. His eyes expanded as he looked at them from head to toe; back and forth his eyes darted. Reed and Kent both looked at me in question.

"Uh... Dad, what's wrong?" I asked suspiciously.

"These two men are not the two kids I left you with." He laughed as he grabbed them in a big bear hug and gave two big pats on their backs. They both nervously chuckled at my dad's embrace. "Kent, Reed, geez, you're both as tall as me and you're what, seventeen?"

"Eighteen, Dad," I corrected, "they're the same age as me. Remember?"

He crossed his arms and pulled away, "Well what do you know?" He raised his eyebrows and stared back and forth between them again, then at me. His eyes hovered on mine with a questioning look for something... what... what did he want? His eyes stretched slightly as I stretched mine back.

"What? What's wrong, Dad?" I asked, annoyed.

He held a hand out in their direction and asked, "So which one is the boyfriend?"

"HA!" Aiden's loud laugh echoed behind me before it was stifled by Dana's smack.

"Dad!" I gasped. Both Reed and Kent looked in different directions and oddly shuffled in response.

"What?" Dad asked, lifting his shoulders. "You're telling me neither of these guys have swept you off your feet yet?"

"Simon!" Finally, my mother's voice of reason.

Dad shifted his hands back and forth between them. "What? Really, you two? Neither one of you? You better step up your game."

"Mom, pleeeease," I begged.

"We are leaving, come on, Simon. Let's go." My mom pulled on his arm as they started to walk off. "Have fun, honey, stay out as long as you want. We will hang out later this weekend."

"Thanks, Mom. See you guys later." I waved as they moved through the crowd of teens. I glanced over at Reed and Kent, who were awkwardly stirring their drinks. "Sorry, you guys."

"Don't worry about it, Dads are Dads," Kent said with a shrug.

"Did you have a talk with them?" Reed voiced with concern.

"Yeah, we talked a little. It was good. My dad is here for a week, so we're probably going to talk more." I stared at my parents as they were heading out the door. "You know, I'm gonna walk them to their car. I'll be right back." I took off after them. When I reached the outside of the restaurant, I saw them in the lot heading for their car near the back.

"Mom! Dad!" I called. They both turned.

"I know, I know, your mom gave the speech. I overstepped, sorry," Dad blurted out as I walked beside them.

"Well besides that, I just thought I would walk you guys out." I looked around for their car, but didn't see it.

"We parked back here. There weren't many spots." Mom pointed as we rounded a dark corner and found their car parked in a secluded area. "All right, honey, take your time coming home, have fun! You're eighteen now!" She gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Yes, honey, have fun!" Dad agreed, giving me a kiss on the forehead as my mom headed for the car. He looked back at her making sure she wasn't paying attention. "But really, you haven't dated either of them?" he whispered, knowing he would get in trouble with Mom if she heard him.

"No, Dad, I don't know..." I mumbled and drifted off. My dad prying about my love life was putting me at a loss for words.

"Do you love them?" he asked.

"Yes, of course I do!" I answered. Talk about blunt.

"But you don't know which one you love more than a friend?" he asked as he arched his brow.

I opened my mouth to answer, but I couldn't think of anything. I did love them both. And he asked the one damn question I'd wanted to avoid my whole life.

They have both been there for me and know me like the back of their hands. But to answer the question who I love more than a friend? I couldn't answer that... not right then. "I don't know, Dad, I just, I don't want anyone to get hurt," I whispered.

He took his hands and lifted my chin up. "You can't lead them both on." His words stung like a whip, because it was the truth and I knew it. "You will have to choose. And seeing how they both look at you, they will be happy for you no matter what you do." He laid another kiss on my forehead.

"Come on, Simon, I'm beat," Mom interrupted as she was standing by the car.

"All right!" he yelled back. "See you, honey!" He gave a small pat on my cheek and trotted off to the driver's side. I stood and waved them off as they gave their horn two beeps and drove out of sight. Dad's words echoed in my head. "Seeing how they both look at you, they will be happy for you no matter what you do." I wondered if that was true. Or if when it came time, I would lose one of them.

That was my fear.

Living life without both of them there.

I didn't think I could bear it.
Chapter 10

I heard a voice like it was right next to me.

"Estelle."

I whipped my head around and no one was there. I did a full circle, looking around me, but nobody stood by me.

"Estelle," it called again.

I focused on the noise and it was like it was in my head, yelling at me. My mind felt like it was going to erupt. I grasped my head in pain with both hands. "Stop it," I said.

"Estelle. Estelle. Estelle," it rang in my head over and over again.

"Stop it!" I screamed and fell to my knees. The invasion in my mind was gone. I relaxed my hands and opened my eyes.

"So it is you. I have finally found you, Estelle." It was the same colluding voice that was in my head. I bounded to my feet and took a step back as a man appeared in front of me. His baldness accented his thick jawline and his cold blue eyes. He almost blended in with the darkness, with his dark shirt and jeans. He looked about my parent's age? But he was young and... something else— a presence about him that made him feel older than he really looked.

"I'm sorry, do I know you? Are you here for the party?" I pointed back at the restaurant. I did not like the feeling the man gave me. I immediately yearned for Reed and Kent.

I kept thinking and wishing they were here.

My eyes wandered and I saw them. It was like watching a movie in my mind. I saw them at the party, sipping their drinks and laughing with Aiden and Dana.

Is this for real? Is this happening? Or am I finally losing it?

"Reed! Kent!" I yelled their names so loud in my head, it was almost like I was yelling it from my voice.

Their heads both perked up at the same time.They looked around as if they heard me. Did they really hear me?

"Reed! Kent! Please, I need you!" I pleaded in my head. Both of them looked at each other straight in the eye, like they were silently conversing themselves. Their mouths moved and they put their drinks down and headed out of my vision. My eyes were back staring at this strange man in front of me.

"My name is Borin. You need to come with me," he said as he held out his hand.

I took a step back, "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Yes you are." His lips didn't move, but I heard it clear as day in my head.

I shook my head violently, "Wha– what are you doing? Get out of my head!"

"Come now, Estelle, don't make me bend you to my will." I felt him at my side, his hands gripping my arms. He was still in my head, overpowering my thoughts and trying to control my body.

"Stop it! Get out!" I clenched my head. My mind wandered to memories of my childhood. He was literally invading me, like I couldn't hear my thoughts or myself anymore.

"Shhh... don't resist, accept it. Don't make this harder than it has to be," he whispered, his breath hot on my ear. I wanted to shove him away and kick him where it hurt, but my body wasn't responding and neither was my mind.

"Fight, Estelle!" I felt my mind invaded by someone else, a voice I would always recognize. "Fight!"

"Gramps?" I whispered.

"Get off of her, Borin!" I heard his voice yell and my mind fell back into place. My body finally responded to my thoughts. I threw his hands off of me and swung my leg around to kick him in the side. He fell hard, but quickly recovered. His eyes were stunned with curiosity.

Gramps appeared quickly and was in Borin's face, gripping his head and staring into those cold eyes. Borin's arms went limp.

This was not the man I have spent countless hours playing board games with, visiting and caring for his every need at his home. I recognized him; he stood great and unyielding. I never noticed his muscles over the baggy clothes he wore, but they were showing prominently now as he gripped Borin's head tightly.

This was Gramps from my dream.

"Gramps." I called, taking a step toward him.

"Get out of here! I can't hold him long," he snapped, still staring into the eyes of Borin.

"Estelle!" Reed and Kent yelled and their hands fell on my back.

"What's going on? Larry?" Kent called out.

"Get her out of here! Now!" Gramps commanded. They didn't hesitate and pulled my arms the opposite direction and my feet followed as I ran with them. I looked back just as we were about to turn the corner and saw Borin stand tall and push Larry back with his heavy arms. Gramps fell to the ground.

A wave flooded through me. A wave of intense violence.

"NO!" I screamed and quickly turned back, seizing my arms away from their grasps, heading back to help Gramps. I could hear Reed and Kent's footsteps run back after me. But I didn't care. I was not about to leave him. He was rubbing his head as Borin stood over him, about to place a hand on him.

"Don't you touch him!" The voice that came out of my mouth was unrecognizable. I ran to him, holding out my arms to shove him away.

My body felt unfamiliar. My feet lightweight. My arms tingled as I felt a sensation rise to my shoulders, down my forearms, and out my fingertips.

Before I could even touch Borin, he flew away from Gramps' side and slammed into a garbage receptacle a few feet away, causing a dent with his body. My whole body felt heavy as I leaned down to help him. "Are you all right?" I asked, but my mind and body were starting to feel exhausted. He could see it in my face when he stared back at me after eyeing Borin's limp body. I didn't even know what had just happened.

"Come, we need to get out of here. He will awaken soon." Gramps said, standing up. I meant to stand with him, but found myself leaning on the back of my heels and using my hand as support on the ground to keep my body sitting up.

"Estelle, you okay?" Reed asked, his hand helped me up along with Kent's. I steadied my feet and leaned against Reed's chest. I didn't have control of my body, it was like all my motor functions were drained from me.

"Come, we must go!" Gramps pleaded as I tried to walk, but couldn't. I had my whole weight on Reed and didn't even realize it. "She's weak, carry her!" Gramps yelled.

Reed didn't hesitate, he scooped his arms under my knees and ran.

"My car is over here!" Kent yelled as Reed placed me in the back. I was slowly feeling my body gain back its strength. My mind was getting clearer. I looked over and we were already driving. Kent in the driver's seat and Gramps in the passenger's.

Reed's face was close to mine when he whispered, "Es, you okay?" His warm hand rubbed my cheek and tucked my curls away from my face.

I slowly nodded.

"Where are we going?" Kent asked, weaving in and out of traffic.

"I need an open space to the sky and no crowds, do you know of any place?" I heard Gramps ask. I felt Reed and Kent's mind meld with mine at the one place that popped in our heads at the exact same time.

"Yeah, I know exactly where to go." Kent answered, making a sharp turn as Reed held my body in place. Kent screeched into his spot and turned off the engine. My body was starting to feel normal again.

Gramps reached his hand over and asked, "Are you okay to walk now?"

I nodded and stood up, feeling Reed's hand help steady me in case I fell. Gramps' hands came on my waist as he lifted me off the backseat and onto the floor. I would have never guessed he was eighty-four years old the way he was acting. We walked through the familiar line of trees and rocks and came upon my sanctuary.

"Here you go!" I waved my hand at the open air of stars.

Gramps walked forward and stared directly at the merry-go-round. "Perfect." He trotted toward it and sat down on the edge, crossing his legs Indian style. He placed his hands on his thighs and straightened his back. His eyes slowly closed. We all stood on the sideline as the merry-go-round moved slightly. I looked around and there was no breeze and he wasn't moving. It moved again, this time starting to circle around gently.

It kept its momentum, never faltering.

"Are you guys seeing this?" Kent whispered. I didn't respond; I couldn't explain what was going on or what had happened the last twenty-four hours. "Estelle." Kent called. I turned to find them standing behind me. "You... you didn't even touch that guy and he just– he just flew." Kent could barely get the words out. I could barely believe the words that I was hearing, let alone the actions I had done and felt. "Do you think he's–" Kent paused.

"No, he's not dead, he's very much alive. I only stunned him. I think?" I answered, unsure. Something told me in my mind that he wasn't dead, but it wouldn't be the last we would see of him.

"What is going on here, Es?" Reed asked as his hands flew to his hair, ruffling it in frustration.

"I haven't told you guys everything..." I went into telling them my dream in every single detail that I could remember. "And then I found the blanket sewn into our quilt. The exact same one!" During my story, we made our way to the green bench my mom fell asleep on the first time we came here. I was in the middle, with Reed at my right and Kent at my left, listening attentively. "And I find out I'm adopted! That it was my real mother and father I saw!"

"Okay, wait..." Kent stood up from his seat and paced in front of me, then stopped and stared at me with his hands floating in the air. "You're saying in your dream, you saw your real mom and dad and they somehow teleported you here to Earth?" His tone was skeptical of course. "You're saying you're like... an alien?"

When he said it like that, it sounded ridiculous. But even I didn't know what I was saying. "I–I don't know what I'm saying! All I know is it was real." I answered.

"Come on, Es! It was a dream! You've had the blanket forever, of course you would see it there. Just because you're adopted doesn't mean you're an alien." Kent said, throwing his hands in the air.

"All right then, how did I throw that guy then without touching him? Explain that!" My arms were flailing with his.

Kent opened his mouth, then quickly shut it and turned before he said, "Come on, Reed, tell her she's being insane right now." Kent obviously wasn't getting what was happening, or he was in denial. I looked over at Reed, his eyes focused on the grass in deep thought.

He tilted his head up to face Kent. "I don't know, she could be right."

Kent threw his hands in the air and faced his back to us, shaking his head in irritation. "I don't know what is going through both of your heads." He turned back to face us. "Come on, man, tell her she's been watching way too many sci-fi movies!"

"Oh, and when I was outside—" I interrupted because I wanted to know this answer myself "—how did you guys know to find me?"

"You know, I don't know." Reed shrugged as his brows pulled together. "I just felt you calling my name. Your voice was somehow in my head." Reed looked up, thinking harder.

"Yeah, that was weird because I heard it too," Kent finally agreed with something.

"That's because I did it. I saw you guys in my vision at the party, and I yelled for you in my head and you guys came." I explained.

"That means you have a close telepathic connection with each other." Gramps said. We gasped and whipped our heads over to find him standing close by.

"Oh great, not only is she an alien, now she's telepathic. That's–that's just great!" Kent said sarcastically. He sat back down next to me and slumped his head over the back of the bench. His mouth was open in disbelief.

"What were you doing over there, Gramps?" I asked, nudging my chin to the merry-go-round.

"I had to contact home. We have to get you out of here, they know you're here now. The faster we get you off Earth, the better." Gramps answered.

"What?" I shouted, jumping from my seat. "You expect me to leave here? What about my parents and friends?" I was panicking. Even though everything was moving so fast and I was getting a lot of surprises, I still loved being here.

"Don't worry, they won't remember you. Astra will take care of that, it will be as if you and I were never here." Gramps said.

Reed and Kent stood immediately next to me.

"What?" Reed asked, his voice low and stiff.

"You're telling us we won't remember her?" Kent's said, his temper getting shorter and shorter by the minute. "What am I even getting upset about? All of this is ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous! She is not an alien or telepathic!" he spouted.

"Oh no?" Gramps arched his brows. "Come here, Essie." he called. I took a step toward him. "Closer." Another step. "Closer." I swallowed and did what he said. My face was inches from his chest as I looked up at him. "Now, my mind is open to you, you need to free your mind and open it to me. Stare into my eyes as if you are seeing into my soul." Gramps instructed.

I didn't know what to believe, but I had to know. I stared deep into his blue eyes.

"Oh come on–" Kent started.

"Silence, boy! She needs quiet." Gramps' authoritative tone quickly shut Kent's big mouth. We stood in silence for several minutes, though it felt like hours.

"Gramps, this isn't working!" I complained, relaxing my shoulders and shifted my eyes away from his.

"Essie, you can't have doubt. You need to erase that, your negativity— everything. Free your mind. Concentrate. You can do this. Read my mind." Gramps said sternly. "Find out the truth," he whispered.

I closed my eyes.

I did have doubt, doubts that this would work, doubts about my parents, my friends, my dream— everything. But I wanted to know the truth. I wanted to know it all.

I let go.

A weight lifted from my chest and I felt the lightest I had in years. My mind felt spacious. I opened my eyes and stared into his. They were different, a brighter blue. I saw past his pupils and found a heavenly glow surrounding something in him.

I think I was literally feeling his soul.

Is this possible?

It was breathtaking. His soul was old and wise beyond his years.

"That's it," I heard his voice in my head. "You want to know the truth. You are not from Earth, you are not from this solar system. You are from another small planetarium system on the other side of the Milky Way. You are from Valen."

The glow got immense and bright.

I found my eyes looking at a bright blue sky and rows of never-ending trees. I saw me as a baby, through his eyes. I was holding me, rubbing my small head with his fingers.

I felt how he felt.

He saw me in the purest form of love that I could feel. He stared over at Astra who was walking with us. Her curly blond hair shimmered in the sun. She looked more peaceful than in my dream. Gramps felt worry and concern because he loved her so much.

"Did you pick a name yet?" he asked.

"Yes," she said as she nodded. "Estelle."

He turned his gaze back at me. "Estelle. I like that." He grabbed my tiny fingers. "Are you going to be my little Essie star?" he said with a baby voice."Yes, my little star!" He rubbed his nose to mine as I laughed loudly. "You will shine the light over the darkness," he whispered.

I was staring into his eyes again.

My mind was back in reality.

It was a memory he shared with me through his soul. I wiped my face in surprise finding the tears streaming down my face.
Chapter 11

"You... that was a memory?" I gasped.

"Yes, the first time I held you and knew your name."

"Gramps, that was... beautiful. Thank you." I instantly felt closer to him, also relieved that he was my real grandpa and not by adoption. "Was that Valen?" I asked.

"Yes, a section of it. Your mother maintains that land pretty well, although it is nothing like it was." He tilted his head slightly and a glimmer of sadness creeped from the corner.

"What do you mean?"

"There has been a war raging and it has brought our planet to dark times."

"Okay, this is really sounding like a sci-fi movie. Did you take your meds?" Kent asked, his mouth at it again.

"Kent!" I scolded, turning and scowling at him. "Hey, Gramps," I turned back to him, "if you can show me that, can I do it too?" I wanted to show Kent through my eyes what I had seen and my dream, what it felt like to be there.

"Of course, your powers are surfacing fast, probably because of this, too," he told me as he pointed at my necklace. "It's from Valen. It holds a lot of power and we will need its help with this war."

I gasped, "That's why I felt weird when Reed put it on!"

"Ah, yes, it was probably bonding with your energy to hone in on your hidden powers. It has—" his eyes wandered again "—side effects, but you learn to adjust."

"So how do I do it to Kent?" I asked, looking over at his unamused face.

"Just as we did, you have to look into his soul and free your mind. Concentrate on what you want to share with him. Hold his head, touch helps make the connection." Gramps said.

I stepped close to Kent and held his head in my hands. I felt the freedom in my chest and stared into his eyes. But, it was nothing like what Gramps and I had.

I just saw his eyes. I started to get frustrated and doubt came back into my heart. "This isn't working!" I growled.

"Well, it is a two-way street. He has to open his mind to you as well," Gramps pointed out.

I stomped my foot, "Kent, come on!"

He rolled his eyes at me and took his head from my palms. "This is stupid," he muttered.

"I want to see." Reed said and we both looked over at him.

He'd been so quiet throughout this whole thing, I forgot he was there. Kent stepped back as Reed approached me and stood so close I thought our lips would touch. "Show me," he whispered.

I already felt his connection without touching him. I raised my hands slowly and placed them on his cheeks. He let out a small moan at my touch. A tingling sensation started to form from his cheeks to my fingertips. I stared into his deep blue eyes and felt immediately free, like no one in the world was there but us. A glow appeared in his eyes, a burning white glow. Gramps' voice echoed in my head to concentrate on what I wanted to show him.

Was it minutes? Or hours that passed?

I didn't know, but I did it, I showed him my dream. I felt invigorated by it, like my mind was recharged. I felt his hand brush the side of my face.

He lingered staring at me.

What was he looking at?

I suddenly heard his voice in my head. "I want to."

Was that me reading his mind? He wanted to what? I felt like I was invading his privacy and stopped my probing.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

He smiled and took my hands off of his cheeks. "I believe you," he said softly. I saw it in his eyes. He did believe me. He understood how I felt and why I was thinking what I was thinking.

"So you believe that she's from another planet and is psychic or something?" Kent said sarcastically. Reed nodded. "Jesus!" He threw his arms in the air and paced.

"Kent—" Reed turned to him "—how can you explain anything that's happening right now? Has Es ever lied to us?" Kent stopped and stared at the ground, contemplating the notion, knowing he couldn't explain what was happening. "Do you trust her?" Reed asked. Kent stared into my eyes and nodded. "Do you love her?"

Kent's eyes widened and his lips twitch, "Yes." It was barely a whisper.

"Isn't that enough?" Reed whispered back.

Kent's mouth twitched again. "All right fine! So if this is real, wasn't Larry over here saying we weren't even going to remember her?" We all turned in the direction of Gramps, who was standing behind me.

"Is that true, Gramps?" I asked, scared of his answer, "Astra is really going to wipe all their memories?"

"Yes, it's for everyone's safety, Essie." He placed his hand on my shoulder. "Our enemies have skills just like us, if they find out that anyone knows about you or has any memory of you, they will use them against you. Is that what you want?"

I didn't realize that. I felt an ache in my heart, knowing that if anybody got hurt because of me, or even worse, I would never forgive myself. "No, I don't want that. Ever." I stared at Reed and Kent as I said those words. I could feel their hearts breaking, along with mine. All the memories that we built together, our friendship— we'd lose them all.

I stared at Reed. The love we'd built would be gone. The tears were rising, but I held them back. If I showed them I could be strong, hopefully they would follow. "Gramps, how long do we have?" I whispered.

"Well, Astra is going to use this merry-go-round as a temporary tele-pad. She has to get things prepped on Valen. Maybe a couple of hours at most." Gramps answered.

I took out my phone and looked at the time, it was past ten. "It's almost eleven, I have to say goodbye to my parents and to Dana and Aiden."

"There's not enough time, I'm assuming she will be ready by midnight, and Borin is still out there, I need you here." He gripped my shoulder, as if forcing me to stay.

I pulled away quickly, shouting, "No! If I am going with you, I will say goodbye to them, whether you like it or not." I had never defied Gramps, although he had never given me reason to— until now.

His eyes widened at my disobedience, but then settled into understanding. "All right, if you must. I need to stay here so Astra can pinpoint our location." He looked over at Reed and Kent. "One of you needs to go with her, make sure Borin doesn't get her, and one of you needs to stay with me, in case Borin shows up here instead."

"I'll stay with Es," Reed immediately said.

Kent sighed, "All right, I guess I'll stay with Larry." He walked to me and held me in an embrace, squeezing tightly. "But you come back to me, you hear?" His breath was hot on my ears.

"I will," I whispered as he broke the embrace.

He turned to Reed, "Do I need to even say protect–"

Reed held up his hand, "Nope, I got it. With my life." They held a quick embrace with a hard pat on each other's backs. My heart ached even more, knowing the two great men in my life wouldn't remember me.

Would they remember each other? It was me who brought them together, but if I didn't exist, would they still have a bond?

"Gramps, will they—" I stopped "—never mind." I didn't want to know, because the truth would either ease my pain, or break me completely.

"Quickly now. I need you back here as soon as you can," Gramps said, as he shoved me in Reed's direction.

He grabbed my hand as Kent threw his keys at Reed and he caught it with the other. We bolted to the Jeep and drove off.

"Where to first?" he asked as I grabbed my phone and called Dana.

"We'll have Dana and Aiden meet us at my house, it'll be faster that way."

She answered on the first ring, "Estelle! Where did you go? There is a birthday party without the birthday girl!"

"I'm sorry Dana, stuff came up–"

"Came up with Reed?" she asked, her voice seductive.

I rolled my eyes before I said, "No! Other stuff–"

She interrupted again with a gasp, "With Kent?"

"Damn it, no, Dana! Listen, can you and Aiden meet me at my house? I need you guys there ASAP!"

"Oh, sure, is everything okay?" she asked, more worried.

"Um... it will be, hopefully. See you soon?"

"Yeah, let me get Aiden. We'll be there in twenty."

I ended the call. "They'll meet us in twenty. It'll give me enough time to say goodbye to my parents without being suspicious... hopefully." We pulled up at my house and came up to the blue door I would miss so much.

"Wait here, I won't be long, and stall Dana and Aiden if they get here before I come out." He nodded as I went in. "Mom! Dad!" I called.

"Estelle?" I heard my mom's voice from the kitchen. They were sitting across from each other on the little table sipping milk.

"Hey, you're home early. It's not even midnight!" Dad laughed as he looked at his watch. Oh how I already missed that hearty laugh.

I sat down between them. "No, the party is still on, I just wanted to stop by, see how you guys were doing?"

My mom lifted her brows. She knew something was up. "Honey, what's the matter?" Her authoritative tone hurt my ears.

"Mom, nothing, geez! I just didn't see Dad long enough, so I came to see how you two were doing." I was trying hard to sound like a normal teenager.

"We are fine, dear, just catching up on our lives and everything. Go back to your party, have fun!" Dad was always the more submissive one when it came to parenting.

"Okay, just checking." I stood up and stared at the two people who did their best at raising me. They made me feel like I wasn't even adopted, like I was their flesh and blood from the very beginning. I leaned over to my dad and wrapped my arms tightly around his neck. His body stiffened slightly, but it only made me hug tighter.

"Oh, all right, let me breath here, dear," he said as he rubbed my back softly.

"I just– I missed you, Dad."

Hold my tears, hold my tears, hold it!

They would definitely know something was up if I started to cry. I pulled from my dad and wrapped my arms tightly against my mom. "I missed you too, Mom."

"Well, honey, we'll see you tomorrow and we'll hang out all day if you want, maybe all week!" She laughed, her chest moving mine.

I really needed every ounce of strength to hold my tears when she said that. Because I knew we weren't hanging out together tomorrow, or ever again. It had to be done. I did not want them in danger. That's what kept me from running into my room, locking my door, and curling up in a ball under the covers.

"All right, well, I gotta go party more. Don't wait up!" I quickly turned and ran back out as a single tear escaped my eye. I leaned against my front door, feeling anguish consume me.

Reed stood up from his place on the steps with concern written all over his face. "You okay?" he asked.

I slowly nodded.

Aiden's red convertible pull up behind the Jeep.

Damn it. Again already. Not even a minute to just pull my heart back together. I rolled my shoulders back and pushed off from the door. "Round two," I whispered as I stood tall, trying to get through this with my facade.

"Estelle! Where have you been?" Dana ran toward me as she held out her arms and I threw everything I had into her. "Glad to see you too!" She grunted from the pressure of my hug. I squeezed her as tight as I could.

What would I do without her?

"Um– Estelle." She tapped on my back. "Estelle–" she grunted, but I ignored her. Another couple of taps. "I can't breathe!"

I quickly let go and stepped back. "Sorry, I'm just so happy about the party you planned for me."

"Really?" Dana's voice squeaked. "Because you hate surprises," she said suspiciously.

"Well, I'm gonna cherish this night forever." I said, the fake smile burning my face.

"What's up with you?" Aiden asked as my gaze drifted over to him.

"And you!" I wrapped my arms around his neck, "I'm glad I met you." Aiden was always a goof and he never left my side either. Even though he was by me for Reed or Dana's sake, it still mattered to me.

"Uh, sure," he said as he rubbed my back slowly. "What's up with her, Reed?"

"Just go with it, man," Reed replied behind me.

"Why did you ask us to meet you here, you still have a party going on, you know?" Dana asked as I pulled from Aiden's embrace and held Dana's hand.

"I have to do something, then I'll be back." I squeezed her hand, probably a little too hard, knowing this was the last time I would see her. The last time she would remember me. I stared into her suspicious eyes.

"Estelle." She placed her hands on my shoulders and gripped tightly. "What is going on? Why do I feel like–like– like this is a goodbye or something?"

I wanted to tell her, I wanted to tell her everything. "Just for now, I'll see you back at the party," I lied straight to her face. Dana and I never kept secrets. She looked behind me, staring at Reed for assurances.

"Don't worry, I'll get her back safely." I heard the lie in his tone, only something I would suspect. I looked over at Aiden's suspicious gaze and I thought he might have sensed it too.

If anyone knew Reed as much as I did, it was Aiden.

"Well, all right, we'll see you soon." Dana said as she waved and went back to the car with Aiden right behind her. There went some of the most important people in my life.

My heart was starting to miss those pieces.

It was for their own good. I wanted them to stay safe and to live their lives. Both of them would always be in my heart.

Reed's hand came on my back as I waved goodbye. "You ready?" he asked. I nodded as we headed back in the Jeep. It must have been five miles or so already, but my eyes were still in the rearview mirror, looking for the faces I didn't want to leave behind.

We went over a bump and I felt an ache in my mind. Something was wrong. I closed my eyes and searched for Gramps' presence.

His voice jolted me in my seat, "Estelle, come back! Borin is here. We are trying to hold him off. Hurry!"

I gasped and opened my eyes, "Step on it, Reed! They need us!" The roar of the engine grew louder as our speed picked up.
Chapter 12

Reed screeched the car in the lot. I hopped out and headed for the playground before he came to a complete stop.

Please be okay. Please be okay. Please.

I saw Kent laying on the ground by the swings, groaning. "Kent!" I yelled, kneeling down beside him. I helped him sit up as he rubbed his head. "Are you okay?" I was checking all over him and didn't see any wounds.

"Yeah, fine, just my head feels weird, it's like he stunned me or something." He groaned as he scrunched his face.

"Where's Gramps?" I looked around.

"I don't know. They were fighting somewhere around here." he answered, confused. I tried to help him up, but he was too heavy and he collapsed back down on the ground.

"Okay, stay here. Wait until you feel more firm on your feet." My eyes widened as I heard a familiar yell. "Reed?" I yelled. I couldn't see him anywhere. I thought he was right behind me. "Reed!" I called again.

I screamed when I saw Gramps flying through the air and fall into the clearing by the thick forest around us.

"Gramps!" I ran over, as he slowly sat up, rubbing his head. "Are you okay? Where's Reed?"

"There!" He pointed and I saw Borin holding Reed by his neck as he entered back into the clearing. I had never seen Reed at the mercy of another. I saw him fighting with all he had, his forearms rippling and gripping Borin's hand that held his neck. His body dangled several inches from the ground.

Something switched in me. I felt it simmer and roll through my skin.

This Borin had to go.

I was tired of him hurting my friends and family.

I found myself walking over to them, feeling the weight of my feet stomp into the ground. Borin caught my attention with his eyes.

"Don't– Es!" Reed's strangled breath just fueled me even more. I felt a jolt move from my feet, to my chest, and then to the throbbing in my hands.

"Ah, Estelle, you finally agreed to come with me? Or do I have to kill your boy toy here?" He eyed him and gripped his hand tighter.

"Let. Him. Go." I said, slow and sharp.

Borin sighed, "Oh, Estelle–"

"Let him go!" I roared as I lifted my hand to him. I could feel a force thrash him against a huge oak tree standing behind him. Reed dropped to the ground, gasping for air. I moved closer to Borin, my force pinning him against the tree. It felt like I was holding him without even touching him.

"Oh! I see you have been hiding this from me?" he groaned as I slammed him again.

I had never killed anyone, but he was someone I was willing to start with. My hand traveled up to his neck. My power gripped it as he struggled. I imagined how easily I could snap his neck.

"Estelle," his voice whispered into me.

"Don't even try your mind games with me!" I threw him out of my mind much easier than our first encounter.

I felt like nothing could hurt me.

His life was in my grasp.

I felt supreme over everything. I felt... powerful.

"Estelle, do not go there," I heard Gramps' voice say behind me. "The power is overwhelming, I know, but do not kill him."

I wanted to tune him out. He was getting annoying.

"Estelle. Please," Gramps begged in my mind.

"Get out of my head! Do not go there!" I yelled.

"All right, sorry, sorry. Please, you can't kill him," Gramps pleaded.

"Why not? He has done nothing but destroy our lives!" My grip tightened on his neck, his life force draining.

"He is..."

"He is what, Gramps! What?" I shouted, gripping tighter, Borin's eyes rolling to the back of his head.

"He is family!" Gramps yelled, sounding exhausted. "He is my brother." His voice was quiet. But I heard it. My mind snapped and I found myself come back from the dark place my mind had gone to.

What was I doing? I couldn't kill anybody.

I lowered my hand as his limp body fell to the ground.

Gramps went to him and felt for his pulse. "He'll live." He approached me cautiously, like I would hurt him. I didn't know what had come over me. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Gramps, I'm sorry. I don't– don't know what happened, it was like–" I stuttered, shocked, and looked down at my hands.

"I know, it's okay. You remember those side effects I was talking about?" He pointed at the necklace, slowly holding out his hand, "Why don't you give that to me?"

I reached back to unclasp it, but yelled, "OW!" A pulse of pain shot on my fingers as I whipped my hand to my chest. "I can't!"

Gramps reached over for the pendant, his fingers about to grab it, when he quickly retracted his hand, hissing in pain. "Hmm... this isn't good. We need to get you back home as soon as we can." He eyed the necklace like it was poison. Reed's groan distracted me and made me turn to him. He was still on the ground, rubbing his neck.

I ran over to him and asked, "Reed, are you okay?" He nodded. "Can you stand?" He placed his heavy arm over my shoulder as he pushed off from the ground.

"It's time." Gramps threw Borin's feeble body over his shoulder and headed for the merry-go-round, which started to move in an oscillating motion.

A faint blue light started to emerge from it, consuming the merry-go-round so all I saw was light.

This was it.

The two goodbyes I tried to hold off as long as possible were imminent. Reed and I stood by the light. I saw Kent a couple of feet away.

"Are you okay to stand?" I asked. He nodded and I took his arm off my shoulder. "I'll be right back." I headed to Kent, seeing the pain in his eyes already.

"I–I have to go, I–" I stuttered, but his long arms wrapped around my body quickly, cutting me off.

I felt his desire to never let me go.

I returned his embrace, squeezing tighter and tighter. We were so close, it was like we were one person.

After about a minute, I slowly let go, but didn't feel his grip loosen. I had to practically pry myself out of his arms. He leaned his forehead onto mine. I stared into those yearning green eyes. His face started to come closer, his lips almost touching mine.

Was he? Was he about to...?

I slowly pulled my head away. His eyes widened and he pulled back. My dad's voice echoed in my head, "You will have to choose. And seeing how they both look at you, they will be happy for you no matter what you do."

I really hoped he was right because at that moment, I knew who I chose and he did too.

"Kent, I–"

He cut me off, "Do you love me?" His eyes stared into mine, wanting the truth.

"What? Of course I do. You know I do! I love you so much, I don't know what I would do without you!" I defended.

"But you're in love with..." He stared over in Reed's direction, who was viewing us from a distance. I tilted my head down, knowing this newfound fact would crush him. "Well, it had to happen eventually. More power to him I guess," he said sadly. He shrugged trying to hide his discomfort.

I took his chin and moved it so his eyes drifted to mine. I swallowed hard at the emotion swirling in them. "Will you still stay by my side?" I rasped, my throat closing up.

He let out a small shuddered breath, "I don't think I will ever leave your side."

I placed my palm on his cheek and opened my mind, taking us to the memory of our first meeting. I saw his bright soul in his eyes; his mind finally open and letting me in. I felt his awe that someone would come help him when that bully Calvin was pushing him down. His love rapidly engulfed me when he said he wasn't going to leave my side.

"Whoa," Kent gasped. I took my palm away from his face, the memory ending. "How did you– this is real? You really are from another planet?"

"Actually, from another solar system too, at least that's what Gramps says." I teased.

"You're an alien!" Kent said, shock and awe in his voice. "I fell in love with an alien. Nobody is going to believe me."

I should have been shocked. I should have been flattered.

No. The alien didn't get me and neither did the professing of him falling in love. It was the fact that he wouldn't remember that sentence coming out of his mouth.

The pain in my chest stabbed me as I said, "Actually, you won't believe yourself either, remember?"

He grabbed me again, burying his head in my shoulder. "I don't want to forget you, Es. I love our memories. I love you." The pain in his voice was mixed with the shattering noises of his heart.

"I'm sorry, Kent, but if anything were to happen to you because of me, I couldn't live with myself," I whispered.

He slowly pulled away. "And who's gonna be by your side? Who's going to make sure nothing happens to you?"

"I'll have Gramps with me and I'm sure my alien mom won't let anything happen." It was a feeble attempt at humor.

"Estelle, we have to go!" Gramps yelled. He sure knew how to ruin a moment.

"Go." Kent said quickly. "You still have to let Reed know who you chose."

I glanced over at Reed, feeling butterflies in my stomach.

"I love you, Kent, and even though you're not by my side physically—" I pointed to my head and looked back at him "—you will always be here mentally." I gave him a kiss on the cheek and ran towards Reed, forcing myself not to look back.

"Estelle, come on!" Gramps yelled again.

"Hang on!" I snapped. I stood before Reed, his face apprehensive.

"What'd you tell Kent?" he asked quietly.

"That I loved him." I answered. His eyes fell as if I had stabbed him in the heart. "But..." I continued and his eyes regained strength. I can't believe I'm doing this. "I told him my heart belonged to someone else."

It all happened so fast, but once I said it, a brightness appeared in his eyes. He grabbed me by my waist and I felt his lips onto mine, his other hand cupping my face. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, feeling our lips meld as one. It was as if he was pouring years' worth of kisses into my mouth. The passion, the heat, the years of want, need, and must-haves ran and spiked all over my body.

His soft tongue sneaked into my mouth and gently brushed against mine. We pulled back at the same time, catching our breaths. I stared into his gentle blue eyes, taking in every curve, every detail, so I would never forget him. I kicked myself in the head for wasting all my time just being his friend. I could have had more, but it was too late.

He tucked loose strands of curls behind my ear. "I shouldn't have waited," his eyes wandered around my face, "I've been wanting to do that for years," he whispered.

"Reed, I–"

"Estelle, NOW!" Gramps shouted. All this pressure, it was too much to bear. There was so little time. So much I wanted to say.

"I love you, Reed." I whimpered and gave him one last small kiss on his lips and turned.

"I love you too, Estelle. Permanently." His voice in my head echoed as a tear ran down my cheek.

Fate. Please be kind.

Will he still remember me?

Will our first and last kiss be one and the same?

Please remember. Please be with me.

I took my place next to Larry.

He held onto my shoulder. "Don't let go of me," he said as we jumped into the bright blue light. My last vision was of Kent placing his hand on Reed's shoulder. They both looked up at me, and at that precise moment, both their bodies collapsed to the ground.

"Reed! Kent!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as I struggled against Gramps' grasp, but he only held tighter. "Wha– what happened? Are they okay?" I asked, panicking.

"They're fine. It's just Astra working her magic, don't worry." Gramps replied.

"You mean..." I started to still in his arms as his grip loosened.

"Yes, they will be safe. They won't remember you," he said softly.

The pang in my heart got bigger. My whole body felt like it was going to tear apart limb from limb. The ringing in my head was getting louder. The light was getting immensely bright.

I had to shut my eyes.

"We're here." The sound of Gramps' voice and a small squeeze on my back prompted me to open my eyes. My feet were on the ground and my stomach felt immediately queasy, but it was fading fast. I looked around and saw the familiar room from my dream. I was standing on the faint blue pad in the middle. I saw the big computer screen with the colorful buttons and by them, stood Astra, my mother.

My birth mother.

"Dad?" Her voice was angelic. She looked like she hadn't aged since my dream. She still had that beautiful, curly blond hair and a dark blue dress hugging her lavish curves.

"Astra!" Gramps dropped Borin on the ground and ran to her with open arms.

She collided in them, sobbing. "Look at you, Earth has aged you!" She felt around his face and hair.

"Oh come on. I'm not that old looking!" They both let out deep laughs. "And this..." Gramps paused and turned, holding out a hand towards me. Both their gazes went to me as I stepped off the pad. I tried to pat down my hair and smooth out my dress, trying to look more presentable as I met my real mother for the first time. "This is Estelle. Estelle, this is Astra, your birth mother."

She gently approached me like she was gliding on water. She stopped right in front of me, but not too close as to crowd me. I wanted to hug her so tight or leap into her arms, but I didn't know how she felt about me right then.

Her soft blue eyes skimmed me slowly, as if taking me in inch-by-inch, like she was making up for all the time she had missed. "Why, you are such a grown woman. May I?" she asked as she held out her arms.

I nodded and she took another step closer.

Before I knew it, I bounded into her arms and squeezed her tight. She smelled just like Gramps, a hint of lavender.

"Oh, my Estelle!" She gripped me close. "I have missed you. So much," she said softly, her voice cracking at the end.
Chapter 13

"Astra, I hate to ruin this but we need to get him to the prisons." Gramps pointed to Borin lying on the floor.

She lifted her head off of mine, but still kept me in her grasp. "Borin? How did he get out of Cremor?"

"I'm not sure, but he did and found us on Earth." Gramps answered.

"The shield must be weakening. I think you brought her just in time," she told him as she nodded.

"Yes, hopefully. But we need to get him to the holding cells fast. He will wake soon."

"Of course." She took a step away from me calling, "Kailor?" I looked over the direction she was speaking in. I didn't even notice another person in the room until he came out of the shadows. He had steel armor on his chest and legs. His hair was like a deep and dark smoky gray, not quite black, but not fully gray. His goatee, on the other hand, was more towards silver, complimenting his sculpted face. And his eyes... something about them... such a sheer cerulean color.

"Can you discreetly take Borin to the holding cells, then meet me back in my chambers?" Astra asked, but it sounded more like a command.

"Yes, Your Majesty." he answered. His voice was still, unemotional, but somehow... it made me feel at ease. He bowed his head and walked towards Borin's body and effortlessly swung him onto his shoulders, walking out the big doors leading out of the room.

"Here, we have much to talk about. We must keep your presence low key for now, though," Astra said. She untied a string from her neck revealing a dark blue cloak with a hood. She placed it around my neck and shoulders, raising the hood over my head.

We walked to the big steel doors, her grip on my shoulders taut. She cracked the door open and looked both ways. "Come," she ordered. Astra pulled me down a hallway with Gramps close to my back.

I couldn't see the sides—my peripheral vision blocked by the hood—but there were gold trimmings on the floor and extravagant designs on the walls in front of us. We climbed a spiraling staircase and went through a big golden door with blue accented jewels.

"All right, we're in the clear," Astra said. I pulled my hood down and looked around the vast bedroom we were in.

It was five times the size of my room back home. A huge king-sized bed sat in the middle with red drapes hanging from the intricately carved posts.

"Do you have my clothes, these don't exactly blend here." Gramps asked Astra, lifting a corner of his old gray shirt.

"Of course, when you contacted me, I laid some out in the bathroom, you can change there." Astra pointed.

He went into a door to the left.

"Come, Estelle." She led me to a beautiful vanity mirror, with a deep brown desk holding it in place. Astra pulled out the matching chair and I sat down. She ran her soft fingers down my curly black hair. "You have my curls I see." A proud smile came on her face as I watched her through the mirror in front of me.

"And Dad's black color," I added. Her smile fell and her lips curled confused.

"How do you know what your dad looks like?" she asked, looking at me through the reflection on the mirror.

"I had a dream," I answered, "I saw you and Dad when you had to leave me." Her eyes tightened. "And I saw Vega." I swallowed hard the more her body stiffened. "Are you sure I'm safe here?" I whispered.

"Of course, honey." Astra said quickly. "He has had some... time to cool down and he knows if he were to try and hurt you," her face went still in the mirror, "it would be after my body was cold and dead."

I gave a small nod, but didn't say anything back.

A moment passed between us before she cleared her throat and snapped out of whatever she was thinking. She took a brush from the table and started on my hair.

"Has he hurt you?" I asked and she paused her brushing.

"No. He would never hurt me," she said softly, then continued brushing. We heard two loud knocks from the golden doors.

"Who is it?" Her tone was not a question, more a dominant command. Her chin was held high as she stared at the door, her grip on the brush tightening. Something about her... the way her profile was strong, her eyes narrowed a fraction, her lips a hard line, and brows arched. I saw her as the queen she was and feared her for that brief moment.

"Kailor, Your Majesty." His voice came from the other side.

Her body relaxed an inch as she said, "Enter." The door slowly creaked open as he came in, quickly shutting it closed behind him. "Is he in the holding cell?" she asked.

His eyes skimmed to me, then back to Astra before answering, "Yes."

"Did anybody see you?"

"No, Your Majesty."

"Good." She turned her attention back to the mirror, her eyes softening. "Oh, let me get the clothes I picked out for you. You cannot prance in this, you will definitely draw attention that way." Her nose scrunched as she tugged at my sleeve. She walked across the room to another door on the right. "Kailor, do not let anyone enter this room while I'm gone." she dictated.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied, bowing his head graciously as she went through the door and left. I used the mirror to stare at the man by the doors.

His loyalty reminded me of someone. "Kailor, is it?" I asked.

His eyes perked up at my voice. "Yes, Princess." he answered. My eyes felt like they were going to pop out of my head at the word princess.

"Kailor, please call me Estelle." I corrected.

"Yes, Princess Estelle."

I rolled my eyes and saw a small smirk come upon his stoic face.

"Um..." I turned around. He stopped and looked away from me. He wanted to ask me something and I felt it without reading his mind. I stood up and walked to him. "If I am a Princess—" I cringed at the word "—then you have to do what I say, yes?" He nodded as his eyes twitched. "Okay, you want to ask me something, what is it?"

He skimmed the ground in front of me, then focused towards me, but couldn't look in my eyes. "Well, Princess," he started nervously, "did you happen to know a Re–Reed Powell I think it is?"

My heart ached at his name and I found my own eyes skimming the doors behind him. I missed him. Missed him so much. How did he know Reed? "Yes, he's..." I cleared my throat. "He was my best friend back on Earth. Why?"

His eyes twitched and he looked away, "Nothing, Your Highness."

I knew it wasn't nothing. Being a queen's daughter, I was going to take slight advantage of my power over him.

"Kailor, tell me why you are asking about Reed?"

His eyes shifted. "He– he–" His eyes went back and forth as he stuttered. He took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. He didn't say anything and I stood there, waiting.

Another moment of silence passed until he finally breathed, "He is my son, Your Majesty."

The words didn't quite register at first. Did I hear that right? I took a step back, almost falling. He reached out with his hand and grabbed my arm, balancing me. "Princess, are you all right?"

His worried look, his hair... eyes. I saw it now, the differences, but the similarities.

It all made sense.

I saw an older version of Reed. I knew why his voice eased me, it was just like his, but older— aged.

"What is going on here?" Astra's booming voice startled both of us. Kailor quickly let go of my arm.

"Nothing, Mom, we were just talking." I gasped, shocked that the word came out so naturally.

I saw it in her face. She felt the same way.

She shook it off quickly. "All right. Come here. I picked this out." She laid a dress on the bed, it was silver with splatters of dark blue and yellow all around, making it look almost 3D like. It was tight at the waist, but flowed freely below.

"It's beautiful!" I ran my fingers over the soft material.

"So, how do I look?" Gramps said, stepping out of the bathroom. A golden sash was across his chest over his dark suit. He looked like a person ready to lead an army.

"Wow, Gramps, you look dashing." I giggled as he stuck his tongue out at me.

"All right, you two." Astra walked over to him. "Dad, you look great, now come. We must announce your arrival to Vega. You know he hates surprises." She took hold of Gramps' elbow. "You change here, Estelle." She pointed at the bathroom. "I'll have Kailor stay with you until we get back, and don't worry, Kailor is my only trusted guard and also one of our strongest telepaths. He will guard you with his life—" she looked towards Kailor as he stared back "—as he has done for me." She smiled and he nodded his head in appreciation.

"Stay safe, kiddo, don't worry. Kailor is a good man." Gramps kissed me on my head and they walked out the door. I had no doubt in my mind that Kailor wouldn't let anything happen to me. If this is where Reed got his genes, I already felt safe. This also gave me a great opportunity to find out more about him and Reed. I went to the bathroom and left the door cracked so I could talk to him, since I knew he wasn't budging from that door.

"So you're Reed's dad?" I asked.

"Yes, Princess." he answered.

"So Reed is from here as well? He's from Valen?"

"Yes, Princess." His voice was monotone. I knew he didn't want to talk about him, but I wanted to hear more.

"Where is his mother?" I slipped out of my dress and started to slip into the new one.

"She died at his birth, Princess." I heard a slight crack in his voice.

"I'm sorry." I fitted my arms through the smooth short sleeves. "How did Reed get to Earth?" I looked at the mirror and reached for the zipper at the back.

"I sent him there, around the same time you went."

"Why?"

There was a small pause before he answered, "Queen Astra asked me to."

"What?" I snapped.

"She wanted someone there to protect you, so she asked me to send him there with you."

This made my blood boil.

She knew how it was to lose a child, yet she asked someone else to do it for her. At least my life had been in danger, she had to do it. Reed was just an innocent baby and she sent him there, separating a father from his only son. I stepped out of the bathroom in my new dress.

"What do you think?" I asked as I gave a small twirl, trying to hide my rising anger.

His eyes widened. "Beautiful," he whispered.

I looked in the vanity mirror and I didn't even recognize myself. The dress had a small train at the end. It showed my curves at my waist and bared my shoulders and neckline. I didn't look like an eighteen year old in high school.

I looked like royalty.

"Kailor, I'm sorry." I blurted out. He raised his brows. I approached him and took his hands into mine. "I'm sorry my mother made you give up your only son. I know what it's like to be away from your family."

Astra and Perseus didn't come to my mind. The first ones that did were Gabbi and Simon and their smiling faces.

His shoulders relaxed from his stiff posture. He took one hand that I held and placed it over mine. "Thank you, Princess."

"Your son was the best thing that happened to me." I sighed and held back the tears. "He's smart, honest, and has the greatest heart and soul. He is kind but he has strength as well. He did protect me and he never faltered. You would be proud of the man he is today."

He bit his lower lip and I could see a glaze form in his eyes, but all he said was, "Thank you, Princess."

"Actually he was– he was–" My hands gripped tighter on his. I was about to admit this out loud. My heart and mind wanted to deny it so I wouldn't have to live with the ache, but I had to accept it. I had to cope with it.

I took a deep breath and said, "He was the man I loved." I let out a long exhale. "And now he won't even remember me or anything we had between us." The tears pooled, blurring my vision at the bottom. An itchiness started to form in my throat and my nose started to clog. I closed my eyes and the tears flowed down my cheeks. That was it. I couldn't hold it back. I sobbed uncontrollably as my chest and knees started to feel heavy. I was about to fall, when I felt Kailor's arms hold me up.

"You listen." He shook me gently, as I looked up at him through my blurry vision. "He is my son and he loves you with all his soul, it doesn't matter who wipes his memories or that he's in another solar system. He will find a way back to you and he will remember you, no matter what."

I didn't believe him at first. I thought it was impossible.

"Do you hear me, Estelle?" He gave me another shake. "Say you believe me!" He was commanding, nothing like how he was when my mother was around, "Say it out loud, Estelle, say it!"

I managed my words through my sobs. "I-I-I believe you."

"Louder, Estelle, louder!" He gave me one more shake.

"I believe you!" I yelled, feeling my pain diminish. The feeling came back in my knees and I stood straighter as Kailor let go of my shoulders.

"That's it. Good job, Princess," he said, rubbing my head as I wiped my face.

"Oh come on, you weren't calling me Princess a second ago." I said, trying to humor him.

"I do not know what you are talking about, Princess." His posture stiffened and he was back to his monotone voice.

"Tell me, do you always act like this—" I pointed at his posture "—around my mom?"

"Of course, Princess, she is Queen," he answered sternly.

"So, you two never relax together or anything?" I prodded.

"No."

"You relaxed with me." I pointed out.

He eyed me and then relaxed his shoulders. "You're different, Princess," he said softly.

"Different how?" I asked, lifting my brow.

"You know my son and..." his eyes roamed over my shoulder, "...you know what it's like to be away from someone you love." That made my heart ache for him, but at the same time, brought a smile to my face. I was glad I'd made friends already on Valen, even though it was Reed's dad.

"Well, all right, behind closed doors, Kailor, I want you to just call me Estelle, and I want you to act how you normally act, not this." I pointed at his stiff posture again. "It'll be our secret," I whispered, and he gave me a wink in agreement.

Kailor had Reed's presence.

Knowing that, I knew he would always somehow be with me.
Chapter 14

After some time passed, Kailor finally fully relaxed. I sat on the bed with my legs crossed, as Kailor sat on the bench at the end of the bed, laughing and telling me jokes that would happen around the royal grounds. I also told him funny memories of Reed and what happened throughout his childhood. It was amazing on how we fell into a pattern like we had been friends for years. He threw his head back, his laugh reminding me so much of Reed. It helped with the pain in my heart.

He stopped suddenly.

The door creaked slightly open.

Kailor's face was right across from me, then in a blink, he was at the door, looking like he was ready to kill whoever came through; hands formed in fists, shoulders stiff, and legs slightly bent.

My heart jumped faster as the door opened wider. His posture noticeable relaxed and he stepped aside as Astra and Gramps came through. Their expressions were bleak, as they mumbled in conversation. Kailor's demeanor that I worked so hard on to unwind, went back to his taut posture and stoic expressions.

"Mom, Gramps, you're back!" I hopped off the bed and straightened out my dress.

"Oh, Estelle, you look beautiful." Mom sighed and spun me around.

"Well what do you know, you do look like a Princess!" Gramps teased.

"What happened? What took so long?" I asked, worried.

Astra grunted in irritation and sat down in front of her vanity mirror and started brushing her long locks.

"Well, it seems Vega knows you're here already." Gramps mumbled and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Damn Vega and all his spies. He makes me so...!" Astra let out a hard grunt and tossed her hair over one shoulder, brushing viciously.

"So what does this mean?" I asked, watching her brush harder and harder.

"He's called over Eula and Dawkins already so we can discuss terms," she sounded like she was mocking what he said, cringing on the last word.

I tilted my head and asked, "Who's that?"

"Queen Eula and Prince Dawkins, they're from Galas," Gramps answered as he stepped by Astra and placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her.

"Galas? Where my dad is? Perseus?" My voice hiked in excitement.

"Don't get too excited. Perseus hasn't been on our grounds since..." Gramps paused as he looked over at Astra.

She placed her brush back on the table and finished for him, saying softly, "Since he left with you." She glanced in the mirror, staring into her eyes like she was reliving the memory. "Vega would kill him in an instant if he ever found him back here." Her eyes went tight as they filled with pain.

I couldn't miss the tension filling the air, so I changed the subject, "So this Eula and Dawkins are his wife and son?"

"Well, stepson, actually." Gramps corrected. "He lost his first wife, then remarried someone with a son already, to be the heir to Galas." Gramps gave her shoulder a small rub.

"But really!" Astra shouted, leaping from her chair, jolting Gramps' back. "You are the heir to Galas and Valen! Damn that bitch!" She started to pace around the room.

"Astra hates Queen Eula." Gramps pointed out, waving at her behavior.

"Really? I couldn't tell." I laughed quietly, seeing how blatant her jealously was.

"She is cold and evil," Astra muttered, still pacing, "how could Perseus marry that? Oh and that son of hers, how can she expect Estelle to marry him?"

Once those words left her mouth my body took a step towards her and I couldn't help but yell, "Whoa– marry?"

"Astra," Gramps scolded as Astra tucked her lips in, as if she'd said too much.

"What do you mean marry?" I yelled again.

"I'm sorry, Estelle, but that's why we are meeting with them tomorrow. To discuss these conditions." Astra said hesitantly, folding her hands in front of her.

"And what are these conditions?" I asked, crossing my arms and trying not to snap.

"Well," Astra shifted her body nervously, "that Dawkins would marry you, reuniting our planets and stopping this never-ending war. Thereby strengthening the shield on Cremor."

"Cremor?" I voiced, confused. What was she talking about?

"Oh yes, there's a problem, Astra," Gramps interrupted, pointing at my necklace. "It won't come off."

"What do you mean it won't come off?" Astra scoffed. She walked over to me and reached over to rip the pendant off my neck. Before she even made contact, she withdrew her hand back, her face scrunching like she was just burned. Her eyes widened and the shock on her face started to form into terror. "No, no, it can't be." She reached for it again, jumping back at the pain once more.

A little electric charge surged through my chest every time someone tried to take it. I grunted, "What is going on? What is this?" I pointed at it.

"Your Majesty, may I?" Kailor's voice came from behind me.

She nodded her head; fear, anger, and other emotions going through her face so fast, I couldn't make them out.

I remember her saying he was one of the most powerful telepaths. Maybe he would be able to do it? He reached his hand slowly to the pendant, right where the tip of his finger hovered over it. I watched his face as I felt the charge through my chest. His eyes twitched, but I could tell he was hiding it.

He didn't stop.

He got closer... closer... and the feeling in my chest started to burn harder, but I ignored it. His forefinger finally touched it.

My chest sizzled and burned, getting stronger and spreading through my whole body in one full swoop. I winced and felt like my knees would cave, but I didn't dare move. I held my breath and sucked it up.

"Stop it, Kailor. It can kill you!" Astra's voice yelled from behind me.

"Almost..." He struggled as he tried to hold back the pain that was growing on his face. His eyes locked with me, only for a second, but I saw it. I saw his need to protect, his need do whatever it takes, no matter the consequence.

Just when I thought he could get it, fire came on full force inside me and stabbed in my chest. I couldn't hold it anymore, I screamed, but bit my lip. Another finger almost wrapped around it, until the pain grew sharper and sharper, as if someone was pulling my lungs out of my chest.

I started gasping for air.

"Stop, you'll kill her!" Gramps gripped Kailor's shoulder making him let go and jump back. He rubbed his reddened hand as steam floated off of his finger.

"Go to the bathroom. Clean up," commanded Astra. Kailor did not hesitate and did what she said, giving my pendant one more hard glare before he disappeared into the bathroom.

"Are you all right?" Gramps asked, leading me to the bed so I could sit down.

My chest allowed me to breathe and the sharpness was gone. "What was that? It felt like– like..." I couldn't describe it, so I took another breath and placed my hand over it.

"When did you give this to her, Dad?" Astra asked, angry and scared at the same time.

"A couple of hours before her eighteenth birthday, why?" Gramps answered.

"It has bonded with her faster than I had expected." Astra's eyes started to dart back and forth as she rubbed her hands together. "We need to get her to repair the shield and get it back to where it belongs."

"Will someone please tell me what this is?" I snapped, looking back and forth between them.

They gave each other a gaze, then each of them released a heavy sigh.

"This is one of three pendants that holds our shield on Cremor up." Astra started, her eyes falling on my neck.

"Cremor?" I whispered.

"Cremor is the third planet in our solar system. Unlike yours that has multiple planets, ours has only three, Valen, Galas, and Cremor. Cremor holds our banished prisoners. But when Dad took one of them to give to you to help with your powers, it seems that it weakened the shield and some have been able to escape. If we leave it off any longer, the shield will soon fully die, leaving us vulnerable to Cremor's revenge. Not only will we have to worry about war with Galas, but add Cremor on top of that. It is too much." Astra tilted her head in worry. "Look, don't worry your head about any of this." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "We will get this all straightened out tomorrow. Get some rest. Kailor will stand guard outside."

"You're not staying with me?" I pleaded.

She pointed across the room. "This is one of my many chambers. I'll be in the one right next to you and Dad will be in the other. Get rest, you will need it. It's a big day tomorrow." She kissed me on the head and I found myself alone as Gramps left with her.

I walked into the door where my mom went to get the dress and found a whole array of clothes. It was a another whole room housing different types of dresses in different colors and styles. I walked around, ruffling them with my hands as I walked by. I turned to the other side, looking for anything that resembled pajamas.

I am not going to sleep in this dress.

I found white drawers at the bottom and opened them, getting a plain t-shirt and silky pants. They would have to do. I walked out of the closet and closed the door. I headed for the bathroom, but Kailor was nowhere in sight. I stared at the big golden doors. I knew he stood on the other side. Could he stay awake all night? If he was, he might as well talk to me more.

I slowly creaked the door open and found him facing me asking quickly, "Everything all right, Princess?"

"How did you–" I stopped and rolled my eyes and snapped my fingers. "Right, telepath, huh?"

"Actually, you're pretty noisy. I don't need to be telepathic to hear you." He gave a smirk as I gasped at his comment.

"Ha-ha, very funny!" I peeked my head out the door and looked to see the clear hallways. "Are you going to stay awake all night?"

"This is an unusual request, she typically dismisses me by now, but since you're here, I guess I'm working double time." He gave a small shrug.

"Well that's ridiculous. Come on in." I opened the door wider for him to enter.

He looked around and shuffled his feet. "I don't know, Princess, I don't think Queen Astra will like this."

"What? You're not leaving me. You're actually keeping me safer by being in the room. Plus, I'll deal with her when the time comes."

He gave an amused smile and walked in, closing the door behind him. I went over to the bed and made myself comfortable under the covers. He took the chair by the vanity and sat down by my head. He looked like he was my dad about to read me a bed time story. "What would you like to talk about, Princess?"

"Uh-uh!" I teased as I wiggled my finger at him. "Remember our secret."

He let out a small, annoyed grunt. "Estelle," he said reluctantly, accompanied by an eye roll.

"Better." I remembered about his hand and looked down at his bandaged hand resting on his knee. "How's your hand?"

He flicked it in the air as if it wasn't hurt. "Fine, Estelle, don't worry. I heal quickly as well. It'll be gone by tomorrow."

"Does everybody heal quickly here?" I shifted side to side in bed, trying to get comfortable.

"Usually, but I am one of the faster healers."

"Well, tell me about this Cremor." I finally shifted on my side to face him.

"What would you like to know?" He folded his hands in his lap.

"Well, so they banish criminals there– all criminals?"

"Not all, minor crimes can stay here, but the unforgivable crimes, yes."

"And who takes care of them?"

"Takes care of them?" He tilted his head in question.

"Yeah, like gets them food or locks them up. You know?" I guessed by his answer, it wasn't like prisons on Earth.

"I don't understand?" He wiggled his head slightly, still confused.

"Are you telling me you just banish people there on an abandoned planet?" I asked, shocked.

"Well yes, although by now they probably have a society or something like that. That's probably why they keep growing in numbers and try to break our shield. They want out to wage war on us."

"And this thing—" I pointed at the necklace still attached to me "—keeps up a shield around it or something?"

"Yes, it holds powers from our ancient ancestors. It keeps a barrier around it to keep them in. That is one of three pendants, since it went missing, the Cremorians keep trying to break down the weakened shield."

Silence stayed for a couple of seconds. Kailor watched me, his face stoic, but I could tell he was trying to gauge my reaction.

"I understand why I had to come here," I cleared my throat, "because they knew I was on Earth. But why do I feel as though I was brought back for more." I prodded.

Kailor leaned forward in his chair, "Estelle, do you want the truth?" Those deep, worry-filled blue eyes were keenly on mine.

How they reminded me of Reed so much.

I nodded, swallowing hard.

He leaned back and sighed. "Vega let you come back here because he wants to marry you off to Dawkins and unite our planets together. It is a good thing, but he is only doing it in preparation for the battle with Cremor. He only wants to be united with Galas for their soldiers. Otherwise, he could care less about Galas."

"Because my mom cheated on him with Perseus?" I added.

"It's more complicated than that." Kailor shifted in his seat and stared at the end of my bed. "They couldn't have kids. They tried for years for an heir, yet nothing. During that time, Perseus and Vega were close friends and that was the time when Perseus' Queen, Dara, died of an illness, so Perseus was here all the time. Vega didn't give Queen Astra the attention she needed, but Perseus was always there for her. Vega had lots of obligations with Valen so Perseus kept her company. Of course, they fell in love and started their affair." His eyes shifted across the room as if he was watching a story unfold in front of him.

He continued, "When Astra got pregnant, Vega saw it as a miracle and hosted a huge banquet for their new child. Long story short, Perseus snapped at the event and told the truth, that it was his child, not Vega's. Vega was so furious and, well..." His eyes finally moved to mine. "I think you know the rest."

I gave a small nod and whispered, "They had to send me away. Otherwise he would have killed me."

"Yes, and that's when the war started. The tension has dwindled the past couple of years since Perseus married his new queen and assigned her son as his heir."

"Am I going to have to marry this—" I looked up and around the room "—what was his name—Dawkins?"

Kailor's jaw ticked. "Hopefully your mom will put an end to that tomorrow."

My eyes started to get heavier. My mind and body were already exhausted.

"Kailor, I don't want to marry him." My voice was drifting, "I love... Reed." And the room was dark.

*

I found myself back at my sanctuary: the playground.

My face grew with a smile. "Am I back on Earth?" I looked straight ahead at the merry-go-round. It had a body on it as it gently swayed. I took a couple of steps forward, my steps startling the person, who quickly sat up and stopped me in my tracks.

My heart jumped and it was like the air got sucked out of me.

His face was breathtaking.

His soft hair blew in the wind as his questioning blue eyes stared into mine.

"Reed!" I ran toward him as he stood up and took a step back. I stopped in my tracks just a couple of feet from him, placing my open arms back to my side. "Reed?"

"Who are you?" The worst possible question escaped his lips.

The lips I wanted to kiss over and over again.

"Reed, don't you remember me?" I took a small careful step towards him, "Estelle." I pointed to my chest as I searched his eyes for any familiarity.

All I found was curiosity and skepticism. "Estelle?" he whispered. "Tell me," he spoke louder. "Why do I keep seeing your face? Why are you in my dreams? Who are you?" His tone was harsh, but unsure at the same time.

"You've seen my face?" My voice was filled with hope. Kailor's voice rang in my head, "He is my son and he loves you with all his soul, it doesn't matter who wipes his memories or that he's in another solar system, he will find a way back to you and he will remember you, no matter what."

"I don't know," he whispered. His eyes were piercing into mine. I kept looking, for anything... any hope at all, but I didn't see any of the love from before. His longing gaze, his affection every time he looked at me. No, none of it was there. All I could see was flustered confusion with a hint of pity and concern.

"It haunts me sometimes," he said softly, breaking me out of my trance. He took a step closer. I kept still, not wanting to frighten him or wake up if this was really a dream. I could feel and smell his breath as he came only inches away from me, staring harder into my eyes.

I lifted my chin to get a better angle of him.

He hasn't changed; his chiseled features, his soft hair, that nose, and those pink lips I wanted to feel again. I wanted to grab him and never let go. It was taking every ounce of strength to hold my body back. He carefully lifted his hand and paused it at my face.

Something sparked.

The heat. The air, whatever it was... I felt it.

The love.

The charge we have always had.

That damn hand. I've missed that hand. I looked at it, then back at him and slowly nodded. His warm palm slowly fell onto my cheek. I inched my hand up and placed it on his. Oh how I yearned more for his touch to be all over me. It had felt like centuries since I had seen him.

"Estelle," he whispered my name as if he'd never heard it before.

"I've missed you, Reed," I whispered hoarsely, holding back the tremble in my voice. A tear fell effortlessly from my eye and rolled in between his fingers and mine.

"Have we met before?" he whispered again as I opened my mouth.

YES! YES!

Reality hit me.

I stopped myself from answering.

Gramps' voice was ringing in my head about our enemies searching his head for any memory of me. If they found this in his head, him knowing my name, would he be in danger?

Did I just put him in danger?

Would they kill him?

My mind, consumed with love for him, quickly turned to terror and anxiety. I found myself taking a step back, his touch falling from my face. I was slowly shaking my head before I knew what was happening.

His eyes twitched and I saw that familiar burn that he wanted me. He followed me. I took more steps back and placed my hand up for him to stop.

"Wait!" He reached out his hand, "What are you doing? I finally found you." he said, desperate and begging.

He made my heart ache.

I wanted him.

I longed for him. He knew he loved me, but didn't know why. Kailor was right: he would do everything to get to me, to remember, and in the process, he would put himself in peril.

"No," I swallowed hard, "you don't know me." I could barely get the words out from my lips. They left a horrible, poisonous taste in my mouth.

His eyebrows creased. He shook his head, arguing, "No, you're wrong. I know, I know you. Why are you lying to me?"

"Don't." I looked away as he swiftly wrapped his arms around me, his hand on my head and his arm tight on my waist. It took every bit of my strength to move my head back, keeping his lips from touching mine.

His breath was heavy on my face as he said, "Estelle was it?"

"Reed," I warned, "don't."

He moved his hand from my head and slowly trailed it down to my cheek. "I–I don't know why your face is in my head, it comes in shadows, an ear here, an eye there, until I can put them all together in my mind, like solving a puzzle." His head leaned down closer to me, his thumbing slowly going back and forth over my cheek. "Now I have you in front of me. You're even more beautiful than I could have imagined." He inhaled slowly, then let it out. "I don't know what's come over me, but I know I don't want to let you go." His hands tightened on me. "Ever."

"Reed, I–" His lips were on mine, stopping me. I couldn't move.

I wanted to pull away, to tell him he was in danger for even knowing me, but I couldn't. The spark and our energy gravitating towards one another made it impossible to break. His taste, his lips, the soft skin, and the feeling of being alive and loved... it was perfect. I embraced him harder, pulling him in closer. I ran my fingers through his hair while his velvet tongue danced with mine.

I savored every feeling.

Every taste.

Every moment.
Chapter 15

I gasped for air as I launched myself from the bed, panting, looking around at my surroundings. I was alone in the big room with the golden doors.

I had woken up.

My lips yearned for Reed's again.

It felt so real.

I brought my fingers to my lips, grazing the bottom. Even my lips felt a little swollen. I glanced at the chair next to my bed and Kailor was gone. I couldn't tell if it was late at night or early in the morning. There were no windows in the room.

"Kailor?" I called out.

No answer.

"Kailor!" I yelled, frantic now. I didn't want to be alone. The door creaked and he rushed to my side.

"Estelle, what's the matter? Are you okay?" He placed his hand on my head, inspecting me.

Relief washed over me. "Kailor, can– can we communicate telepathically through dreams?" I asked.

"Why? What happened?" He sat down at the edge of my bed.

"Can we?" I asked again.

"Yes, we can, but that's even hard for the most advanced telepaths. It's hard to communicate with someone when they are unconscious, let alone when all their brain waves are in overdrive while they're dreaming."

"I dreamt of Reed." I blurted out as his eyes tightened. "It felt so real! It was like I was back on Earth, but he didn't remember me," I babbled.

"Are you saying you communicated with my son?" he asked, his voice rising with each word.

"I–I think so. I don't know. It could have just been a dream." I shrugged.

He stood up and placed his hands behind his back. "That is impossible. That's–that's– you don't understand how impossible that is!" He waved his arms out. "That is a power only our ancient ancestors possessed, which are consumed in the..." He paused and stared down at my neckline. "We really do need to get that off of you." His eyes became hard.

"Kailor, why do I feel like nobody is telling me the truth about this." I placed my finger on the pendant around my neck.

He faced his back towards me and said, "It's late, go back to sleep, Estelle. I'll wake you when it's time to meet with the others." He headed for the door.

"Wait!" I reached my hand out. "Will you stay with me?" I whispered.

He paused, his stiff disposition subsiding. He turned back and sat down in the chair, folding his hands in his lap. "Yes, Princess."

"It wasn't a command, it was a question, Kailor. I'm not going to make you stay." My voice was tinged with sadness that he would think I would command that of him.

"I'm sorry," he said with a sigh. "I want to stay. Go back to sleep, Estelle." He leaned forward in his chair, tipped my chin up, and gave a genuine smile.

I slowly laid my head back on my pillow, closing my eyes as I drifted off into my dreams once more.

I fluttered my eyes open, seeing Kailor asleep beside me in the chair. He looked so peaceful. I heard muffled voices from the other side of the door.

"Kailor!" Astra's controlling voice yelled on the other side.

"Shit!" I jumped out of bed and shook his shoulders. "Kailor! Kailor! Wake up!" His eyes slowly rose, those blues peeking out, but then they started to slowly close again. I was about to call out to him, but in a second, they quickly flew open in surprise that he'd fallen asleep.

"Kailor!" Astra started to open the golden doors. Kailor bounced from his chair, causing me to fall back on the bed, his chair falling to the floor.

His posture was immobile as he said, "Yes, Your Majesty." He bowed his head, as she entered the room and closed the door.

"Kailor, what are you doing in here?" Astra asked, demanding.

I saw a small bead of sweat fall from the back of his neck as he was about to answer, "I–"

"Sorry, Mom," I cut him off quickly, standing up from the bed and stepping between them. "I heard weird noises and asked him to stay here with me. He knew he wasn't supposed to leave his post, but I insisted."

Her eyes were judgmental before she relaxed and stared at me. "I suppose that's all right." She tucked some disheveled hair behind my ears before glaring back at Kailor. "Kailor, you are dismissed for now. Go get some rest, Dad and I can take it from here." Kailor turned and headed for the door. "I do expect you to report by our side at our scheduled meeting, promptly." she added.

He paused and bent his head, answering calmly, "Of course, Your Majesty." He turned in my direction, "Princess." He gave a bow then glided out of the room.

"All right, dear, we have much to do. Go take a shower. I need to have you looking presentable at our meeting." She walked into the closet room to pick out my attire.

I did what she said. When I came out, I found my mother placing brushes and makeup on the vanity table and a dress resting on my bed. "Come," she said, her hand beckoning me as the other held out the chair for me to sit. She took the towel I was using for my hair and started massaging my head and drying my hair.

It felt so surreal. I never imagined my mother doing my hair or my makeup. "Mom, you won't force me to marry Dawkins, right?" I voiced.

She took the brush and started to frame my hair. "I will do all that I can."

Huh? She didn't say no.

"Did you know Reed? Kailor's son?" I asked as she switched to a comb.

"Only for a little while." She focused on my hair as she went up and down slowly.

"Why did you do it?" I asked, but with a small scold in my tone.

I watched her eyes freeze and look at me in the mirror. "Do what?" Her lips went to a hard line.

I huffed and gave more specifics, "Why did you make Kailor send his only son with me?"

She let out a deep sigh. "I see you have been chatting a lot with him." Her tone was displeased.

"Mom," I said as I turned to face her, not her reflection. "You made him give up his only son when you knew how it felt to lose a child."

Her lips curled as she crouched down to have her eyes meet mine as she said unabashed, "Estelle, you are what matter to me and I will do whatever it takes and all that is in my power to keep you safe. Do you hear me?" Her demeanor changed, her eyes became callous. She wasn't my mother anymore. She was a queen. "I don't care about anyone else but you, and I will do whatever I have to do to keep you safe. Understand?" I got the feeling that Astra was hiding more than she revealed.

I nodded.

"Good." She took my shoulders and turned me back to the mirror. "Now let's see what we can do here." She started to put my hair in different up-dos and started with my makeup.

I kept silent and still.

This woman was not a mother to me. I didn't know how, or maybe it was my newfound psychic abilities, but I could sense she had lies and dark secrets. I didn't trust her any longer. All I knew was that I could trust Kailor. I didn't even know if I could trust Gramps any longer.

My mind was spiraling with all this doubt.

I wished Reed and Kent were there. That was always one thing I could count on with them— trust.

What felt like hours later, Astra was finally done with my hair and face. She'd braided the sides of my front layers and pinned them to the back, placing a silver loop with a blue gem in the middle, matching the one on her head, on top of mine. My face looked like a perfect canvas. My eyes popped with faint pinks and purples and my eyelashes were bigger than I'd ever seen them. My lips looked fuller, with a hint of a shiny pink glitter.

I hardly recognized myself.

"And put this on," she said, holding out a dress. It was golden and it was light and flowing, with shimmering sparkles at the bottom, distracting me from the low neckline. I went into the bathroom and changed. It had no zipper or buttons at the back; it was more like a corset. I stepped out and Astra immediately turned me around and started tying up the back.

Her fingers pulled at the ties until the dress was snug on my waist and chest. "All done." She turned me to face her and her eyes lit up with joy. "Exquisite." I went to the vanity mirror and didn't know who the woman staring back at me was.

I didn't want to be a princess. I wanted to be me.

I wanted to be back on Earth where I belonged.

"Do you like it?" she asked as her eyes beamed at me.

"It's beautiful... Mother." I said stoically. If she was going to keep lying to me, I could lie too.

"All right, come. We need to go to the conclave room. Eula and Dawkins will be arriving soon." She took my arm and placed it around her elbow. "Now remember, only speak when spoken to and don't worry about Vega. He is challenging but he will not do anything to you, so don't be threatened by him." I nodded at everything she said. I knew I could take care of myself. Vega, or anybody else on this planet, did not scare me.

My mission had changed.

At the first chance I got, I was going back to Earth, and no one would stop me. Not even my mother. I held my chin high and envisioned myself as a princess. She opened the golden doors and we found Gramps standing outside.

His gray, blue eyes looked over at me as they brightened, "Estelle, you look ravishing." He held out his elbow for Astra to take as she let go of mine. I stared up at the tall ceiling that had beautiful art painted on it. We were heading for the stairs and found Kailor climbing up them.

"Kailor, I thought I told you to meet us at the conclave?" Astra stated.

He tipped his head down submissively as he said, "Well, I thought you both would be safer if I accompanied you as well." He eyed me, then Astra before adding, "Your Majesty."

"Hmmm," she hummed. I could tell her tone was displeased with him for not following orders. Somewhere in her mind she was debating how to punish him. I could never read her mind or anyone else's, but I could feel my body sensing surges around me.

"Mom, I would like him to accompany me." I spoke up.

She bent her head in my direction and flicked her wrist, "Very well."

Kailor immediately went to my side and offered his arm. I took it with great pleasure and rubbed his hand as we followed Gramps and Astra down the extensive, polished spiraling staircase. I looked down and saw multiple servants and staff wandering the halls. I kept getting quick glances and stares as they walked by below us. I squeezed Kailor's arms in unease over this new environment and all the new people.

"You will be all right, Estelle. I won't leave your side," Kailor's voice echoed in my mind. I looked up at him, his face unaltered.

"You're the first person I've heard in my mind since Earth," I spoke back, but tried to keep my attention forward.

"That's because no one dares to try and enter your mind, or they will feel the wrath of the queen."

"You're being daring." I gave a slight smirk, continuing down the stairs, hoping not to fall with these new wedged shoes I had on.

"Well hopefully, Princess, you will not tattle on me." I could hear the smile.

"Of course not, I actually like talking to you this way, makes me feel closer to you."

"And I you, Estelle. We shouldn't talk long, Astra will be able to sense this."

And the feeling of his kind mind was out of my head. I longed for honesty and trust. I couldn't take all the lies everyone gave me. We passed a couple of turns and went down long hallways. Each person bowed their head as we passed. We came upon two big steel doors with two guards standing by them. They opened them quickly with their minds. I looked back as they slammed shut behind us. There in front of us was a long red carpet leading to two golden thrones. One was occupied by a familiar face.

Vega.

He hadn't changed much at all; his beard was still thick and lush and his hard eyes focused on me as we approached. We all stopped just in front of the four steps that led to the thrones. Astra let go of Gramps and took her place next to him.

"Bow your head. Now." I did as Kailor said as he quickly exited my mind. All three of us now bowed in unison.

"Vega, you know Bevin." Astra said, lifting her hand to Gramps.

Bevin? I had to make an internal snort, I like Larry better.

"Kailor." Astra continued, pointing to him. Her hand came to my direction, "And this, Vega, is my daughter, Estelle."

I gulped as his eyes looked through me and a wave of spite and animosity slammed into me.

He rubbed his coarse beard as he judged me.

Silence filled the room.

Tension grew thicker and thicker the longer those dark brown eyes roamed every inch of me. I didn't have to guess, or read his mind. He was an open book; he had no respect for me, harshly critiquing every part of my body, and all without hiding his complete disdain that I was before him.

He finally spoke while still assessing me, "Take your places, Eula and Dawkins will be here soon."

Gramps went to the side of Astra just at the bottom of the steps. Kailor took the first steps, guiding me where to go. My skin crawled still feeling Vega's stare. He stood by Gramps, but held my hand up toward the direction of Astra. I went on the first step and looked down at him questioningly. He stared back up at me and nudged his head toward Astra's side. Even without reading minds, I knew what he meant. I let go of his hand and stood next to Astra's throne. The metal doors quickly opened and something like trumpets blared into the air.

"Announcing Queen Eula and Prince Dawkins!" one of the guards yelled from outside the room.

From the shadows of the door, a woman stepped into the light and onto the red carpet. She had bright red hair that was up in an intricate bun, held up by a silver loop with a red gem blending with her hair. I recognized it as the same one Perseus had on in my dream. She had a tight slender gray dress on that accented her full hips and legs. She held her nose in the air as she scanned the room, her green eyes glinting with suspicion. Two guards stepped by each of her sides, with different armor and attire than what Kailor wore. They had a huge crest symbol in the middle of their clothes. I was assuming it represented Galas.

Another man came into the light and stood by her.

I couldn't breath.

I fumbled in my shoes, as I used the throne to steady myself. Astra looked at me through the corner of her eyes. I shook my head and composed myself, all the while everything in my head and body was screaming.

I couldn't let her know anything anymore. I had to keep this to myself, or at least tell Kailor later. This was going to bother me until the ends of the Earth.

There he stood, his black hair hovering over his eyes, his dark brown eyes scanning the room until they found mine. His detailed gray suit showcased his carved biceps and forearms.

A frosted smile appeared on his face.

Dennis.
Chapter 16

They walked toward us, Dennis' eyes never leaving mine. I found my eyes on Kailor, who saw the horror in my face while my chest rose and fell as I inhaled from my nose. His eyes aimed at Dawkins as if he knew something was wrong. I placed my attention back on Dennis as they stopped at the bottom of the stairs and bowed in unison.

"Eula! Great to see you!" Vega greeted and stepped down from his throne, approaching Eula, as she gave him two pecks on each cheek. Vega turned towards him, "Dawkins!" They gave each other hard gripped handshakes.

"Pleasure." Eula spoke unamused. How could Perseus go from my mom, to that? I knew my mom had dark secrets but it was nothing like the vibe I was getting from Eula.

She reeked of promiscuity and the same ruthlessness as Vega.

"King Vega, I see your beard is growing thicker by the second!" Dennis complimented. I held in the scoff I wanted to yell. He always knew how to charm.

"Estelle." Vega called, waving for me to come down without even looking at me. I lifted my dress slightly as I carefully went down the stairs and stood by Vega's side, facing Dennis.

"This is Queen Eula and her son Prince Dawkins." Vega introduced, still not looking at me.

Dennis took my hand and brought it to his lips, "Enchanted."

YOU LIAR!

I wanted to scream at him. I wanted to take my hand and smack it in his face but I couldn't. I could feel my power growing. "Prince Dawkins." I gritted, emphasizing the 'D' and tilting my head.

"Well, I see you two have a lot to catch up on," Vega said. "Why don't we leave these two love birds alone and we can go and talk more?" He turned from us. "Astra!" He motioned for her as she went to his side and took his hand. They started to head to a smaller metal door at the left of the thrones.

"Kailor, accompany Estelle and Prince Dawkins." Astra called out and Kailor was immediately behind me.

"Oh come on, Astra, does he really need to spy on them?" Vega protested.

"Keep your distance, but don't leave her out of your sight." Astra's voice was final and Vega gave a surrendered sigh as they went into the other room with Gramps and Eula following.

Kailor took a couple of forced steps back.

"A little more, Kailor." Dennis commanded, waving his hand. I could feel the stabbing looks Kailor gave Dennis but did as he asked and moved much farther behind us. "Shall we?" He offered his arm. I rolled my eyes and took it as he led me to another door that led us to a dining room for at least thirty people. It had a long table that took up almost the whole room, surrounded with chairs.

"We'll be right in there," Dennis said, "you can wait out here." He was about to slam the door in Kailor's face, when it stopped and forced itself open.

His powered waves flooded around us as he held the door open while I stood in the room, a couple of feet from Dennis.

"I have my orders not to let her out of my sight." Kailor warned. This was the first time I'd heard him convey a forceful tone. I was used to him taking orders, not refusing them.

"She's not out of your sight, she's in this room, with nowhere to go," Dennis argued. "Now, I hope I don't have to go tell my mother about this incident." He glared at the door he swung open.

Kailor's mouth twitched. His gaze was on me as he spoke in my mind, "You call me if anything happens, Princess."

I nodded as Dennis closed the door with ease.

"Geez, to get some alone time here is killer, right?" He approached me as the same Dennis I knew on Earth.

That made this easier to do.

I took my hand and threw it as hard as I could at his cheek. Oh yes. That sharp sound of a smack filled my ears. The sting on my palm is so worth it.

His head flew to the side as he fumbled back, confused, "What the– come on, Estelle. I thought you'd be happy to see me!"

"Happy?" I yelled, letting out a disgusted laugh. "To see you!" I let out another angry sigh, "Are you kidding me? You knew, didn't you? You knew who I was when we first met!"

"Shh..." Dennis held out his arms, pushing down and scanning the room, "Careful, Es. You need to make sure no one knows we know each other."

"Don't call me that," I hissed, ignoring his warning.

"Why not, it's not like Reed or Kent are here." His words stabbed me in the heart. My patience was getting low and my blood was boiling.

My power was growing again. My need to throw him against the wall was the same feeling I felt with Borin.

I wanted to kill him.

"Don't you say their names." I snapped. "You have no idea what we have been through." The surge in my hands started to pulse as I was ready to toss him around this room like a leaf in a harsh storm.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Estelle." He held his hands up in surrender. "I shouldn't have said any of that. I'm sorry." He carefully walked toward me, reaching out for me.

"Don't touch me," I growled, taking a step back. I had to regain myself.

"What's wrong?" he asked, but then he gasped quickly. He pointed, "Estelle, your eyes."

Shit.

"Hang on," I told him while I tilted my head down. "I-I- just– give me a minute. I don't want to hurt you." I didn't know what was going on with my eyes but I shut them and imagined my ten-year-old self back at the playground, turning on the merry-go-round with Reed and Kent beside me.

Pure innocence and laughter. Pure kindness.

I felt my body secure. My heart started to slow. The energy dissipated from my hands. I relaxed my tight fists and opened my eyes, finding a concerned Dennis waiting on me.

"Is that one of the pendants you're wearing?" he asked guarded, his eyes on my neckline.

I nodded.

"Jesus, Estelle, why haven't you taken it off?"

"It won't come off."

His hand came on my arm, rubbing gently. "They haven't told you anything, have they?" I shook my head. He put his hand on my back and led me to one of the many chairs at the table and sat me down. He took the other seat next to me.

"Dennis– I mean, Dawkins," I said sarcastically. He just rolled his eyes. "Why were you on Earth?"

He chuckled at my confusion. "You can call me Dennis when we're alone if you want, I'm fine with either one." He smiled and leaned back, drumming his fingers on the table next to us. "Well, I went there to try and find you. When my mom married Perseus, we grew close. He became like an actual father to me. He confided in me about you and wanted to know if you were okay, so he sent me down." He gave a laugh and placed his chin on his hand, leaning on his elbow. "Of course, my mom did not know of this. Perseus told her I was out training and getting to know the other sides of the planet."

I roamed my eyes to the table next to us. "So what we had was all fake?" I whispered.

"No, no!" He leaned toward me and took my hands. "I didn't know what to expect when I found you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay, for Perseus' sake. But somehow, before I even knew it," his voice got quiet, "I fell in love with you."

"Great way of showing it with the blond." I snapped.

He leaned back in his chair, slowly dropping my hands. "Oh, I was still getting adjusted to Earth. The other Earthlings were distracting and made me curious, it was really only that one time, and of course, you saw me. After that I couldn't get close to you, with Reed and Kent always being there. Trust me, it took every bit of me not to throw them aside like rag dolls." His fists gripped in his lap. "But I saw how you were with them. I saw how happy they made you." His fists relaxed and he crossed his arms. "I couldn't take that away from you. I just wanted you safe." He looked up at the ceiling, "After our recent encounter, I figured you would be fine and went back home. Trust me, I kicked myself when I found out someone from Cremor escaped and was after you!" He slammed his fist on the table. "I wanted to go back, but Perseus stopped me. He said it would raise too much suspicion with my mom. But then I heard you were here and I couldn't wait to see you." He leaned forward and held my hands again, keeping his eyes on them. His thumb brushed lightly on my hands, comforting and familiar. Something I needed at this moment.

We didn't say anything for a while. I assumed he was liking the contact too, but I still was pissed at him, just more aware and trying to understand.

"Sorry—" I pointed at his face "—for the slap. I guess I overreacted." I gave his fingers a small squeeze. "There's just been so much and then I saw you standing there... I'm just getting overwhelmed. I didn't mean to take it out on you."

"Tell me about it, especially when you have that on." He pointed at my necklace.

"What is up with this? Why is this not coming off? What are they not telling me?" I blurted out, exhausted and frustrated.

"From what I know, when our ancient ancestors passed away, they would leave their powers in those. These are so old they had to make two more to hold even more power because one wasn't able to hold all of it. They later found that they couldn't have anyone wearing them; it was too much power." His eyes filled with worry as his brows pulled in. "It consumed whoever wore it, taking over their mind so much that they would go about destroying everything in their path. So they found a different use for them, they used the necklaces to build the shield around Cremor. They keep them in a building called the Edifice, and that's where they have stayed for hundreds of years." He shrugged, "Well, until Bevin decided to take matters into his own hands and steal one. And not just anyone, the oldest one of them all, the one that holds the most power of the three."

I gasped, "That's why I can't take it off?"

"Usually it takes weeks, or months before it gets to that point," he answered, "how long have you had it?" he asked, his eyes dropping to my neckline.

"Gramps gave it to me a couple of hours before my birthday."

His back straightened as he gasped, "What?" His face was filled with horror. "How could it bond with you so fast?" I shrugged my shoulders, not knowing how to answer that. "Something isn't right." His brows lowered and pinched even more. "It is devouring you way too fast, just a few moments ago, when we were arguing, you felt it, didn't you?" I nodded. "I could tell, your eyes turned from a gentle blue, to pitch black." He rubbed his chin. "But– you came out of it, how?"

"Why?"

"From what the legends say, usually when that happens the individual wearing the necklace goes on a rampage, killing anything that moves. The only thing that stops them is–" He held his tongue and drifted his eyes to the side.

"What Dennis," I prodded, "what stops them?"

"When their heart stops beating," he said, his voice low and fearful.

"You have to kill them?" I whispered. "You'd have to kill me?" I sat back in my seat, staring down at the necklace dangling above my chest. "Why did Gramps give this to me if he knew all this?" I asked more for myself. "Gramps would never endanger my life."

"Like I said, it takes weeks, or months for it to do this, but I'm assuming he gave it to you so it would protect you. He probably knew people were after you." He fiddled with my fingers. "What stopped you? How did you come back?" he asked again.

I placed my free hand on my forehead and chuckled. "Reed and Kent. I thought of the moments when I played with them on our playground when we were little."

"Really?" His eyes raised in amazement. I knew then he didn't know that Reed was from here as well. I wasn't about to divulge that information until I knew where Dennis' loyalties were. "Of course it would be those two bastards!" he said with a laugh. "Well, whatever it takes, you remember them in as much detail as you can if you have another episode. That will save your life." He tipped his chin down. "And everyone else's," he whispered.

I thought of their faces, every line, crevice, every dimple within their smiles. I did not want to forget how either of them looked. I would etch their faces into my mind, but I found it was harder to do the more I didn't see them.

"Astra and Gramps said they were going to get me to repair the shield as soon as their meeting was over." I shrugged. "Whatever that means."

His grip went tighter on my hand. "Estelle, you can't take that off."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah I know, Den–"

"No," he cut me off quickly, "I mean...." He scooted closer with his chair. "It won't let you take it off. It has merged with you. Yourself. Your life force. We can't just place it back."

I creased my brows. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying they are literally going to use you to repair the shield. Do you know what that means, Es?" his tone of fear and anger were beginning to scare me.

I shook my head, scared of the next thing he was going to say.

His brown eyes bore into mine as he said hopelessly, "It means you could die."

My head felt light and I couldn't breathe.

Why would Gramps give this to me if he knew this? Is that why Astra, Gramps, or even Kailor, weren't telling me what was going on? Because they knew that I could die?

I stood from my chair and yelled, panicking, "What do you mean I could die? Why would you say that?"

"Estelle, you haven't seen the Edifice. It's filled with so much energy, if a person steps in there, well..." He leaned to the table and drummed one hand on it. "Let's just say nobody has stepped in there. They have to have multiple of the most advanced tele-kinetics hover the pendants back into their spots and even after that, they are drained of their abilities for a while."

"But, how did Gramps get it?"

"Good question, he is one of the higher ups, but he couldn't have gotten it all by himself." His drumming got faster. "He had to have had help." He placed his hands on his chin. "The question is, who?" His brown eyes found mine again as he leaned toward me. "Estelle, you can't trust anyone here. I feel like there is a lot going on that they aren't telling either of us."

I raised my brows suspiciously and said, "Usually the person who tells me not to trust anyone—" I looked straight into his gaze "—is the one person I shouldn't trust."

His eyes widened at my stab of judgement. He leaned back into his chair. "You can think that way, but really, I wouldn't let anything happen to you while I'm here, Es. Nothing."

Something told me I could trust him. I didn't even care that he called me Es. I actually missed anybody calling me that. I thought back on the relationship we had. The kisses, the passion, the love I thought we had. It felt so real, but was it really? I leaned my elbows onto my knees and placed my hands on the sides of my head.

Could I trust him?

I heard his chair squeak again and felt his hand on my leg. I looked up and found myself staring into his brown eyes. He brought his other hand and started caressing my face with the touch I once knew. I knew that smoldering look. He wanted to kiss me. He slowly leaned down. His familiarity, his touch; I felt so alone.

My thoughts went to Reed.

Could I betray him?

Would I ever see him again? So many questions overwhelmed me, but his lips were so close to mine.

"Princess?" Kailor's voice filled the room.

My head rapidly flew towards the door, Dennis' lips pulling back with a sigh of disappointment and a muttered curse. Kailor's hardened face was peeking through the door, staring keenly at our postures. I instantly saw how close our bodies were and stood from my chair, Dennis slowly following.

"Yes, Kailor?" I cleared my throat as I moved from the table and closer to the door.

His eyes went to slits when his gaze moved to Dennis, then suspiciously at me. "I think I hear them approaching, if Queen Astra were to see you weren't with me, well." He lowered his eyes.

"Of course, I understand, Kailor." I headed toward the door and felt Dennis' hand catch mine. I looked back at him, feeling the blood run to my cheeks.

"Remember what I said," he muttered. I slowly nodded as he looked over at Kailor, then back at me. "And maybe, we can continue this later," he whispered. His thumb gently rubbed my wrist. I'd forgotten how his touch made me feel. But I thought of Reed and where my yearnings were really coming from. I took my hand back and headed to Kailor as he opened the door for me to pass with Dennis close behind me. I heard chattering as we came back upon the thrones and they were exiting the other room.

"Ah, did you guys get to know one another?" Vega asked, his eyes drifting to us.

"She is one hell of a gem you have here, Queen Astra," Dennis replied in his oh-so-charming manner.

"Of course, one of a kind." Astra said proudly. She stood by me and ran her fingers through my hair. "Well that is good to hear because Queen Eula has decided to stay and be our guest for a little bit while we hash out a couple of details regarding our agreement." Astra gave my hair one more brush. "It also gives you two love birds a chance to get to know each other better." I looked up at Dennis, who had the biggest grin on his face. I rolled my eyes.

"Come, we will show you to your quarters." Astra motioned forward.

Dennis took my hand and gave a light kiss. "Until we meet again." His eyes pierced into mine. I nodded as he followed them out of the throne room, leaving Kailor and me behind.

"Estelle, are you all right? What happened in there?" Kailor asked, his worried face blocking my vision of watching Dennis leave my side. Dennis' words echoed in my head to not trust anyone. I felt so at ease with Kailor, like I could tell him anything and everything. But I knew there were too many lies around me.

"Kailor, why didn't you tell me about this?" I pointed at my pendant. "Why didn't you tell me I would be used to repair the shield since it won't come off?" I let the betrayal in my tone apparent.

His eyes creased and his mouth frowned. "I see the prince has been opening his big mouth." His eyes wandered to the door where they left.

"No, the prince—" I imitated his tone "—has been the only one telling me the truth. Why aren't you?" My tone became jagged.

Kailor's eyes drifted behind me again, avoiding eye contact. "I did want to tell you. I just didn't know how. I didn't want to worry you."

"Worry me?" I huffed, "You didn't think I would want to know that I would be going into some room that could kill me because this damn thing won't come off?"

I felt it.

The darkness taking over me.

The energy was slowly creeping up into my body. My heart was picking up, each beat faster and faster. I gripped my fists and took a step back.

"Estelle?" he called out, his voice muffled.

"Give me a minute." I closed my eyes and went through every line of Reed's face. His gentle eyes, his soft hair, and those lips I yearned for every second. My heart started to slow and the energy drifted. "And this—" I opened my eyes again "—this thing, makes me have to watch my temper now, otherwise I'll go postal on everyone or something." I threw my hands in the air. "You guys failed to mention that to me also!"

"Have you had those episodes already? Have your eyes gone black?" Kailor asked, taking a step closer to me, trying to analyze my eyes.

"Yes, at least De–Dawkins saw them." I had to watch what I said. They couldn't know that I knew Dennis.

"We really don't have that much time, we need to address this, but Vega just wants to put you two together!" He slammed his fist in his hand.

"Kailor, now it's your turn to tell me the truth. What happens if I wear this too long?" I demanded. His lips turned into a hard line. "Kailor, tell me." I took a step towards him as he continued to avoid my stare.

"You lose yourself." He gulped before saying, "The power swallows you. You– you just don't exist. Gone. Forever."

Something about how he said it made me feel like there was something he held back. I almost saw a tear run down his cheek as he turned his back to me.
Chapter 17

I found myself alone in my room again.

Astra didn't post Kailor at my door. I guess she felt Vega or anyone else wasn't a threat anymore. I decided to let myself drift to sleep once again, hoping and praying that somehow I could see Reed's face again.

*

I found myself in my playground. I looked around, frantically searching, but no one was there, just me. I sat on the merry-go-around as it twirled slowly. Why wasn't he there? Why wasn't anyone there? It was just a dream, nothing else. Why did I get my hopes up? I gripped the bars.

Something was wrong.

The gentle breeze abruptly threw my hair all over my face. I grabbed my curls with my hand and held them like a ponytail. I jumped off the merry-go-round as it twirled with the wind. I felt it in my mind and in my heart.

Something is wrong.

*

I dragged in a breath as I sat up from my bed and found myself awake. I ran to the door and slowly opened it, spying my head out the door.

No one in sight.

I went to the right to go down the stairs, but as I was tip-toeing past Astra's room, I heard arguing. The immediate tension was emitting from the cracks of the doors. I leaned my ear on it, but I could barely hear their voices. It was Astra and Kailor arguing over something.

"I cannot!" I heard Astra's yell.

"You have to, she isn't who she was anymore, the sooner the better, more like now!" Kailor's voice was actually regular sounding, like he was talking to Astra, person-to-person, and not as though he were addressing her as queen.

"I will not let her die!" Astra yelled back.

A large hand flew on my mouth as it pulled my body, turned a corner, and arms enveloped me.

I was about to scream when I heard a whisper, "Shhhh... guards." He turned my body to face him in the confined space between a wall and pillars.

I gasped, "Dennis, wha–"

"Wait." He interrupted as we heard multiple footsteps pass us. About five guards hovered near our spot, talking about patrolling or something else. I couldn't quite concentrate. Dennis and I were in an extremely tight space. He actually looked like the old Dennis I knew, his hair muddled with a plain white t-shirt and silk pants that hugged every muscle crevice. I found myself eyeing his lower region, seeing it hug snugly. I felt myself flush and stared back up to his face, where he was staring at the guards hovering.

"Keep quiet. They should go soon," he said, his voice leaping into my head.

Shit! Did he hear what I was just thinking about? He better not have!

"What are you doing in my head?" he asked.

I creased my brows. "Is there a better way to talk without having to make noise?" Even his mind could be so sarcastically charming.

"Just get out. This is private."

"All right, all right, geez!"

I couldn't tell if he left or not, but two could play at that game. I stared into the corner of his eyes, concentrating on what he had running through that thick head of his.

"I wish these guards would go already. God why does she have to smell so good." My eyebrows raised as I continued probing. "I need to get out of this space with her, damn she's gorgeous! And her skin, always so soft." I saw him quickly glance down at me, then back at the guards. "And those lips! I just want to grab her and–" He paused and his jaw tightened. "Oh boy, no, not now, why did I wear these pants, go away, go away, think stupid thoughts, not about her supple skin, that hair I want to touch, those eyes, those–" His eyes twitched as he continued to stare and he held his chest still like he was holding his breath. "No damn it no! Cut it out! Oh crap, I hope she doesn't feel that."

But I did.

I felt it through his silk pants and our close quarters. He was getting quite lively thinking about me. I should have felt angry or something, but I actually felt flattered that someone would think of me that way. I mean, we did have history, but to know I could still make him feel that, made me... happy.

"Why is she smiling at me like–" I had forgotten I was staring at him and his brown eyes were now focused on me. "Shit, are you... you are, you're in here?" His eyes widened with each thought.

Shit. Busted.

"Get out of here!" he yelled.

I felt an immediate slam near my head, making me lightheaded. My vision got slightly blurry and I had to blink several times before my vision returned to normal. The guards finally went down the stairs.

"Your room, now." He pushed me out of the crevice as I ran into my room, with Dennis quietly closing the door behind him. I let out a snicker that I was holding back the whole time I was reading his thoughts. His back stiffened and he turned to face me. "Now, um... about that. I was just– I mean, it's like this–"

I placed my hand up for him to stop talking. "You know, let's just not worry about it. All right?"

"Works for me." He let out a sigh of relief. "I guess they're doubling up on guard duty over that emergency."

"Emergency?" My head tilted straighter. "What emergency?" I thought back to the dream that woke me.

"I don't know. I know Vega got called into the conclave, probably some more threats from Cremor or something," he said nonchalantly, but I knew something was wrong.

"No, something is wrong, do you know anything else?"

"Maybe something to do with Earth too, I'm not sure."

Earth boomed in my ears.

I knew it.

I knew something was wrong. I headed for the door but his body stepped in my way.

"Where are you going?" he asked, almost snapping.

I gripped my hands at my sides. "To the conclave. I have to know what's going on." I made another move for the door, but he blocked me again. I was trying really hard to keep my temper down since I figured out that it's what the pendant likes to feed on, but he was making it really difficult.

"I don't think that's a good idea right now, Es. We should wait until tomorrow morning to find out."

"Dennis, if you don't get out of my way..." I could feel the tension rising, just me trying to suppress it was making it grow faster. "I don't know what I'm going to do, so move!" I effortlessly placed my hand on his chest and it somehow threw him against the doors behind him, throwing them open. I ran out and headed down the spiraling staircase. I heard doors creak and familiar voices.

"Astra! Kailor!" I heard Dennis' plea as multiple footsteps began running close behind me.

I ran faster.

I felt it building with each step. I tried so hard to not let it out of me.

You will not consume me! You won't!

But no matter how much I told myself, I felt it more than ever. I found myself down the familiar hallway with the two steel doors ahead of me, the same two guards at the door. They both held their hands out to stop me.

"Princess, you cannot enter," the left guard said.

"Princess, please stop," the right guard warned.

"Don't, you can't go in!" the left guard yelled, holding out his arms.

All that mindless chatter didn't matter to me. I waved both my hands and both bodies slung against the wall hard, their bodies making a loud thumping sound. The big steel doors flew open as I ran through them. I ran into the door on the left, the one they went to discuss their agreement in, and threw it open with my body. The door slammed against the wall as I fell into their meeting.

A big square, golden table sat in the middle and a couple of men were sitting, staring at me as I stared into the eyes of Vega, who was sitting in the middle. I couldn't quite tell how many there were. I was too overwhelmed and trying too hard to concentrate on not killing anybody, but I could feel the change, the familiar sharpness in my eyes.

My eyes weren't mine right now, I could see disgust in Vega's expression.

"Estelle," Vega said curtly.

The other men stood from their seats.

"Oh my god, look at her eyes!"

"She's taken, she's going to kill us all!"

"We need to kill her, kill her now!"

"What do we do? She's just a child."

"Oh shit, somebody just put her out of her misery!"

"Somebody do something or she'll kill us!"

I could hear all their thoughts without even trying to listen. I gripped my ears and shouted, "Everybody shut up!"

Multiple forces gripped around my body.

My eyes flew open.

It was them. They were trying to restrain me. That made things even worse. The rage flowed easier. Before I didn't know what was happening, fought it even, but this time, I was accepting it. It streamed so naturally, it was exhilarating. And to think these men could even stand a chance to me.

I let out a chuckle, "How dare you." I felt myself push their forces off of me as they all jumped back in fear. I flicked my wrist on the right and the men flew off their feet and into the walls. I flicked my wrist on the left and the same happened, leaving them all unconscious.

Leaving me with Vega.

"Astra, don't." I turned my head slowly to find Gramps a couple of feet behind me, with Astra and Dennis by his side. Gramps had his hand on Astra's shoulder as she took a step back.

I lifted my hand, ready to do the same.

I saw them quiver in fear and it brought me joy. A devious smile came across my face, something I didn't recognize, and turned my attention back to Vega.

"It's fine, Bevin, you guys stay back." Vega said, lifting his hand in a halting motion. "Now, Estelle, what can I do for you?" I didn't miss his condescending tone.

"I want to know what's going on. What's happened?" I took a step closer to the table, where it was the only thing keeping me from lunging at him. "And don't lie to me!" I screamed, my voice echoing in the room.

"All right, all right," he said as he waved his hands, trying to keep me calm. "We received this from Cremor." He slowly placed his hand on the table and some buttons lit up. A type of holographic screen came up from the center showing a woman's face. She had short brown hair to her slender chin that matched her hazel, devilish eyes.

"I want someone you have," she said, her voice crude and demanding. "And I believe this boy may mean something to your future queen." She stepped aside.

I couldn't believe what was happening. The rage left in a split second. I felt like myself again and the guilt hit me for all the people I had hurt to get to this room. His wounded blue eyes stared back at me. His body limp and hanging from chains. He gave a weak attempt to pull the chain, but then collapsed.

I was going to be sick. "Reed," I whispered harshly.

Her disgusting face stepped back into frame and she said, "You have until tomorrow before the sun sets to give me my Borin and believe me, if you don't—" her face hardened "—I believe Astra can attest that anyone will do everything and anything in their power for the one they love." She smiled wickedly. "The trade will happen here in Cremor obviously, since we can't leave—" she rolled her eyes "—but I will see you soon." Then the message went blank.

I fell to my knees.

"It seems he had some memory of you they were able to probe into," Vega said.

"No, that's impossible. No one can remember or retrieve memories with a wipe like that, nobody," Astra's voice said it with such certainty and doubt all together.

"My dream," I whispered. I could feel their eyes on me. "I had a dream the other night I was with him and it put him in danger. I did this." I threw my hands over my face, gasping for air. The pain in my heart was growing. If anything were to happen to him, I might as well die with him.

"Es." Dennis whispered as his arms wrapped around me. I turned and buried my face in his chest, soaking it. "Who was that woman?" he asked Vega.

"That was Tara, Borin's lover I suppose," Vega replied. "Bevin, take a couple of guards with you and go question him. Astra, take care of the generals."

"Wait," I questioned as I pulled my head from Dennis' chest. "What about Reed?"

"We don't negotiate with Cremor." Vega answered sharply, his face a hard line.

My gasping breaths started to steady. My legs found strength as I guided myself up while Dennis' arms unwrapped around me and he stood with me.

"What?" I clenched my jaw.

"We are going to find out why Tara wants Borin back in addition to any other information he has, but that's it. We don't negotiate." With each stabbing word, I could feel it flowing, I could feel it stronger than ever. Knowing Reed was in the hands of the enemy and was being tortured and in fear made me feel more powerful than ever. It was consuming me to its full potential and I was letting it.

"Estelle. Calm down," Vega voiced.

"Don't tell me to calm down, Vega. You will rescue Reed." I didn't sound like myself. I was more commanding and stronger.

I sounded like a queen.

"Estelle, you don't understand politics, you–"

"No. You don't understand." I snapped, cutting him off. His excuses just fueled me more. I found myself moving around the table toward him, stalking him like prey. He didn't show me any fear.

He should.

"You will save him." I demanded.

"Or what?" Vega tested. I prayed he would say that. I took my hand and threw him down against the golden table without touching him, focusing my energy on his throat. I wanted to snap his neck so fast, then there would be no problem and I would rule.

I would decide.

"Estelle, don't!" Astra's voice pleaded near me. He was gasping for breath, trying to grab anything in the air, but I was too powerful. I could feel him squirm under my touch. I was the lion ready to bite the jugular of the zebra.

"Estelle, we will rescue my son, with or without Vega's help, preferably with his help, but nonetheless, we will get my son back." Kailor shouted, his figure standing across the table. "Tell me, you know my son more than anyone, yes?" he asked more calm. I slowly nodded. "All right, what would he say to you, seeing you like this?" he jabbed.

My eyes twitched.

I knew exactly what he would say, where was he going with it?

"Estelle," he yelled louder to get my attention. "Tell me what my son would say to you?"

"He would–he would..." I took a breath, my heart slowing already. "He would want me to stop," I whispered. I let out a shuddered breath, "He would say, 'This isn't the Estelle I know'."

"And what would you do in return?" Kailor asked gently.

His voice and question clicked something in me.

The burden lifted off my chest.

I opened my mouth and nothing but a soft whisper came out, saying, "I would stop." I put my hand down to my side and Vega leapt off the table, gasping for air. Astra rushed to his side and started rubbing his back.
Chapter 18

My knees started to buckle beneath me, my weakness taking over. My mind and body felt drained as I felt Dennis' warm touch grasp me as I shifted my weight into his chest.

"Estelle! Estelle!" I heard him calling, but everything was muffled and my vision was blurry.

One thought was in my head and it was all that mattered. "Reed," I choked out.

"Take her to her room, she needs rest. We will reconvene in the morning." It sounded like Astra, but I wasn't sure.

Everything went black.

*

I was in a dark hallway at the top of stoned stairs that led deep in the night. It smelled muddy and felt cold and draining.

I started to head down the stairs.

Something in my gut was telling me to go and it never steered me wrong. I wasn't prepared for what I found at the bottom behind steel bars. There he hung by chains on his wrists. His once proud head was hanging low.

"Reed!" I gasped, reaching my arms through the bars, desperately trying to reach his body. His breath was shallow as he mustered up the strength to lift his gaze to mine. His eyes showed both a broken heart and a broken soul.

"Reed!" I called again. He squinted and blinked several times. His blue eyes started to look brighter as he opened them wider.

"It's you!" he groaned, his voice dry and hoarse. He coughed, then looked back at me. His eyes started to regain their shine. "You're back. I thought I would never see you again in my dreams, although—" he looked at his surroundings "—this is more like a nightmare."

"Reed, don't worry. I'm going to get you out. I'm going to get you back!"

"What... was your name again?" he asked hesitantly.

He still didn't remember me.

The pain in my chest was excruciating, but all I wanted was to get him out of there safely.

"Never mind that, you listen, Reed." I motioned my hands for him to look me straight into my eyes. "Listen, I am coming for you and I will get you out of here, do you hear me? You hang in there, all right? Don't you lose hope. Hang in there."

He gave me a mini-smile. "I believe you."

The memory of the first moment I connected with Reed through our minds flashed in my head.

He said the exact words in the same way.

He wasn't broken just yet.

*

My eyes darted open, finding Dennis' closed eyes and snoring face. I sat up and looked around. I was back in my room, but Dennis was sleeping soundly next to me.

"Dennis," I whispered as I shook his shoulder. He let out a small groan. "Dennis, wake up!"

"Es?" He groaned and fluttered his eyes open. "Estelle!" He flew up and started examining me. "Are you all right?"

"Did you sleep here with me?" I asked as he was lowering back on his side.

"Well, I didn't want to leave you alone." He looked away, then back at me through his lashes. "Are you mad?"

I let out a small chuckle. He was really the same Dennis I knew when I dated him. That was one of the reasons why I thought I loved him. He was just as attentive as Reed and Kent, just in his own way. "No, I'm not. But thank you."

"For what?" he asked, tilting his head.

"For just being you, I guess." I smiled as guilt began worming its way through me as the thought of his body slinging through the doors and landing on the floor entered my mind.

I did that and I enjoyed it.

How could he still look at me the same way? "I'm sorry," I said as he was stepping out of the bed and stretching.

He turned to me and asked, "Sorry? For what?"

"Damn it, Dennis, you know what!" I sat up in the bed. "I slammed you against the doors! I-I don't even know what happened or what came over me and you're still here, worrying about me!" I waved my arms toward the doors, infuriated with nobody but myself. I didn't deserve his care.

He sat down at the edge of the bed and lifted my face up to meet his, whispering, "I know who you are and that wasn't you." His eyes never left mine. "Don't let it get to you."

I didn't like the intense way he was staring at me, so I changed the subject. "Dennis, is what Astra said true?" I was reminiscing all that I went through, it was like I was watching myself in a movie.

"What?"

"That memories can't be retrieved, no matter what?" I asked, not masking the fear in my voice.

"Well, yes technically," he answered and my shoulders slumped. "But then again, they said once someone went on a rampage, they never came back, and well, I have seen you prove that wrong multiple times." He rubbed my cheek. "Don't believe everything you hear, you may just change the world, Es." His words comforted me as I gave him a small smile. He stood up and headed to the doors, poking his head out, then closing it. "You should get ready, our meeting is soon."

"Meeting?" I asked, scrunching my face.

"To discuss what to do about the Borin and Reed situation."

I crossed my arms and huffed, "There should be no discussing, we are getting him back." I could already feel myself building. The pendant was getting more powerful. It was starting to alter me even faster with the slightest hint of anger or negativity. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, thinking of rescuing Reed and feeling his warm embrace.

That was all that mattered.

"It's getting harder, huh?" Dennis voiced. I opened my eyes and found him staring with a tense sadness combined with worried brows.

"No, I just–"

"You listen and you listen good." He sat next to me and gripped my shoulders. "No matter what happens, no matter how it feels, no matter how tempting it is, no matter how much you lose yourself, do not, and I mean DO. NOT. kill anybody." My chest deepened as those words escaped his mouth.

How could I kill anybody? But the thought hit me about all those times I almost did, the urge was so strong. With the powers I had, it would have been so easy to do.

"Because if you do," Dennis continued, "if you shed blood and take a life—" he placed his hands on my cheeks "—I'm afraid you will not be coming back." His face fell and his eyes swirled with concern.

"Is that what happens if I..." I swallowed, "kill someone?"

"Yes. The first kill seals your fate. That's also probably one of the factors why you can come back from it, you haven't actually killed anybody during your episodes, but you do want to, don't you?" I nodded. He stood up and headed for the door. "Please don't, Es, I don't know what I would do If I really lost you."

I didn't know what to say after that.

He was right, my urge to kill was getting stronger with each episode. I needed time to think.

"Don't worry about it, Dennis," I reassured him, "you go ahead and get ready in your room, I'll be fine for a little. When you're finished, you can come back."

I saw the protest in his face, but he nodded and placed his hand on the knob. "Tell me, Es," he said as he tilted his head slightly my way, his back still turned to me. "If I didn't kiss that dumb Earthling, if I didn't make that stupid mistake," his voice got lower, "would you still be with me?"

His question threw me for a loop as I felt myself sink into the bed.

Would I have?

Would my love for Dennis still exist if he didn't do any of that? Would I even look at Reed the way I look at him now? Love him the way I do, if Dennis was still in the picture? "I-I..."

He turned the knob, like he already knew what I was going to say. He opened the door and whispered, "I'll see you in a few." And just like that he was gone.

I got up and headed to the bathroom to shower and get ready. How was I supposed to know what to say to that? Why would he spring that on me now? I headed for the closet to pick out a dress. He knows I love Reed, why would he ask me that? Did he ask that because he spent the night in my bed? Because we are supposedly betrothed or something?

Boys. They are as complicated as girls.

I had to control my temper. I knew he was right. How long would I be able to hold back these urges? How many more episodes would I have until I couldn't control them anymore?

Not willing to give it more thought, I threw on a simple black dress that came up to my knees but had a bare back. Compared to all the fancy dresses in that closet, that one was the simplest. I didn't want to look like royalty anymore. I wanted to be normal again. I wanted to be in Reed's safe embrace and back on the green grass of Earth. I heard a small knock from the door as I finished taming my curls and fixing my face. "Come in!"

Dennis stepped in wearing a dashing, faint red suit and a silver sash. He looked like the picture perfect prince that he was. "You ready?" he asked quietly.

I walked over to him and held his hand. "Dennis, you are a great guy, and I am lucky to have you in my life."

He let out a small smirk and tucked a stray curl behind my ear. "You always know what to say." He sighed and opened the door, holding out his elbow. "Your Majesty."

I hooked my arm in his. "Thank you, Prince Dawkins." We chuckled and headed out of the room and down the stairs. My memory fell back into place as we approached the steel doors with the same two guards as before. Once their eyes fell on me, I saw fear and disdain. Who could blame them? I threw them into the walls like they were nothing. The image of their limp bodies falling to the floor flooded my vision. I gripped Dennis' arm for comfort.

"Don't take it personally, Es." His voice eased my mind as they opened the steel doors for us, both their eyes staring me down. There in the conclave, Vega sat in the middle of the golden table. Astra and Kailor were sitting at one side and Eula and Gramps were at the other. I saw and felt fear from all of their eyes. The memory of me basking in their fear over my power caused guilt to surface. How could I have enjoyed that? Was that really me?

We took the two other empty seats in the middle, across from Vega. He stared at me with judging eyes, as he rubbed his beard. "Well, now that we are all here, let us begin." Vega said as he looked towards Gramps. "What did your brother have to say?"

Gramps stood from his seat and started, "I have probed his mind thoroughly and all I found was that Tara is crazier than my daughter." Astra gave some sort of chuckle and growl. Gramps ignored it. "And will do anything to get him back." He sat back down in his chair as Astra rolled her eyes.

"Well then, onto the next thing. I think we need to address the elephant in the room," Vega said, leaning closer to the table. "We need to do something about her!" he pointed at me.

"Vega, don't!" Astra yelled.

"No! She needs to be put back into the Edifice! Where it—" Vega scanned me "—she belongs."

"No!" Astra slammed her fist in the table, "I will not condemn my daughter to death!"

"I agree. I don't want to see her die," Dennis voiced his opinion, his hand gripping mine under the table. I was glad I had him there and on my side.

"Well, I think King Vega has a great point," Eula pointed out, "hearing what she has done, she needs to be placed where she belongs." Eula's voice almost pushed me over the edge, but I suppressed my anger the best I could. It wasn't the best time to go postal on them when they were arguing about what they should do with me. I would just fuel Vega's case even more than I already had. Plus, I had to avoid the urge of killing anybody as much as possible.

"If I may, Your Majesties." Kailor slowly stood up from his seat, our attentions on him as Vega nodded his head, allowing him to speak. "Frankly, we should wait to decide the princess' fate, because like it or not, we don't know what we will be walking into on Cremor. It is probably a trap, and if it is, it would be good to have her power on our side."

"No, no, I have decided not to do the exchange, we still don't negotiate!" Vega argued.

I stood quickly from my chair, the sound echoing as it scraped on the ground. Everyone braced themselves waiting for another rampage, but right then, I was thinking clearly. "No, you will do the exchange and in return, I will agree with whatever you want to do with me afterwards. The main mission is to get Reed out of danger." I didn't care what they did with me. I knew what I was agreeing to. I just wanted Reed safe, no matter what. He wouldn't even miss me if I were to die; he didn't even know my name. It was the perfect set up. How could I live in a world where Reed didn't even know who I was? At least with my plan, he'd be safe and I wouldn't be around to harm him or anyone else.

Dennis started, "Estelle, don't–"

Vega cut off him off quickly, "I agree to those terms."

"No! Estelle! Vega! You can't!" Astra panicked, flicking her eyes back and forth between us.

"Oh come now, Astra," Vegas said smugly, "she is an adult. She can make her own decisions and I just so happen to agree with them." Vega folded his hands on the table, a sly smile appearing on his lips.

"I don't like this," Gramps voiced. I could hear the shake he was trying to hide in his tone.

"Yes, yes, but I didn't come up with that, she did." Vega held his hand out towards me. "Now I will send a reply back to Cremor." He stood. "Kailor, go assemble a few mentally strong men and Bevin, go assemble the physically strong ones. Let us meet in the tele-pad room in an hour."

And then he headed out the door with Astra and Eula both talking in his ears. Kailor and Gramps both hesitated at their seats, but darted off as well to go follow his orders, leaving Dennis and I in the conclave.
Chapter 19

"What have you done?" Dennis gasped, pissed and worried at the same time.

I gripped my fists, "I did what I had to. We have to get Reed back and I used myself as a bargaining chip, otherwise he wouldn't have done anything."

"What about Gabbi and Simon?" He paced and threw his hands in the air. "What about Kent, Dana, Aiden, or Reed?" He waved his arms more, shouting, "What about me?" He pointed to his chest and turned to me. "We all care about you!"

"They don't remember me!" I shouted back, "What does it matter?" I turned away from him, keeping my temper under control. The last person I wanted to kill was Dennis.

I could feel his eyes piercing into me, waiting.

"I'm sorry I yelled," he said more gently. "I just don't want anything to happen to you."

I opened my eyes and breathed, "Well I'm not leaving him there to die." I walked out, leaving him alone in the room. I needed to distance myself from him. He was getting too attached and so was I. If I were to explode any minute, to be consumed by the power, I didn't want him anywhere near me.

I went back to my room and shuffled clothes around in the huge closet. There had to be jeans of some sort somewhere. I couldn't wear a dress if there was going to be a battle. I held up a laced white dress and grimaced as I threw it over my shoulder. I went to one of the drawers and rifled through it. Finally, at the very bottom of the drawer I found some old worn jeans. "Yes!" I picked them up and held them to my waist, looking at the length and size. They were slightly baggy, but they'd suffice. I found a plain black t-shirt in one of the other drawers and put that on also. I went to the corner where all the shoes were laid out, finding that three were too small and the other two were too big. The final pair fit just right. They were black boots with tall laces, almost like combat boots, which fit the occasion.

"Estelle."

I whipped my head around, looking around the closet, but nobody was there.

That voice? I knew that voice. It was the first one I ever heard in my head.

Borin.

I got up and looked around in my room. No one was there. He was calling for me, but why? I strapped on the boots and poked my head out the door.

No one in sight.

I headed down the stairs and saw a couple of guards and servants chatting down the halls. Making a turn, I made my way to a part of the house I had never been. I didn't even know where I was going, but I knew something was pulling me there. I came upon a big, red, steel door that had bold black letters reading: CAUTION.

This had to be where they were holding Borin.

I opened the door and stepped in, closing it slowly behind me. As soon as I closed it, I felt a feeling of dead weight lifting off my chest and body. Something about the room made me feel care free. I felt like myself, something I hadn't felt since all of this started. I walked down the long corridor full of empty cells and found him in the very last one. He was sitting on the concrete ground with his legs crossed. His eyes were closed hard, his face full of concentration.

"Borin?"

His eyes fluttered, slowly coming open and meeting mine. "Ah, Estelle, you heard me!" he said, his tone different from the first time we met, softer and more cordial.

"Why wouldn't I have heard you?" My tone told him I was still on guard.

"I have been trying to get you here ever since I was placed down here, but this place blocks all of our abilities. I'm pretty helpless," he told me as he stood across from me on the other side of the bars. "But finally you heard me. I was about to give up hope."

"All right, I'm here. What do you want?"

"To see how you were doing."

I lifted my brows. "Really? To see how I was doing?" I scoffed. "After my, what are you, great-uncle? Tried to kill me back on Earth, you want to see how I'm doing?" I pointed to my chest and shifted my hip to the side.

"Kill you?" he asked incredulously while he tilted his head and pointed at me. "I wasn't trying to kill you, I was trying to bring you back!"

"Ha!" I threw my head back, and laughed. "You could have fooled me!"

"Why would I harm my only great-niece?" He actually sounded confused.

"You weren't having any trouble harming Gramps or my friends!" I spit back as I crossed my arms.

He rolled his eyes. "I didn't know you would have such resistance when I found you. I had to do what I had to do to get you back here. I'm sorry if that upset you."

"Upset me?" I gasped and shouted, "Yeah it upsets me!"

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Estelle, you don't know anything, do you?" He wrapped his hands around the bars between us. I knew some things, but I could play clueless and see what he knew. I didn't trust him just yet, and with my powers non-existence down there, I had to rely on good old gut instinct to see where his loyalties really lied.

"Know what?" I asked.

"Estelle, do you know how I got to Earth?"

"You tell me."

"Well, it's not because the shield is weakened, if that's what Astra and all of them up there are telling you." His eyes quickly looked up, then back at me. "I escaped because your dad helped me."

My breath left my chest as his answer felt like it hammered into me. "My... dad?"

"Yes, Perseus. He helped break me out of Cremor to go bring you back to Galas."

"Galas? Not Valen?" I whispered, shocked.

"Yes, Perseus wanted you back on Galas."

"Why?"

"Huh? They haven't told you much have they?"

I immediately felt betrayed by everyone I cared for. Finding out from the one person I thought was my enemy made me feel sick. "I thought Gramps said he probed your mind, does he know this?"

"Of course he does," he said with a shrug and a wave.

"Why didn't he tell Vega?"

"Because like me, he has a weakness." He stared deep into my eyes as he said, "Family." His face nudged slightly towards me. "He knew if he told Vega what he saw, Vega would immediately kill me, and even though I have done horrible things in the past, Bevin wouldn't let that happen, so he lied. At least I'm assuming he did since I am still alive and breathing."

"Why hasn't he told me any of this?"

"Because he wants what's best for you, or at least, what he thinks is best for you."

"And what do you think is best for me?" I placed my hands on my hips.

"To do what you were born to do." He leaned onto the bars, placing his cheeks against them. "Save our planets."

"What are you talking about?"

"What they are not telling you, and why Vega wants to get rid of you, is because you are the true ruler of Valen and Galas." I found myself stepping closer to the bars, mesmerized by his every word. "You are the first child of a queen from Valen and a king of Galas and in ancient history, it is said that you have power over both." He stepped even closer. "Cremor is not what they are saying it to be, we have grown and evolved into a living, thriving planet and Vega does not like that. He wants to keep my people enslaved and under his power."

"Your people?" I whispered.

"Well, yes. I am King of Cremor."

My mouth dropped. "You're saying Vega has the King of Cremor in his cell and he doesn't know?"

"Yes. That is why Bevin kept that from him, because he knew he would use it to his advantage."

"Does Perseus know?"

"Yes. That is why he sent me down to go get you, so we can unite and get rid of Vega's rule."

"What about this Tara?"

"Tara is my queen and she can get, well—" his eyes squinted "—a little dramatic. It's frustrating for her that she cannot communicate with me and when I'm not there to rationalize her, she tends to, uh..." He squinted his eyes more as he searched for the words. "Steer in the wrong direction. Bevin told me about Reed. I am sorry. When I get back there, I will make sure no harm has come to him."

"No harm? I saw him! He's hung up in a dungeon or something, scared and weak!" I yelled. It felt good to get angry without having to worry about killing a whole planet.

"You saw him? How?"

"Well, I was dreaming but I know it was him!"

"Your powers are getting quite powerful. How are you doing?"

I shifted my feet and took a step back. I didn't want to tell him that I was close to killing someone. "Manageable," was all I could come up with.

"I see." His tone was the same tone Gramps used when he knew I was lying. "Well, the main reason I wanted you down here before we did the trade, is I wanted your help."

"My help? With what?"

"To make sure this trade does not turn into a blood bath. I know Vega and I have a feeling he won't let me go easily. With your newfound powers, I need your help to make sure Tara and my people don't get killed by his hand."

"Why would you think I would help you?" I crossed my arms again.

"Because knowing you, you have a weakness too." He took a step back. "Family." I gave a heavy sigh, knowing he was right. "Plus, after I told you all this, I knew you would give me the benefit of the doubt." A smile appeared on his face. Which was true, he was telling me more in these few moments, than any of the others had told me these past couple of days.

"Does Astra know?" I asked.

"No, sadly she has a weakness too, and that's Vega," he answered and I scoffed. "No matter what he has done to her, or what she has done to him, she will always stick by his side. You cannot trust her."

"You know, I am getting tired of people telling me who to trust and who not to." I turned my back and was about to walk out when he yelled my name.

"Please promise you won't let anything happen to my family," he said in a whisper, but loud enough for me to hear.

I shut my eyes and walked forward. "I promise, but this doesn't mean anything." I stormed out, but I could feel the smile come across his face. It took me a while to find the room, but I found the tele-pad; the room that I first dreamt of and the room I first stepped foot on when I came here.

They were all there, waiting for me. Dennis' eyes landed on me with worry. I was more lost than I thought, because even Borin was there before me, handcuffed in these big silver cuffs with a small square blue light lit on the side. I already missed the caution room. My body felt the most human when I was in there. Now I could feel the difference. My chest was heavy again and the power itched to resurface.

"Where have you been?" Vega's booming voice snapped me out of my own thoughts.

"Sorry, I was looking for better clothes to wear." I looked down at my baggy jeans.

"And you thought those were better?" Eula's heinous voice made me cringe as she eyed me from head to toe.

I stuck my chin up. "Yes, they are."

"Mom, please." Dennis' voice shut her up quickly. I saw three other men standing by Kailor and three others standing by Gramps.

"All right everybody, our goal is to get in and get out, let's not hang around there longer than we have to." Vega commanded. He walked slowly around the tele-pad, then turned to me, and said, "Estelle, you are our trump card, do anything you need to do to keep everyone safe."

I eyed Borin as he said those words, his eyes glaring daggers at Vega. Vega went to the computer and tapped a couple of the buttons. A gray blue planet popped on the screen. "Astra and Eula will keep in telepathic communication at all times, so if we need to get out fast, just let them know." The circular pad lit up in the middle. "Let's do this!" Vega stepped in and was surrounded by the blue light. Next was Gramps and his men. We slowly took turns going onto the pad.

I stood last in line, finding Dennis by my side. "I tried to meet you in your room, but you were gone," he whispered as he leaned down to me.

"I had some things to deal with," I whispered back, making sure no one was looking.

"What things?"

"Not now Den– Dawkins." I snapped. I didn't know who to trust anymore. Did Dennis know about Borin? And did he know what Borin knew? I was getting tired of all the lies and it was our turn to step into the pad.

"You come back to me safely, you hear!" Astra called out. I looked at her standing by the screen, with Eula standing a good distance from her. I nodded.

Dennis stepped before me and touched my elbow "No matter what happens, you stay by me." Then he stepped on to the pad and was gone. I took a sharp breath, as if I was about to dive into the ocean and stepped into the light. I was soaring, the light getting brighter and brighter. I closed my eyes and felt my feet touch something soft. I opened my eyes and found myself in an open field filled with sand under my feet in the shape of a circle, and grass growing on the outskirts. That nauseated feeling was brewing in my stomach, but my adrenaline was helping me ignore it. I was the last one to be teleported and found everyone in front of me. I couldn't see a thing, so I shoved through the throng of people before I felt Dennis hold back my elbow. I snatched it away quickly, hearing his hissing protests. I found myself at the front, standing next to Vega. I saw a familiar face standing a couple of feet away with at least ten to fifteen men behind her.

Tara.

There was an invisible line of tension between us that nobody wanted to cross.

"Where's Borin?" she yelled as she stepped forward. Vega waved his hand as Kailor pulled Borin from behind.

"Where's Reed?" I found my booming voice rise before I could think to stop it. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, but I didn't care. I wanted him back and safe.

She waved her hand and a man brought him out from the mini-army behind her. He had shackles on his feet and the same cuffs that Borin had on, except it was a red light on the cuffs instead of a blue one. His face was confused but he looked brighter than when I saw him in my dream. His eyes scanned the group in front of him and stopped as he found mine. I took a step forward, wanting to run into his arms and feel his embrace. Vega held his strong forearm in front of me to stop me. Little did he know, I did everything in my power to not fling him across the field.

"Reed, are you okay?" I gazed deep into his eyes, but felt nothing in return, "Reed, can you hear me? Reed!"

"He can't hear you, Es, the cuffs stop their powers," Dennis' soft voice said in my head.

"Trade! Go!" yelled Tara as the guard released the shackles and cuffs on Reed.

Vega waved his hand, as Kailor did the same to Borin. Tara pushed Reed toward us as he rubbed his wrists and walked slowly, keeping his gaze on me.

"Go." Vega said, pushing Borin.

He started walking and his eyes were giving me a last look as he continued toward Tara.

"No negotiations," I heard Vega mumble.

I knew something was wrong when those words flew out of his mouth. Faster than I could even see or sense, Vega grabbed a hidden dagger on his side and threw it towards Borin's back, aiming for his heart. Reed's eyes widened.

"Borin!" Tara's scream echoed.

"Watch out!" Reed yelled. I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing. It was like I was watching it in slow motion. Reed threw himself into Borin, pushing him out of harm's way. The dagger pierced into Reed's left shoulder. His gasping pain echoed in my ears as he fell on the ground.

"NOOO!" Was that me that screamed? I didn't even recognize the pain in my voice. All hell broke loose, energies flying in the air. Men ran and galloped around me. I couldn't even pay attention to any of it. I had one vision and it was Reed. I ran to his side as he slowly sat up. The dagger was sticking out of his shoulder, barely missing his heart. He pulled it out, and blood gushed onto his tattered blue shirt.

"Reed, are you okay?" I asked, kneeling down beside him.

"It's all right, more of a flesh wound. Here—" he ripped the bottom of his shirt, exposing his defined abs "—tie it around tight to stop the bleeding." I did what he said. My fingers grazed his skin as it threw a wave of security around me. I looked around me and saw men fighting hand-to-hand or with their powers. Gramps fought one of the big men, Borin and Vega were at each other's throats, and Kailor was engulfed in multiple men.

I stood tall, letting the power engulf me.

I was tired of all of it. Of everything. The lies, the deceit. Hurting people I love. I was pissed and it consumed me faster than I could imagine. I felt forceful and commanding.

My eyes weren't my own anymore.

I spread my arms out and lifted them in the air. There were about twenty bodies floating in the air, stopping in their tracks, gasping in horror or surprise, and trying to put themselves back on the ground. I threw the Cremor people back on their side and the others back on ours. I could hear the different tones of yelling and gasps of pain as they fell hard on the ground.

I inhaled it, breathing in the fear and pain. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill all of you!" I stared toward the men in front of Tara and Borin, ready to defend their king and queen.

They stepped toward me.

"No, stop!" Borin yelled, making his way to the front and stepped between them and me. "We don't want trouble, Estelle. They will not harm you."

"Kill them! Kill them all!" Vegas screamed.

I fed off of all the hate and fear. "And what makes you think I won't kill you either." I held out my arms, one pointed toward Borin and the other toward Vega. I contorted my fingers as they both rose from the ground, convulsing and gasping for air. "What happens if both kings are killed right now?"

"Estelle, don't!" I heard Dennis' muffled voice, but I didn't care. I wanted to snap them both like twigs. I could feel the power wiggling free in my fingers.

A sudden rush jolted on my forearm. My heart and mind fluttered at the same time. I looked next to me and it was Reed, rubbing it gently.

"Estelle, is this how you really are?" he asked, his eyes were kind and his voice delicate. "Is this the girl I dreamed of?" My heart and mind were my own, but my power was still there, flowing and rotating through my body. I slowly lowered my arms, as Vega and Borin planted their feet on the ground. They both collapsed to their knees as they coughed.

Reed's hands entwined with mine. I yelled into the sky, "Astra, get us out of here!" He gripped my hand tight. "I've got what I came for," I whispered as his ocean eyes mesmerized me.

The blue light appeared behind us.

"We are not done, Borin!" Vega yelled.

"Yes, you are." I snapped, breaking from Reed's eyes and glared at Vega. I actually saw a hint of fear in his eyes that time. "Get in." I commanded, nudging my chin towards the light.

Vega gripped his fists, hesitating for a second, until he finally stepped into the light, the other guards following his lead, along with Kailor and Gramps.

Dennis stood at the light waiting, his face filled with concern. "You're coming, right, Es?" He looked down at Reed and I's hands, then back at me. A flash of anger and relief flicked in his eyes. I nodded and he slowly stepped into it.

"Estelle," Borin called as I was about to step into it with Reed by my side. I tilted my head to acknowledge him. "Remember what I said," he told me as he tapped the side of his head with his index finger. "And keep in touch." I nodded and we stepped into the light, Reed's arms immediately embracing me. I leaned my face deeper into his chest, inhaling his musky smell.

The world didn't matter, I was where I was supposed to be.

Back in Reed's arms.
Chapter 20

We found ourselves back in the tele-pad room, Eula embracing Dennis and Astra consoling Vega. Kailor and Gramps were thanking the men for their hard work and dismissed them from the room.

"You came back for me?" Reed asked. I looked up from his chest and found his endearing face staring back at me.

"I did." I smiled.

"But, your eyes aren't what I remember?" He took his finger and brushed the corner of it. I jumped back and closed them. It was still consuming me, but I could think clearer than I'd been able to during my other episodes. I didn't feel the urge to kill just yet, but if I did, it wasn't going to be Reed. I took multiple steps back, away from him. I could feel his arms searching for me.

"Estelle?" he called out.

"No, no, stay back." My back bumped into someone else.

"Focus, Es, relax," Dennis whispered.

I jumped back from him as well, finding my back against the hard surface of a wall. "Stop it! Stay back!" I yelled, holding my arms out to keep them back. The throbbing pulsed through my body, itching for release. It was at its strongest and lasting the longest. I kept thinking of memories back on Earth, of Reed or Kent, but it wasn't working. My body was heavy and my head was pounding. It was like there was a battle raging in my mind and body.

"She's going to explode! We need to get rid of her!" I heard Vega threaten.

"No! You are not killing my daughter!"

"She is going to kill us all if we don't do something!" Vega argued.

"Somebody better do it! I do not want to die!" Eula's selfish voice echoed.

"Mom, we are not killing her!"

"Shut up! Everyone shut up!" My eyes flew open as a touch came on my shoulder.

Reed was leaning down and I found myself scrunched on the floor in the corner. "I'm here Estelle, I'm not going anywhere." The battle stopped in my body. Just like that. My heart felt light, as I stood up with his help. "There are those blue eyes I remember." He gave his star-gazing smile.

It was Reed. He pulled me out.

He kept me from killing on Cremor when I wanted to kill all of them. I needed him more at my side than I ever did before.

"Look, we got this boy back," Vega said. "Remember her terms. I can do anything I please with her and I say we need to put her back in the Edifice!"

"I think we all need a break, let's reconvene in a couple of hours," Gramps said.

"I agree, come. We can get your friend's shoulder tended to." Astra placed her hand on my back as she walked us out of the room.

"Conclave. Couple of hours. Don't be late," Vega's voice faded as we exited the room.

"Mom, what are we going to do?" I asked, exhausted.

"Something I don't want to do."

"What?"

"Send you back to Earth." Her pace quickened as she pushed us faster into my room and shut the door behind us.

"Wha– Earth, what are you talking about?" When she mentioned it, I couldn't help but feel slightly happy. I would see everyone again. It was what I'd wanted since I left and came to this damn planet. But then it dawned on me: none of them would remember me. I would be alone. I stared at Reed as he was gazing his head up and around my room in awe. Reed kind of remembered me, but it wasn't the same. All the memories we had were just mine and not his.

"Mom, you're not thinking clearly. What are you going to do?"

She turned quickly and took hold of my shoulders. "Listen, I have to go and get things in order. I'll be damned if I let Vega do what he wants with you. You are my daughter and you are the one thing I live for." Her words were sincere and her eyes serious. I had doubts about her, but I knew what she was saying was true, she truly felt that way. "Do not, I repeat, DO NOT leave this room." She quickly gave me a kiss on the forehead and darted out, leaving me standing there with my mouth open about to argue, but I didn't get the chance.

I let out a hard grunt, "Why? Why me?" I closed my mouth and threw my hands up in frustration. A gentle touch came on my back, sending tingles up my spine. I jumped up and twirled around, finding Reed standing behind me. I totally forgot he was there in the room.

I let out a deep sigh, I finally got him back.

I wanted to hug him and squeeze him and never let go, but I didn't know what to do with the new Reed. Even though we have had deep dreams and connections together, I didn't know what to do once he was physically there with me.

"Estelle, right?" His question caused my heart to ache, but I didn't want to make him feel bad. It wasn't his fault after all.

"Yes."

His eyes wandered around the room as he says, "This place is huge!" I shrugged and went and sat on the bed. The softness made me want to pass out right then and there, but I couldn't, not with everything that was happening.

"How's your shoulder?" I asked, pointing. He looked down at the blood soaked wrap.

"Actually—" he rotated it a couple of times "—it's not too bad." He took a seat next to me.

I sighed, "Good."

Reed placed his hand on mine and said, "So, I have no idea what's going on right now, but all I know is I don't want to leave you." I felt it, the connection we used to have. "I mean, crazy things are happening. I was kidnapped and held hostage and this place looks nothing like Earth, so probably another planet or something, and that teleport thing, geez!" He laughed, still unsure if it was all real. "I mean, it's like a sci-fi movie here." I laughed with him, remembering my obsession with them before it actually became my life. His strained face smoothed out as his eyes locked on mine. "All I could think about throughout this whole thing is if I find that girl– the one haunting my dreams, and the face I can't quite put together— I promised myself I would never, ever let you go." The strength in his eyes pierced into me as his hand tightened on mine.

I wanted to believe him. Believe everything he said and meant. Hope was living in me, but my face slowly fell as I asked the question I knew the answer to, "So, you really don't remember anything?" I stared, searching in his eyes and face for any familiarity.

He crinkled his brows, then looked up and to the sides, then found my eyes again as he asked, "We have met before then?"

I scoffed and held in the tears. "Yes." I can't remember a time without you.

He took a swallow, then looked down at our hands and asked painfully, "What happened?"

I took a moment before I answered, "Astra wiped your memories, the woman that was here–"

"Your mom?" he cut me off before I could explain who she was, but I guess he heard me call her that.

"Yeah, she did it so our enemies couldn't get to you, but..." I twitched my fingers in his grasp. "I guess you couldn't fully forget me?"

He gave a soft smile. "How could I forget a face like yours?" He brushed his finger gently against my cheek, sending a force all the way down to my heart.

I missed him so much.

A small knock came on the door as both our heads snapped to it.

"Stay here," I whispered as I already felt the build in my chest. I had just gotten him back, I'd be damned if someone was going to take him away. I slowly got up and headed to the door. Reed mumbled something, but I ignored him. I braced myself and creaked the door open.

"Hey." Dennis stood there with some stuff in his hands. I gave a sigh and opened the door wider as I calmed my nerves and pushed the urge back down.

"Dawkins, what are you doing here?" I looked to the sides for anyone else.

"Just brought some bandages and clothes." His eyes searched behind me as he lifted the things towards me.

"Oh," I said, taking the items from him. "Thanks."

"Who is it, Estelle?" Reed came next to me and placed his hand on the small of my back.

"Oh, um... uh..." I stuttered, looking back and forth as Reed smiled and Dennis eyed him from head to toe.

"Prince Dawkins," he said as he held out his hand.

"Reed." They shook hands. "Nice to meet you."

"He brought you these." I shoved the bandages and clothes into Reed's chest a little harder than I should have as he made small "oof" sound.

"Oh, thanks, man." Reed carried the items and went back into the room.

"Well, that was awkward," Dennis muttered and turned to walk away.

"Dawkins!" I called out as he stopped. "Thank you," I whispered.

His shoulders stiffened. "Just wanted to make sure you were okay." And he quickly walked off.

I closed my eyes and closed the door, leaning on it with my forehead and hands.

"Hey," Reed says, "tell that guy, uh, what was his name again?"

"Dawkins," I breathed into the door.

"Yeah, Dawkins. Tell him thanks, this helped a lot and what's weird, I think it's almost healed or something. Does that happen a lot here?" He knew absolutely nothing. Not even his hateful memories of Dennis. I wanted to tell him, tell him everything, but I was so exhausted.

"There's a bathroom over there, you can shower and change into those clothes." I pushed myself from the door and I headed toward my closet.

"Hey, everything okay?" he asked, concerned. Before I knew it, his warmth was behind me and he grabbed my hand. His touch was a relief and a pain at the same time. It sent me a physical reminder that he wasn't, and never would be, who he was. "Estelle, are you all right?"

"Um, yeah, sorry. I'm just tired. I'm gonna change, you just go ahead and get cleaned up." I quickly pulled my hand back and disappeared into my closet. Closing the door behind me, I leaned against it, sliding down onto the floor, tears flowing down my cheeks. I took my hands and pressed them against my forehead. I had him back, but not in the same way.

My heart felt whole and empty at the same time.

His face. His touch. His smell.

All were a reminder of everything we had and a reminder that things would never be the same.

After my mini breakdown in the closet, I managed to scrounge up some clothes. Black lounge pants and a white t-shirt would have to do. When I came out he was still in the shower. I threw myself on the bed, stomach first.

I heard a knock on the door and lifted my face up from the bedding. "Come in!"

"All right, here's what's going on," Astra's voice came booming in, as I lay still on the bed. "Estelle? Estelle, are you paying attention?" I heard her body move to the bed.

"No! I want to just lay here and do nothing forever!" My voice was muffled by the bed.

"Estelle!" I felt her force wrap around me and lift me off the bed, turning my body upwards and sitting me up on the bed.

"Was that necessary?" I asked, exhausted. Her commanding body was in front of me with her hand held in the sky.

"Listen." She placed her hand behind her and paced. "I have convinced Vega to postpone whatever he intended to do for a little while, maybe a couple of days at most. He has to handle other business, so hopefully he will be occupied for a while. In the meantime, you should not wander around without a guard, you or Reed. We can't risk it. Kailor or Dad should be with you at all times."

"Mom, seriously?" I pointed to my necklace. "Ancient power here, can't touch this." I pointed up and down to my body.

Her mouth twitched. "Even so, you should have someone with you. How about you rest and we will talk more tomorrow? I can take Reed to his room." She turned before I could argue.

"No," Reed spoke. We both looked to the bathroom, finding him in a white bathrobe, his hair was freshly washed, falling around his face. He stood tall with the attitude of a king. "I stay with her. I will not let her out of my sight again." Oooh... and sounding like one too.

Astra turned her head to me, giving me the expression of, "seriously, you are not buying into this". I stood up and walked to Reed and stood before him, blocking him from Astra.

"He stays with me. Permanently." I smirked at my words.

Astra eyes flitted between the two of us for a couple of seconds until she finally exhaled. "Very well, I suppose it's better if neither one of you are alone. Kailor will be standing guard if you need anything. Sleep tight." She stepped to me and kissed me gently on the forehead and walked out.

"Did you want me in another room?" he asked and I turned to him. "I spoke without asking what you wanted, I just– uh..." He shifted his feet. "I just knew I didn't want to leave you again."

"I know," I agreed, giving him a small smile. I walked to the bed and sat down. "Here, we should get some rest. We have tomorrow to catch up." I looked at his black lounge pants and black shirt Dennis got for him. He knew his size pretty close. I got under the covers and pulled them over me. I gave an awkward fake smile, the one thing I have never had to do with him.

Reed cleared his throat and stuttered, "Uh... do I? Have we– ?" I opened my eyes finding him standing awkwardly at the side of the bed. Of course, he didn't remember the countless nights he would sneak into my room and climb into my bed. I scooted more to the middle of the bed and opened the covers. Might as well rip it off like a band aid. "We haven't had sex if that's what you mean, but we have slept in the same bed."

"Right, right, of course," he said, slowly climbing in the covers. He laid on his back, staring at the ceiling while maintaining an uncomfortable gap between us.

I let out a sigh and closed my eyes, whispering, "Good night, Reed."

"Good night, Estelle."

And with those words, it felt like I got one of the best night's sleep since I got here.
Chapter 21

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.

I tilted my head up and found Reed's arms wrapped around my waist, his body firmly pressed against my back, his head nuzzled on the back of my neck and hair, and his light breaths blowing by my ear.

Exactly how I wanted him.

Maybe there was hope for us yet. I heard the knocks again. I slowly peeled his arm from my waist and headed to the door and cracked it open, squinting my eyes at the light.

"Princess." Kailor stood before me as I wiped my eyes.

"Kailor, sorry, come on in." I yawned and held the door wider.

"Not necessary, just letting you know breakfast is ready whenever you and Reed get hungry."

"Thanks, Kailor, we'll be down soon. Oh, um, Reed doesn't have any clothes. Do you think–"

"Of course, Princess, I have just the thing." He slowly bowed his head, winked, and walked down the stairs. I closed the door and looked at the bed as Reed stretched his arms and legs and started feeling where my body had been. He felt more, then whipped his head up, looking around desperately, eyes wide.

"Reed, you okay?" I asked.

His eyes met mine and immediate relief washed over his face as he straighter. "Sorry, I thought I dreamed you up again and I was alone."

I went and sat down next to him. "You're never alone, not as long as I'm here."

His arms quickly wrapped around me. "And you will never be alone either."

For a moment, with his arms around me and his scent in my nose, I could forget that he didn't remember me and everything was right.

Another small knock came at the door.

"Who's that?" he asked as he pulled from my arms.

"Probably Kailor with your clothes." I stood and went to the door. I opened it and sure enough, there he was with a handsome suit in his hands. It was a dark silver with a blue shimmering sash across the chest.

"Is that for me?" Reed asked, coming up behind me as he opened the door wider.

"I..." Kailor gasped, hesitating. His eyes grew wide as his lips stuttered in place with his frozen body.

Crap! I'd forgotten it was the first time he had actually spoken with his son. He looked so dumbfounded I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or cry. Reed looked down at me, raising his eyebrow, then back at Kailor.

"Kailor!" I raised my voice to snap him to attention. His eyes blinked multiple times and he gave a curt nod. "This is Reed. Reed, this is Kailor, he's a close family friend and trusted guard for my mom, Astra."

"Well," Reed smiled, "any friend of Estelle is a friend of mine. Nice to meet you." Reed held out his hand. Kailor looked at it as if his touch would burn him.

Another couple of seconds passed.

Awkward.

I cleared my throat as Kailor snapped out of it and placed his hand in Reed's.

Reed gave a polite smile.

I felt like I was betraying him, not telling him the truth, but since Kailor didn't mention it, I didn't either.

"Nice to meet you too," Kailor finally talked, "here are your clothes, sir."

He handed them to Reed as he took them with a high-pitched whistle. "Fancy!" He turned and went back into the room admiring the suit in his hand.

I stepped out slightly from the room and pulled the door closer to my back so Reed wouldn't hear me say, "Kailor, are you all right?" I placed my hand on his forearm.

"Uh, yes, Princess. Sorry, he's just– he's a man now. He's so big." His eyes went past my shoulder towards the room. "Reminds me of his mother too." A natural sadness grew into his face, like he had used that face many times before.

"I'm sorry, Kailor," was all I could whisper.

His eyes swept to my necklace, then back to the ground, looking like he didn't want me to notice. "Thank you, Princess, I'll wait for you here and escort you both to the dining area."

"You don't have to, we can meet you." He didn't say anymore and he didn't budge. I guess I got my answer. I gave a loud groan. "Fine, we'll be out soon."

I closed the door and turned to see the bathroom door open and found a fresh Reed stepping out in his newfound silver suit. The shimmering blue sash accented his dark, smoky blue-like hair. He tugged on the sash to straighten it and ran his fingers through his hair.

"How do I look?" he asked, holding out his arms.

"Very handsome." I gave a small laugh and covered my mouth. "You look like you were born in Valen." I couldn't help but let out an ironic smile. "Kailor's waiting outside, insisting on escorting us to breakfast. Let me get ready really quick."

Dashing into the closet, I moved my eyes across all the fancy dresses. Why did they have to be all formal? I moved through the multiple dresses and found a dark blue shimmering dress that fell just below my knees, with a v-neck and a low cut back. It was still rather fancy but it was one of the few that could pass as somewhat casual. I found some black shimmering wedges with a sash that wrapped around my ankles. I walked out of the closet as I fixed my curls, running my fingers through them. No time to style it, so I let it curl naturally.

I stopped as I found Reed's eyes. They dragged slowly from my legs and all the way up to my face.

"You okay?" I asked.

He walked to me and held my chin gently, tipping my face up to his. "How did I ever forget you?" His eyes glowed with a familiarity, a hint of the little boy I grew up with.

I smiled as my face relaxed and I let out a breath, "You didn't."

And with that, his lips gently brushed mine, kissing me softly and innocently. His tongue slowly crept on mine, giving me a slight rub, then slowly pulling away, leaving my mouth open, hovering for more.

"Baby steps," he whispered with a hungered groan. He didn't want to stop and neither did I. But he was right. We had to take our time. Like it or not, he wasn't the same guy I grew up with. Reality sunk in as I angled my frown down to the ground. "Hey." He tilted my face back up, revealing a tear that fell. He took his finger and brushed it aside lightly. "I may not have my memories, but I know I will fall in love with you all over again." He kissed me firmly on my forehead and leaned down to my ear to whisper, "You look stunning by the way."

"Thank you," I whispered as my cheeks started to burn. He held out his arm and I wrapped my arm in his. We walked out with Kailor leading the way. All the servants and guards we passed paused in the hallway and bowed their heads in our direction. I acknowledged them by giving a small nod.

"Am I missing something here?" Reed whispered in my ear.

"Um... yeah. Astra, my mom, is kind of the queen here, so... um... I'm kind of..."

"A princess?" he chimed. I nodded.

"We do have a lot of catching up to do," he muttered. We came upon two more big steel doors. I heard lots of chatter on the other side.

"Wait." I said, stopping Kailor from opening the doors.

He turned to me and asked, "Problem, Princess?"

"Um... who's in there?"

"Your mother, Vega, a couple of the generals and other second in commands, is there a problem?" he repeated.

Yeah, you could say that.

I did not want to be in the room with people who'd do nothing but judge me, then add Vega in the mix... uggh— I could just cringe with the thought of it. "I don't want to go in there," was all I could muster up.

"I can take it from here," Gramps spoke as he approached us from the side.

"Gramps!" I ran and hugged him as he gave me a gentle pat on the back.

"Hello, Essie," he greeted as I pulled from him. "Kailor, why don't you gather some food for them and meet me at Astra's spot. I think Estelle would like some privacy with her guest."

"Oh, right. Reed, this is my grandpa, Larry." I introduced. "He's known as Bevin here too."

"Hello, sir, nice to meet you." Reed smiled and held out his hand.

"Oh, Reed, you are looking good." Gramps ignored his hand and wrapped his arms around him as Reed raised his eyebrows in shock.

"Um... I'm assuming we have met before?" Reed asked, glancing at me confused.

"Met?" Gramps huffed, pulling from him, but keeping his hands on his shoulders. "I've known you since you were this tiny!" Gramps laughed as he held his hand just below his knee.

"I'm sorry, sir," he replied, his face filled with guilt.

"Ah, don't apologize." Gramps waved his hand in the air. "It isn't your fault. Kailor, please meet us there."

"Of course, Your Highness." Kailor bowed and went into the doors, carefully not opening it wide so the others wouldn't see us.

"Come, I'll show you a place I know you will love." Gramps held out his arm and I linked mine in his with Reed following close.
Chapter 22

The place Gramps took us was beautiful and I recognized it immediately.

It was from the memory Gramps showed me the first time he let me see into his soul. There weren't as many trees as he first showed me, but it was getting there. A couple of big trees were lined in rows, with a couple of sprouts in-between them. In the middle was a small, but quaint, white gazebo with intricate carvings of shimmering blue along the roof top.

"This was from your memory, wasn't it?" I asked.

"You remember?" Gramps angled his head toward me.

"Of course."

"Yes, the first time I learned your name and held you in my arms."

"It's a little different though. Less trees?" I looked around.

"Yes, during some strife, this place got burned. Astra has been slowly trying to get it back to how it was. And this—" he knocked on the structure "—was one of the first things Perseus built." Gramps shook his head and laughed. "Oh man, when Vega tried to take this down, phew, your mom was a force to be reckoned with."

"Ha–ha I bet! Obviously she won." I rubbed the smooth surface, what felt like a mixture of marble and wood.

"Vega wanted to tear it down because someone else built it?" Reed asked, curious. He sat on the bench built into it, leaning back, his arm resting on the railing.

"Um... long story," I answered, "I'll tell you later."

"Your Majesties," Kailor called out. He approached the gazebo with a silver tray, two bottles of water, and two white big plates filled with food.

"Thank you, Kailor." Reed immediately stood up and took the tray from his hands and placed it on the bench.

"You're welcome, sir." I could tell Kailor felt awkward addressing his son so formally. "Bevin, Vega is requesting our presence."

"Both of us?" Gramps' voice raised.

"I'm afraid so." They both eyed us.

"We will be fine," I say, "we'll stay right here until one of you gets back. Plus remember, ancient power." I pointed to my necklace again. Gramps lips made a hard line and Kailor's eyes went cold.

"I'll send Dawkins over when he's finished with his affairs." Gramps said quickly. Before I could argue they walked off.

"Don't worry about it, Estelle," Reed said, "come eat, it all smells good, whatever it is." I looked over and he had our plates on the benches, one leg tucked under him and one hanging over. He motioned his hand for me to sit across from him. I sighed and sat down and started eating.

It was awkwardly quiet between us, which was such a weird feeling for me, because I never felt strained around Reed.

"I'm sorry." I blurted out.

"For what?" he asked in the middle of his chew.

"I did this. I got you into all of this. I put you in danger. If it wasn't for me and that stupid dream..."

"I loved that dream." He was grinning seductively, probably remembering the passionate kiss we had.

I rolled my eyes. "That's not the point."

His face went serious again. "No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I ever forgot you. Damn it! It kills me that I can't remember anything about you, I mean, I know I remember you, but I don't!" He threw the food that was in his hand back on his plate and stood up to pace. "Why do I have to be so weak-minded? Why would I ever forget you?" He was getting angrier by the second.

I had to calm him down. "Reed, you had no choice, plus, my mom's powers can be pretty powerful, from what I hear. Sit, let's forget it, we're here now." I took his hand as he whisked by me, pulling him back to sit down. "We can start over I guess."

His shoulders relaxed as he sat back down. "Yeah, start over, good idea."

"So how was it back on Earth?" I asked but didn't want to confuse him more if I mentioned people he didn't know, specifically Dana or Kent.

"Good, I guess," he said while he took another bite.

"Who do you hang out with there?" I took more bites of my food, trying to sound non forceful.

"Well of course Aiden, do you know him?" He quirked his brow in question as he swallowed. I nodded. Of course Aiden and he would be together. "And his girlfriend, Dana." He picked at some of his food.

"Dana!" my voice squeaked at her name.

"You know her too?" He chose another ball of dough of some sort and popped it in his mouth.

"Yes, she was my best friend!" My body felt lighter as I sat straighter. "Her and Aiden are officially together?" I couldn't hide my excitement.

"Well of course, ever since freshman year, since he saved her from her stupid step-brother Vincent and his lackey Kent." I started choking when Kent and Vincent were put in the same sentence. "You okay?" He took the water and handed it to me. I drank quickly and took a breath.

"Kent and Vincent?" I practically spat his name.

"Oh yeah, those two cause so much trouble. Man, I hate them." He picked a couple smaller chunks and popped them in his mouth. "Did you know those two also?"

"Um... no," I lied, but I felt like I wasn't. Because if Kent was with Vincent, then I really didn't know him. What the hell happened?

My heart squeezed at the very thought of Kent being like Vincent. The kind blond-haired, blue-eyed scrawny kid I saved from the playground couldn't possibly be anything like Vincent. I didn't even notice that the ball of food in my palm was now squished between my fingers. My negative feelings started brewing inside me.

"Uh... Estelle, your eyes are doing that thing again, are you okay?" I threw the food back onto my plate, covered my face and stood, turning my back toward him.

It was surfacing. The aching power rushed from my legs and made its way to my head. It was getting harder to breath.

Stop it. Stop it. Stop it.

I looked at my waist and found Reed's arms wrapped around it. His head lowered by the side of my face with his nose touching my ear. "I'm here for you, Estelle," he whispered, "permanently."

And with that, it was gone. I felt myself again. I placed my hands on his.

Reed was my rock, my anchor, and my soul.

He pulled me out.

I needed him now more than ever, with or without his memories. "Thank you," I said softly.

"Did I know about this? What you have? I mean, in the past?" he asked. I shook my head. "Well good, something new for me to remember." His cheek rose against my face as he smiled.

"It's not something I would want you to know anyway. I don't even know if I know myself," I mumbled.

"So you guys are like telekinetic or something? Like what you did back there, when you rescued me. You just picked all of them up and threw them. It was amazing! But then," he turned me to face him, "do everyone's eyes turn like yours?" He brushed the corner of mine gently.

"No, that's just me." How was I even going to explain all of it? "It's complicated I guess. I mean we are all very mind oriented." I shifted my eyes down to my necklace, then back at the ground.

"There's something you're not telling me?" he asked. I looked up at his searching eyes.

"And how do you know?"

"I don't know," he said with a small shrug. "A feeling, I guess? Did I always know when you were keeping something from me?"

I laughed. "Actually, yeah, you did."

He gave that gentle smile I knew so well. "Well then, there you go."
Chapter 23

We stood there for a couple of minutes, just wrapped in each other's embrace. I made sure to not take the moments for granted anymore.

How his breath was steady. How he smelled. How his fingers slightly grazed my arms and twitched in a certain pattern that could put me to sleep in a minute. I focused on his chest. How I had missed it. So much.

The comfortable silence went on for a while until I finally had to say, "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," he said as he lightly ran his fingers through my curls.

"Can you show me?"

I felt his body shift. "Show you what?"

I debated on what I had just asked, but it was something I had to see for myself, something I couldn't believe. "Show me when Aiden and Dana first met."

He tilted his head back. "Sure, I guess. How do we do that?"

"Well..." I took his hand and pulled him back to the bench, sitting us down so we were facing each other. I took my hands and placed them on the sides of his head, staring into his oceanic eyes. "Just free your mind and focus on the memory. Let me in."

"I think you've always been in." I could see him smiling through his eyes.

"Shhh... concentrate." And, as easy as it was, I saw his bright soul, the same bright blue hue around his eyes the first time I showed him my memories. The world sucked me in as I let out a sharp gasp.

I was outside of our school, about to round the corner where I found Dana and Vincent, but what I was feeling was different. I was looking for Aiden and heard struggling as panic flashed in me as I ran around the corner.

I'm Reed.

I saw Aiden being restrained by Kent as Vincent threw punches into his gut, causing Aiden to lurch forward. Dana was against the wall on her knees, covering her face and sobbing. I stared at Kent, his blond hair slicked back in a way I had never seen before, and his blue eyes chilling and filled with a cold, but excited stare. I could feel Reed's emotions take over in the moment. He ran to Vincent and tackled him to the ground, punching his hard face into the concrete. I felt a pain upside my head as he got thrown off, Kent kicking me in the side, causing my vision to blur. Aiden's body flew at Kent, throwing him onto the ground.

Vincent came on top of me, his nose bleeding, and started punching Reed in the face. I grabbed his leg that was next to his head, hooked my arm onto Vincent's neck and threw him to the side. I stood quickly and eyed Kent pummeling Aiden on the ground. I started hearing kids buzzing in my ears.

"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

Reed lunged at Kent, but Kent was fast and moved out of the way. Kent threw a punch at me, but I quickly dodged and aimed my leg at Kent. Kent dodged again and they were at a stand-off. I could feel Reed's loathing build and build. There were two emotions through everything; Reed not being surprised at their actions, and me shocked, not wanting to look anymore.

His bitterness. His revulsion. Reed is seething.

I pulled my hands away, everything dissolving in a blink, and I was now staring at the ground.

I can't watch anymore.

The two men in my life that had been with me through everything were at each other's throat, about to kill each other and I was nowhere to be found. I couldn't stop it. I wanted to delve into the Earth's core and search for Kent's mind and scream at him.

How? Why? So many questions.

No answers.

That wasn't Kent.

That... that... thing was not the same kid I grew up with. Not the same one who would flash his soul-gazing smile. The image of when I left them on Earth floated into my mind. Kent placing a comforting hand on Reed as they both watched me take off—that was how they were supposed to be.

Not like that. Not what I just saw.

"Are you okay?" he asked, but I kept my gaze on the floor below us. His voice reminded me I had to deal with one problem at a time. He had no idea who Kent really was, no idea of all the memories the three of us had together. Right then, Reed needed me.

"Sorry," I shifted my body away from him. "I just couldn't concentrate too long." I couldn't help Kent right then, but I would find a way.

"Well, it's all right," Reed says, "we were eventually broken up by teachers, but whatever. I got a couple of good hits on that bastard Kent and Vincent. Plus, it was worth it bringing Aiden and Dana together. I hope they last through college."

I blinked rapidly and shot a look at him, "What'd you say?"

"College," he repeated slower. "They just started, but I think they'll be okay.

"Wait." I turned to him again and held out my hands. "How old are you Reed?"

"Nineteen, why?"

"Ninet-t-t—" I gasped as I stood up and paced.

How is that possible? I'd only been here a couple of days, weeks? I hadn't been able to keep track of time. How was it that a year had passed on Earth already? I guess it made sense since everyone here did look younger. You wouldn't think Astra or Perseus would be my parents. Or that Kailor would be Reed's. I couldn't imagine how old Gramps really was.

"What's the matter?" he asked, concerned.

"Nothing, I just have to ask my mom something later." I hated keeping things from Reed, but something in my gut was telling me the less he knew, the safer he'd be.

"Hey." His hand grabbed mine as I passed by, stopping me in my tracks. "Let's stop worrying, about everything. How about you show me around?"

I looked around at the area. "We shouldn't wander around by ourselves, at least that's what Mom said."

"And do you do everything she says?" he teased with a hint of mischief.

"All right, come on. I guess it won't hurt, we are still near the palace." I shrugged as I held out my hand to him. He stood and took it as we walked off. "To be honest, I haven't really seen this whole place yet either."

"Well good, something we can do together then." He squeezed my hand tighter as I nodded. We walked around and around, keeping close to the huge palace beside us and talked. He did most of the talking, telling me about his life, which I liked. I didn't intend to share anything about me. At least not right now.

His life seemed the same, just without me in the picture, or Kent. Well Kent was in his life, just not in a good way. The palace grounds were beautiful, filled with all sorts of blooming foliage that I'd never seen before.

"Hey, what's that?" he asked as we found ourselves in front of a stone archway entrance. It was at least one hundred feet, maybe more.

An immediate pull was drawing me in.

Tingling. Sizzling.

I didn't like it. "I don't know, let's go." I tugged at his hand to go back the way we came but he didn't budge.

"Oh come on," he said as he let go of my hand and went toward it. "Where's your sense of adventure?"

"Reed! Come back!" He was almost going to walk through the archway when his body flew back, his body tumbling through the ground. "Reed!" Two guards appeared out of nowhere, hovering over his body. The transformation was instant, my eyes changed and the power was immediately in my hands. "Get away from him!" Their heads whipped in my direction as I grabbed their bodies with my force and started strangling them in the air.

"Estelle! Stop it!" Dennis yelled, coming from behind me and pulled at my arms. I glared at him, throwing his body back from me, then focusing my attention back at the guards.

"Estelle," Reed whispered. His voice pulled me out, as his touch was rubbing gently on my arms.

Reed.

I dropped the guards and rubbed my eyes. I could hear Dennis' voice scolding the guards and footsteps running away.

"Es, you all right?" I looked up and found Dennis in front of me with Reed at my side. He looked over at Reed. "You okay, Reed?"

"Yes, fine, just a few scrapes." Reed answered, but his eyes never left mine.

"Sorry they were guarding the entrance and didn't know who you were." Dennis explained, looking back at me.

"Entrance to what?" I asked suspiciously.

His face twitched. "Nothing for you to worry about. Come, let's get you two back."

"Bandages guy, right?" Reed asked.

"Prince Dawkins." Dennis emphasized the "prince". He looked at Reed, then at me as the corner of his mouth curled slightly. "Estelle's betrothed."

I coughed on air and clutched my chest. "Dawkins!"

Dennis shrugged in humor. "What? It's true."

He was having way too much fun with Reed's memory loss.

"Oh..." Reed stuttered and stared at me questioningly.

"Doesn't mean she will marry me though." Dennis laughed and patted him on the back. "Nice seeing you again, Reed. I'm sure we will be good friends." He turned to me and winked, causing me to roll my eyes. Reed had a confused look on his face, hoping I would explain.

I changed the subject and asked, "Where'd the guards go?"

"I told them who you were and that Astra would be pissed if she found out, so they better go change shifts before I change my mind about telling her myself," Dennis answered. We headed back to the palace and he walked us back to my room. "I'm gonna go see what's holding up Kailor. I'll be right back. Just stay in your room and don't leave until I get back." He looked up at Reed behind me. "Make sure you guys don't leave, it's for her safety."

Reed gripped my shoulder. "Don't worry, she's safe with me."

Dennis nodded as Reed steered me back into the room, shutting the door behind us.
Chapter 24

"How long were we outside? Is it dinner time already or bed time?" Reed asked as he stretched his arms in the air.

"You know, I'm not sure. I can never tell time here but I'm sure Kailor will bring us something to eat again." I sat at the edge of the bed.

"So betrothed, huh?" he said as he took the seat next to me.

Damn. He remembered. "I guess, I don't know?" I shrugged heavily. "All I know is that it's not happening!" I crossed my arms.

"Well, he seems like a nice guy."

I looked at him surprised as his eyes were focused ahead of him. At least him not remembering kept his real feelings for Dennis at bay. "Anywaaaay," I said, changing the subject. "I wonder where my mom, Gramps, and Kailor are. It's not like them to leave me alone for this long. I hope everything's okay."

"So your mom, Astra, is the queen? She's the one who wiped our memories?" he asked. I nodded. "Well, if you have powers, can't you just make me remember again?"

"Well, no. They say it's irreversible." I said it quickly, but it didn't make it any less painful. "But then again..." I remembered Dennis' words, "But then again, they said once someone went on a rampage, they never came back, and well, I have seen you prove that wrong multiple times, so don't believe everything you hear, you may just change the world, Es."

Maybe I can change it.

I eyed my pendant dangling from my neck. I did have all this power and I had to at least try. I had no idea what I was doing, but I figured it was kind of the same as showing a memory, except showing tons of memories. "Well, we can try something, if you're up for it?" I say.

"Anything," he said as he leaned into my gaze.

"They say touching will make it stronger, at least that's what Gramps says." I turned toward him and held my hands up to his head. His hands came on my waist as he brought me on the bed, straddling him.

"Is this enough touch?" His breath was on me, inches from my face.

My face was probably bright red. "Uh, yeah, sure." I laughed nervously. I took my hands and gently placed them on the sides of his head.

"What do I do?" His blue eyes stared into mine.

"Just like before, when you showed me that memory, but you don't need to focus on anything. You just have to concentrate and let me in again." I took a couple of breaths, then let out a huge one in a long wind as I felt my body relax inch-by-inch, preparing myself to achieve what I wanted to.

I want Reed back.

My real Reed. And I'd do anything in my power to bring him back to me. I stared into those blue eyes, his mind immediately melding with mine.

I found myself standing in white with what looked like multiple movies playing all around me, almost too many to count. Memories and scenes unfolded as far as I could see and as high. They had one thing in common: Reed.

I walked around in a circle, viewing his memories when he was a baby and seeing him at school. I felt like I was walking for miles and hours. I finally stopped when I came to a huge black space in the middle of his whole life. It was enormous, it looked like you could fill it with fifty airplanes in a straight line. This is where I needed to focus. I stood in the black hole.

Now what do I do? The whole experience was new and I was clueless. I focused on what I wanted; his memories of me. But how would I get them back there? I tapped my foot and scratched my head. Well, all the memories are in my head. I sat down on the cold black nothingness and crossed my legs.

"Okay, here it goes." I whispered and laid my hands gently on my knees and straightened my back, mimicking the position Gramps did on the merry-go-round. I focused on my mind, all the memories I had of Reed. Our first encounter when we were nine, and the famous blue lollipop that started our friendship. All the memories rushed in my head, like a movie on fast-forward. My mind started to hurt. I let out a hard groan. I heard Reed let one out too.

"Estelle, is this right?" he asked, but I ignored it.

"Shhh! Just concentrate." I focused harder, replaying the movie over and over, from beginning to end.

With each repeat came more pain.

I heard Reed yell, but kept going. I felt it in my soul that this was working. My eyes felt twitchy as they rolled to the back of my head and as fast as they went, they flew open.

As if I was watching a movie, I saw my nine-year old self crying at the steps of the assisted living home. My voice came out, but it wasn't mine, it was Reed's.

I was him.

I was feeling everything he was feeling, seeing our memories through his eyes. I felt his immediate love when he gave me the lollipop and saw my smile. His love grew deeper and deeper as we got older. I saw myself at the age of thirteen, laughing at the lockers with some of my friends, waving at him as he walked. He saw me as... untouchable... beautiful. I felt his heart race when we held hands or when I hugged him. My touch was the same to him as his was to me.

His heart fluttered and his mind went crazy.

I saw new memories come back with Kent. Instead of the icy revulsion he had for him, his jealousy and worry filled it when Kent started to take up most of my attention. His acceptance and utmost respect for Kent grew as we got older, yet still every ounce of jealousy was there and kicking when he would see us together... touching... laughing, or even just talking.

Damn, how could he stand it?

It was agonizing, but a relief at the same time. It was how they were supposed to be. Kent made me happy and he loved it when I was happy. I felt his happiness when I showed him the playground and all of us playing together and staring up at the stars. His rage and anger hit me hard when the memory of our first encounter with Vincent came up.

His previous memories were dissipating into thin air and being rebuilt with the truth.

I felt his killing instinct when he kicked Vincent to the ground, wanting to go and bash his head a thousand times over. He thought of me through every decision he made, so I felt him judge his actions with me in his every thought. He knew what I would think of him if he let his rampage take over, so instead, he held himself in... for me. I saw the memory of when Dennis and I started to go out.

Oh shit.

The feelings he had to hold back. I saw Dennis and me holding hands, walking down a hall. Reed's fist came up to a locker as he slammed into it; pain numbing pain. I saw Kent come into his vision, reassuring and trying to calm me down. His gracious feelings toward Kent bloomed, because he knew he felt what Kent felt.

An unbreakable bond between them.

They were friends again. Best friends, but neither would admit it. They were the only two that could know what it felt like. The tears streamed down my face as I concentrated harder. His cut-throat rage slammed into me as I hunched my back slightly, holding myself from falling to the ground.

The day we found Dennis with that dumb blond.

I saw his visions of torture toward Dennis, wanting to throw him in a room and beat him half to death, heal him, and then beat him again and again for the rest of his life. I felt my soft face on his back, wanting to leave and Kent agreeing with me.

He felt heartbreak with me.

He hated seeing me cry and hated seeing me hurt. He was knocking on my door multiple times through the week and weekend, trying to get me out of my break-up rut. Always cheering me up, wishing for my smile to come back on my face, and at the same time still wanting to pummel Dennis' face in. And at night, when he would get my texts.

I can't take it. My heart hurts. Everything hurts.

His eyes stung with pain as he read it and drove right over. Reed lightly tapped on my window and saw my face as I opened it and let him in. His heart broke at the sight. My nose was red like Rudolf and my eyes puffy as grapes. He pressed his body against mine, squeezing tightly as waves tingled over his whole body, every ounce of his strength restraining himself from turning the embrace into more than just a comforting hold. He had a lot of rage directed at Dennis.

It was going to be unpleasant when they met again.

Kent and he plotted together, methods to cheer me up. I felt his relief that I wasn't broken or gone. I couldn't help thinking it was so weird seeing myself through his eyes.

Did he really think of me that way, some perfect goddess being held up on a pedestal? Because that's how I saw myself through his eyes. I was perfect in every shape and form, even my flaws and annoying habits I thought were horrible... were perfect to him. His heart jumped every time I sent him a text or a phone call. He was like a school-boy, but always kept his cool. The memory of my most recent encounter with Dennis back on Earth flashed by. His agitation built and built as he saw me standing with Dennis talking in the cafeteria, but then Dennis grabbed me and he couldn't take anymore and leapt up after me with Kent following.

He had the greatest respect for Kent, knowing they had each other's back. He wanted to tear into Dennis and the only thing stopping him was my precious hand on his chest. All the memories were flooding back and going on repeat.

The memory that stood out the most was his antipathy. Trepidation washed over him when Gramps said they wouldn't remember me. His desperation when I walked toward him from Kent. The questions ran through his mind. It had to come to this eventually. It would have been Kent or me. Did she choose him? Does she love him? Is she coming to let me down easy? Will I ever see her again?

Will I remember her?

Please be with me.

Being Reed was so stressful. I didn't know he felt this way so deeply; the longing, the unknowing love. He didn't think I loved him the way he loved me. His view changed when I said the words, "I told him my heart belonged to someone else." His whole body entered euphoria when our lips touched for the first time. It was like heaven, Earth, and space didn't exist, it was just us.

Excruciating pain was beating in his chest when he was looking up at me leaving in the beam of light, feeling Kent's hand on his shoulder.

Blackness.

It repeated more and more. I was feeling it multiple times, as if they were my own, as if our minds were one. My memories from when I came on Valen started to flood his mind, as if he saw everything from my view, from the very beginning. Finding my mother and seeing Kailor, his father.

He was finding out the truth.

Feeling Vega's hate and the episodes. The episodes caused by the pendant. Everything that had happened until then, he knew. It was like I fit my mind with his.

I found him standing before me.

He was confused and looked around, looking down at his palms. His eyes met mine. Our feet weren't moving, but we were pulled together hard, our faces touching nose to nose. His breath tickled my cheeks. He lifted his hands and I followed his movements. We watched as our fingers melted with each other. He pushed his legs towards me as I could feel our four legs become two. I pushed against his chest, his chest burying deep into mine. And with our foreheads touching, sinking into each other, our eyes met, sinking our whole bodies into everything. Everything was swirling into a cloud of emotions. Intertwining, going through every crevice; every space and action. Our fingers and toes fit into one.

Something was building... churning.

We were going to erupt.

The pain was getting worse and worse. I forgot whose screams I was hearing, mine or his? My eyes flew open and I found myself no longer sitting in the blackness anymore, but all the memories folding into one. A sharp pain melded into our minds and threw us out.

Our energies threw us back.

I flew against the end board of the bed, out of his lap, and his body flew against the head board.
Chapter 25

My whole body sizzled and steamed.

My mind felt out of place for a second until I composed myself and rubbed my head. "Reed?" I groaned and looked across from me, his body limp, head hanging low. I rushed over and shook his shoulders. "Reed? Reed? Reed!" Finally, his eyes slowly opened. "Are you okay?"

He jumped out of bed, pushing me out of the way. He looked around like a maniac, and then back at me on the bed, his face slowly smoothing out.

"Reed?" I whispered.

"Es." A sense of relief and ache was in that small whisper. I could feel my heart beat loud in my ears. Is this true? Is this happening? "I've missed you," he whispered. His familiar voice rang through my ears and sent a chill everywhere.

"You– you called me Es?" I slowly stood from the bed and stood in front of him, "Do you remember me?" I could barely hear my voice. My feet lifted off the floor as he picked me up by the waist and twirled me in the room.

"Yes!" he screamed and laughed. "I remember everything."

A million thoughts coursed through my head.

Did he just say yes?

Was this really happening?

Was he back? Did I get my real Reed back?

I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. "Reed." It left my mouth, but no sound. "Reed." I said again and it felt real. "Reed!" It felt so good to scream it. "You came back!"

"I never left," he said before his lips crashed on mine. Those soft pink lips I felt on Earth were mine again. His tongue remembered every curve in my mouth.

It was paradise.

It was everything I wished. Everything I'd hoped.

Reed.

My Reed.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!

Our moment was broken.

Damn it.

I pulled my lips from his as he groaned and muttered a few curse words.

"Hang on!" I unfolded from him. "Wait here." I ran to the door and opened it. I didn't see anybody. I looked back at Reed who was casing out the room like it was his first time in it. I went out the door and slowly creaked it behind me, looking down the stairwell and down over the banister, seeing nothing but the elegant spiraling staircase. I turned to go back to my room and found my body slammed to the floor.

Pain surged through my head and body.

Blackness.

*

Voices... my head throbbing and my body was waving side-to-side. I slowly opened my eyes and felt my body slung over someone's shoulder, my eyes looking down at the gravel below. My hands were in the same cuffs that were used on Borin when we took him for the trade. I remembered Dennis telling me it suppressed our powers; no wonder I felt helpless, but also light. Like how I felt in the caution room. I felt like a human again.

"Are you sure this is the way?" It was Gramps' voice, he was carrying me.

"Yes, we have to," Kailor's voice replied.

I kicked my feet and wiggled my arms. "Let me go!" His body become unstable as I thrashed. Slowly, he put me down as I turned to find Gramps and Kailor in front of me with Vega walking ahead. Several others were with him.

"What the...?" I gasped. I looked at where they were carrying me. It was a huge white dome in the distance, with lamp-posts lit along the way. The path to it was made of gravel with rocks and bushes decorating between. Two humongous silver doors were at the front. It looked like they were as tall as a mountain. I immediately knew what that place was.

The Edifice.

What threw me more was Gramps and Kailor standing in front of me. "What are you two doing?" I asked, hoping for an answer that wouldn't break me.

"Come, Estelle, it's the only way." Kailor held out his hand.

I took a step back.

The betrayal wasn't just stabbing me in the back, but at the front, the sides, and my heart. The knives were edging their way deeper and deeper. "Kailor? Gramps? What are you two doing?" I repeated, more angry. This can't be happened. This can't.

"I'm sorry, Estelle, it's the only way. If I hadn't have given that to you..." Gramps explained, looking down and gripping his fists.

"Come on, what's the hold up!" Vega yelled from up ahead.

"Hang on!" Kailor answered over his shoulder and then looked back at me. "You aren't yourself anymore, Estelle. You are a danger to everyone around you—" he placed his hands firmly at his side "—including my son."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. They were going to help Vega put me back into the Edifice even though they knew what it would do to me.

And for him to think that I would let anything happen to Reed after everything I had done hurt me even worse. Everything was rushing into me at once: trickery, unfaithfulness, anger, sorrow, hate, and revenge. If there was a time for me to have my powers, it would be now. But no matter how much I concentrated, it didn't happen. I felt a slight glimmer but it was being held back by these stupid cuffs.

"Now, come on," Kailor said, holding his hand out again.

"Don't touch me!" I screamed. The tears flew off my face. He inched back at my reaction. "I trusted you." I turned to Gramps, "And you..." he couldn't even look me in the eye, "you're my grandfather! How could you?" He shut his eyes hard and turned his body away from me. "Look at me!" He didn't move. "Look at me, Bevin!" It was the first time I didn't call him Gramps. His eyes flew open and he tilted his head away as pain flooded his face. Good, I hurt him. If only I could muster up to how much affliction he was causing me right now.

"Reed? Reed? REED!" I closed my eyes hard and concentrated. Please hear me, please, please hear me!

Silence.

I thought of the second name that I knew I wanted to call out. "Dennis? Dennis? DENNIS!" I said the names over and over and over.

"Don't even try," Kailor says the same time I felt myself lift off the ground. I was hovering in the air. I looked at Kailor and Gramps as they continued walking, Kailor's hand extended in the air, pulling me with him. We caught up to Vega and the four other men, they were in the meeting with him when I'd burst into the conclave. I think they were generals or something. We stood about one hundred feet away from the big, tall silver doors with no handles or knobs. They were just a solid mass with lines in-between to indicate its ability to open. I remembered what Dennis told me: nobody entered the Edifice. I looked down and saw a bright silver line in front of us, indicating where to stop.

We had to be this far away?

"All right, take your marks." Vega said and all of them formed a line facing the building. Kailor hovered me just past the line and in the middle, and placed me on the ground. My feet felt the surge coming from the building. I was already being drawn to it. Power was tingling all over my body, making the hairs on my arms stand. I turned to face them; Vega was standing in the middle with the four generals on his right and Kailor and Gramps on his left, all exactly five feet apart from each other. The generals looked about the same with the same blue uniform and steel metal on their chests and legs, matching the helmets on their heads. Their judging eyes pierced into me like I was a bug ready to be squashed. I averted my eyes back to Kailor and Gramps, but they were avoiding me.

"Don't worry, Estelle, you won't exist soon enough," Vega says and I gave him a sharp glare.

"What does Astra think about this?" I spit.

"Don't worry about her, I'll handle her later and soon she'll forget that you ever existed." Vega replied confidently.

I turned to Kailor and Gramps. "Is this what you want?"

Kailor's eyes finally met mine. "I'm sorry, Estelle. You don't know what it's like, to see your loved one succumb to the power, to kill your friends and having to watch their eyes lose life as you feel their heart stop beating..." A tear fell from his emotionless face. "I will not let my son live through the same thing."

"Wha– what are you talking about?" I gasped. What was he saying? That he'd lived through this before?

"Ah, I see Kailor didn't divulge that information to you, huh?" Vega asked. "Well, he's making the right choice this time. His wife was one of the few that held a pendant, and she went on a rampage and well..." I followed Vega's eyes and looked over at Kailor for the truth. He closed his eyes tight, as if he was reliving the memory as Vega told it. "Let's just say Kailor had to put her out of her misery."

"I thought you said Reed's mom died at birth?" I asked more gently. I understood why he was acting like that, but I was different. He should have known it by now. I couldn't imagine killing Reed or him killing me.

"I lied," Kailor breathed as he slowly opened his eyes and brushed the tears from his cheeks. I looked down at the cuffs that held me prisoner.

The doubts crept in.

Maybe I wasn't strong enough. To think that I would kill Kailor, Gramps, Astra, or worse, Reed. Maybe it was better that I went away. I glanced at the stupid pendant dangling from my neck, it was almost slowly floating, like it was feeling the Edifice behind it. "This is all your fault," I whispered to it like it was alive.

"All right, ready?" Vega commanded, lifting both arms towards me.

"Ready," all of them said in unison and lifted all their arms as well. I felt the different forces pass me and head to the building. I turned and saw the shiny doors slightly crack open. When that sliver of a crack hit, the power overwhelmed me, almost throwing me from my feet. I steadied myself as the energy and wind slowly blew with a light slowly pulsing. My feet started to drag slightly to it.

"What the–" I gasped and took a step back, but my feet began dragging again. It was pulling me! I could feel it drag as though a rope was tied to my legs and waist. The pendant burned brighter than I had ever seen it do before.

It knew where to go and it was taking me with it.

"All right boys, a little more, but not too much or we'll be dragged in with it!" Vega yelled.

"Kailor! Gramps!" I called out and turned. I could feel the panic in my face. Was I ready to die? Kailor kept his eyes on the doors, but Gramps' eyes finally met mine, tears streaming down his face. He didn't want to do this, but he thought it was best. It must have been killing him. "Gramps, I forgive you!" His eyes widened as the words left my mouth. If I was going to die, I didn't want him to live with the guilt. "Please tell Astra I love her and Reed and Dennis. And make sure my parents on Earth are okay, and all my friends!" I could feel the tears that were running down my face, being pulled into the Edifice.

"I-I can't do this anymore!" Gramps said and he turned to Vega.

Vega growled, "Bevin, don't slack now. We need your powers!"

"Is this really right? Maybe we should rethink this." Gramps argued.

"Bevin, we have talked about this. Now is not a good time to change your mind."

My body dragged again as the door cracked a little more, the force pulling me more aggressively. I was about ten feet away from them.

"Vega!" Was that Astra? I squinted and saw four figures turning a corner. "VEGA! You stop this right now!" Her voice was filled with so much command and rage.

"Es!" Reed yelled.

His voice was a heavenly ring in my ears. His eyes were in utter shock. As he was about to run to me, Dennis placed a hand on him and whispered something, probably warning him about the doors and the line. Eula was there too, standing with Dennis.

"All right, hang on!" Vega yelled as all of them threw their hands down to their sides, panting as if exhausted from just opening the doors slightly. My feet stopped dragging, but I could still feel a slight pull from the doors. I ran a couple of feet away back toward them, but found myself thrown on my side as the energy pulled my feet from under me. I winced as my shoulder slammed into the ground.

"Estelle!" Dennis yelled. I slowly pushed myself up, sitting on my knees. I have to get these damn cuffs off. I slammed them onto the gravel, but they were strong. It looked like steel, but it was probably made from some unearthly metal. I watched the confrontation unfold in front of me. Astra came up to Vega and smacked him hard in the face. He quickly jerked back, unfazed. I slowly used my knees to crawl, inch-by-inch, as the energy kept trying to pull me back.

"How dare you? I ought to kill you myself right now!" Astra's face was so red, I thought she was going to explode.

"Astra, I don't have time for this." Vega waved his hand in the air like he was swatting a fly.

"And you two–" Her eyes held the look of betrayal as she stared at Gramps and Kailor. "I-I don't even know what to say." Gramps and Kailor averted their gazes from her, as they did with me.

"Astra, cut this out! I don't have time, the door is cracked, we need to finish!" Vega yelled again.

Astra quickly turned to him and pointed her hand as she screamed, "No, you are not finishing, Vega!"

"Yes I am. Guards!" his voice bellowed through the sky, as twenty, maybe thirty of them came rounding the corner, marching in unison as they surrounded the people I loved. "Eula, what are you doing with them?" He held out his hand toward her, but she quickly smacked it away. His hand jolted in surprise.

"Even though I don't care for that—" she looked at me, then back at him "—thing... my son comes first and if he wants her safe, then so be it."

I raised my brows in surprise. Wow. It made me actually like her. Maybe she wasn't so bad after all... even though she called me a "thing".

Astra stepped closer to Vega, challenging his authority. The tension was building as Vega stood taller. Astra's eyes went to slits as she growled, "I don't know what I see in you anymore." She bit her lips to keep from quivering. "You are dead to me!"

I could see Vega's shoulders raise. In one fell swoop, he took his hand and grabbed Astra by the throat, lifting her off the floor. "Then why do I keep you around!" he yelled.

"Put her down!" Gramps screamed. A lot happened in that one second. Vega's body went flying a couple of feet to the right, dropping Astra on the ground, as she coughed and gripped her neck. Gramps was shocked, but he was quickly by her side, rubbing her back.

Someone stepped in and stood at the left.

Holy. Shit.

My eyes widened, I sat back on my heels as my arms went limp. I knew who it was but I didn't think I would ever see him. His figure stood tall, his blackest of black hair gently blew in the wind. His light brown eyes glared at Vega who was quickly composing himself from the blast.

Perseus.

It was my father from my dreams, but when I saw him, he was gentle and kind, his face full of sorrow and panic when he left with me and left Astra alone. Now, he stood tall, his muscles rippling from his sleeveless body armor. His brows were pulled together as he burned a hole at Vega. Just like everyone else, he looked like he didn't age much. I looked up at the sky. Where had he come from? Did he fall from the sky? Was he an angel or something?

"Perseus?" Astra gasped as she fell to her knees.

"Oh, the mighty Perseus! Come to bear another child?" Vega teased snidely as he dusted his suit and stepped back next to Astra.

"What you are doing is wrong!" Perseus' voice was deep as it filled the sky. "She is the true ruler and you know it, that is why you are trying to get rid of her!"

"What?" Gramps and Astra said in unison.

"It's true." Borin stepped from behind Perseus. Where did he come from? Were these guys just popping in from the sky? Tara came to his side, along with a couple of other figures behind them.

"Borin? Tara? How did all of you escape Cremor?" Gramps asked.

"Perseus has been aiding us. He knows firsthand that we are not the planet we were hundreds of years ago," Borin shouted as he pointed to Vega. "Vega has been telling Valen lies in order to keep us at bay. To keep us trapped in Cremor!"

"Don't believe this criminal!" Vega yelled as the thirty guards started to whisper among themselves.

"I am not a criminal. I am King of Cremor and this is Queen Tara," he said, placing a gentle touch on her shoulder.

"Vega has been lying to all of us, to all of you!" Perseus pointed in my direction. "She is my daughter, a daughter of Galas, and a daughter of Astra, of Valen! She is the heir to both planets, which in ancient history says she has rule over all!" The murmurs of the guards, even the generals, started to get louder.

"And as far as Cremor goes, we will follow her as well, making her ruler of all three planets! Not you, Vega, her!" Borin pointed to me also. Vega's body stiffened, gripping his hands into fists. Did he know this whole time?

His eyes shifted from Perseus to Borin, then to Astra. "Kill them all!" And with those words, chaos erupted. The thirty guards ran toward the others, energies flying everywhere. My father, Perseus, was fast, his abilities equal to that of ten men. A guard threw a punch at his face, as another swept their legs at his feet. He avoided both by arching his back and lifting his feet in the air. He was balancing mid-air for a split second, then twirled his whole body as he kicked one in the face and threw the other one with a wave of his hand. He repositioned, ready for the next one.

Gramps and Kailor were back-to-back as if they had fought battles together before, each plan coordinated. One man aimed for Gramps head, as he turned to dodge it, leaving Kailor throwing him to the side with a strong double kick. Borin and Tara fought side-by-side, as if they were one person, Tara flipping over Borin, using his shoulders as balance and side-kicked a guard, as Borin aimed his hand at another approaching her, sending him flying in the air. Astra even held her own. Most guards didn't want to handle the queen. Those who tried failed miserably. She moved so graceful, like a swan, waving her arms like they were wings, but flinging bodies as if they were feathers in the wind.

Eula and Dennis were side-by-side. They had similar fighting skills, both were quick and sharp with their movements. A guard tried to throw Eula by force. Dennis pushed her out of the way as he punched him in the face, then kicked him with his legs and finished off by pushing his hand on his chest, sending him dragging on the ground.

I searched for the face I worried for most.

The one who didn't quite have a grasp on his emerging powers, but there he was, holding his own. Thank goodness Reed knew and breathed mixed martial arts. He was colliding with bodies, swerving around them like a snake and putting them into submission. They were all completely outnumbered. Borin and Perseus only came with a few other men and Vega had thirty. Bodies were flying everywhere, and I couldn't keep track. For the first time in a long time, I felt helpless. I couldn't stand by while my loved ones were fighting for me. I frantically looked around and eyed one of the boulders to the side. I scooted over slowly, still feeling the energy's slight pull. I took my cuffs and started slamming them over the rock. Lifting them high above my head and sending it crashing down, over and over again.

"Come on! Come on!" I yelled in frustration. What was this thing made of, superman body parts or something? Break, damn it. Break! The small blue-lit square caught my attention. Maybe that's where it's powered? I angled my wrists so I could bring it down on the rock. The glass on it cracked making the blue light flicker, but it remained lit. I could feel the surge slightly buried beneath me. It wanted to take over, but couldn't.

"Hey! Cut that out!" I looked up and saw Vega back at the silver line. "Generals!" he called, and the four of them came next to them, all holding their arms out like before. "You two, get in here, you will have to do!" He directed two random guards who obeyed his command and took the place of where Kailor and Gramps had previously been standing.

"No, no! Break damn it!" I hit it harder and faster as I felt the pull get stronger. I quickly looked back at the doors as they slowly started to crack open again, inch-by-inch. My ankles started to pull toward it. "NO!" I took my hands and flung them over the boulder, holding me in place with the cuffs, my feet lifting from the ground as I was pulled harder and harder.

"WIDER!" Vega screamed as the force felt like it was going to rip off my legs.

I screamed. It was too painful to bear. I wanted to let go and end my misery.

"Estelle!" I saw Reed's face fill with anger and dread as he tried to come to me, but three guards blocked his way as they ensued a fight. Dennis came quickly to his side to aide him.

I couldn't give up.

Watching all my loved ones fighting their best for me, I couldn't let that go in vain.
Chapter 26

"WIDER!" Vega yelled again.

I saw a guard fly by me, yelling in panic as he got sucked into the glowing doors. The doors were halfway open. The force of energy pulled almost everything in its path.

"That's too wide! Get back!" Perseus yelled, as everybody ran back from the concrete archway another hundred feet, placing themselves farther away from the silver line. I saw Vega's body starting to feel the pull as his feet and those of the generals started to slowly cross the line.

"Your Majesty, it's too wide!" one of the generals yelled, sweat pouring from his head.

"Damn it. Retreat!" Vega put his hands down and ran the other way. The others did the same. The once fiery battle turned into a fight for all their lives. Five more men were caught in the energy and flew into the doors. The once strong guards that were fighting against them were now begging for their help as Astra and Gramps pulled them to safety, grabbing bodies or using their own powers to pull them around the corner behind the sturdy archway. The stone started to crack at the very top of the archway with screams coming from under it.

I couldn't let this continue.

I knew what the Edifice wanted.

It wanted me.

If the doors stayed open too long, all of them would be gone. Reed's blue eyes caught me from the corner of the archway as Dennis shoved him farther.

His eyes found mine and he yelled, "Estelle!" His hair flew in different directions from the energy's pull. The shaking of his head and the whites of his eyes told me he knew what I was going to do.

"I'm sorry," I said. I made sure to enunciate it with my mouth so he could read my lips. "I love you." His eyes grew wider as I lifted my cuffs from the boulder. My body flew through the air like I was enveloped in a cloud.

"NOOO!" Reed's cry made my heart literally break, knowing I would never see him or any of the others ever again.

"Estelle!" Voices called my name all at once. Their tones were the last music I would hear. I closed my eyes to accept my fate, but the jolt of my body threw them open, whipping my head in place.

"What the–?" I gasped. I was floating in mid-air, halfway to the doors that were going to swallow me whole. I looked back and saw Reed a couple of feet over the silver line, his feet digging into the gravel as they slowly dragged, his hands held out towards me. Veins were popping from his forearms and neck. But the thing I noticed most were his eyes, they were flickering from black to blue and back again.

What? Why were his eyes going black? No, it couldn't be. Was he experiencing what I had? How was that possible?

"I am not losing you again!" he screamed as he struggled in his efforts to keep me from the doors. "And I have no idea what I'm doing!" His eyes continued to flicker.

"All right, you're doing fine, Reed. Listen, you need to concentrate, first things first." I held out my hands in the cuffs. "Focus on ripping these off without ripping my arms out, all right?"

"What?" he yelled as he looked down at the cuffs. His eyes went black, then stared back at me. "I don't know if I can do that!"

"Yes, yes, you can!" A piece of debris flew by my head. "Focus. Use your other hand. I trust you!" He nodded and kept his left hand in place but moved his right, pointing toward the cuffs. His energy vibrated around it. It rattled slightly around my wrists, tugging and rubbing back and forth.

It paused.

I looked back at him and his eyes were changing rapidly, back and forth. "Reed! I trust you."

With that, the cuffs broke in half and flew into the doors.

I was free.

My eyes changed and his eyes turned back to blue. I didn't feel the pull anymore. I stood on my own two feet, as Reed flew off of his and toward the doors. The power started to tingle and swim throughout my feet and up to the tip of my head. I grabbed his wrist as he flew by me.

"Don't let go!" he panicked as he was kicking his feet away from the doors.

I let out a smirk. "Do you trust me?"

He smiled back. "Permanently."

I walked effortlessly away from the doors like there was no gravity and headed toward the concrete archway, holding Reed's wrist as his body was still being pulled by the force. I placed him back behind the arch where everybody was crouched.

"Reed, are you all right?" Kailor asked, leaping to his side as I sat him down. The minute my touch left his, the rage came back and with that the urge to kill everyone that betrayed me. I stepped back and shook my head and averted my eyes back to the doors. Voices were calling for me; it sounded like I was in an arena and thousands and thousands of people were calling my name. The Edifice was yelling and pulsing. I knew what I had to do.

I had to destroy it.

But in order to do it, I had to go in it.

"Estelle, come on." I saw Dennis hold out his hand from the side, wary of stepping into the crossfire that I was in.

"Estelle?" Astra's head popped from his shoulder, "What are you doing? Come back over here!" She held out her hand also.

I shook my head. "I'm sorry, Mom, I have to go back."

"Go back?" Gramps said.

"Es, don't. Come back here." Reed pushed his way through the crowd and held out his hand, along with Dennis.

"Let her go if she wants to go," Vega voiced, as he was leaning and gripping against the arch, sitting in the back.

"Shut up, Vega, haven't you done enough?" Astra yelled. He scoffed and looked away.

"Es, step back over right now." Reed was trying to sound firm and final, but I could hear the dread he was trying so hard to mask.

"I have to destroy it," I say, "I have to go in."

"Are you crazy?" Dennis growled.

"Yeah I actually agree with him, are you crazy?" Reed repeated.

"You will be killed! I refuse to let that happen! Refuse!" Astra's screamed, her voice cracking.

I shook my head again. "You guys don't understand, something is wrong and I have to go find out what it is and destroy it. I promise I'll be back." I lied.

I didn't know what I was doing, let alone if I was going to come back at all. I turned my body slowly. My mind of reasoning was trying to keep me there, while my heart pulled me toward the doors.

My heart won.

"Estelle, come back!"

"Estelle, get back here!"

"Estelle, Estelle!"

All their calls hung in my ears. They were the ones that gave me strength. The ones I lived for, and the ones I would die for. I stood at the entrance of the doors, my hair flying forward toward it. The glow emanated in my eyes. I let out a big breath and stepped in.

Fire was all around my skin, burning and seething. I could practically feel it peeling off as I wrapped my hands around my body and held in my screams.

And then... ice surrounded me.

I opened my eyes and found myself in a white room. A couple of feet ahead of me were three clear pedestals, the middle one blank and the other two holding the same pendant I had on.

I was in the Edifice.

I survived?

The voices were echoing stronger all around me.

"Destroy them, free us, our souls," were the only words I could make out from all the talking. My pendant glowed brightly as I approached the other two. I took both my hands and wrapped them around the two pendants. I focused all my energy into the balls of my fists and squeezed hard, feeling them crack in my palms. I opened my hands and shattered pieces lay in them.

My chest lifted and my mood lightened.

I felt like myself. Human.

"You have freed us!"

"FREED!"

"FREED US!"

"FREEDOM!"

"WE ARE FREE!" the voices repeated.

"What? Freed who?" I scanned the white room, but no one was there but me.

"Ancestors!"

"FAMILY!"

The information was showing up in my mind somehow. It wasn't just our ancestors powers trapped in the pendants, it was their very souls. That's why whenever someone would wear it, the souls wanted to be free and sent the wearer into a rampage, destroying everything in their path. It explained all the rage and negativity I felt. It was them trying to send a message, trying to break free. They knew I was different, destined to do what no one else could.

"A GIFT!"

"GIFT! FOR THE QUEEN!"

"THANKS!"

"GRATITUDE!"

"GIFT!"

I saw the pendant around my neck grow brighter. My body felt light as my hairs stood out on my legs and arms as a heavenly surge ran through my veins. It was nothing like how my episodes were before. This time it was positive, full of joy, love, delight, and strength. It slowly rose from my feet, through my stomach, my chest, out my arms, and in my head. The feeling of brightness barreled into my eyes. A force shot through the ceiling collapsing the Edifice onto me. I crouched to the floor and held my hands up to the debris, shutting my eyes. I heard the gravel and the building collapse all around me. Thuds and heavy winds whipped all around. It felt like the storm within the Edifice went on forever, until finally— quiet surrounded me.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw pieces of rubble, big and small, encircling me. Looking up, I found debris floating inches away from my face and hands, ready to fall. I heard muffled footsteps and voices yelling, "Estelle? Estelle! Estelle!"

I wasn't dead?

I blinked my eyes and wiggled my fingers.

I'm alive. I survived! More of the muffled voices rang in my ears. I couldn't wait to see them all again. I looked up at the debris about to fall on me.

"All right, let's try this," I mumbled to myself. I crouched low, focusing the energy on my feet. A different surge went through me, just as powerful, but I was in control of every inch of it flowing through me. I jolted up, through the debris, and I was in the sky, flying as the fresh air hit my face. The blue skies brightened my eyes, and I quickly landed on my feet, feeling the softness of the grass. I looked at the mountain high pile of rubble that used to be the Edifice.

"What was that?" Kailor asked.

"I don't know?" Dennis yelled.

"Did anyone see that?" Gramps asked.

"I don't know, did you?" Dennis yelled again.

"Where did it go?" Perseus hollered.

"Look over here, you look there!" Astra commanded.

"Go around!" All the voices were jumbled together. I was about to go run toward them and around the rubble but I took one step, and Dennis came running around the corner of the pile. He was panting, but he took one solid breath as his brown eyes set on mine.

He beamed the biggest smile. "Found her!" he ran toward me. "Es!" He scooped me up by the waist and twirled me in the air as we both laughed in a frenzy. He pulled me to his chest as I wrapped my arms around his neck. "I thought I'd lost you," he whispered in my ear.

"Never," I whispered back.

"Estelle!" I pulled away from him and saw Astra running to me.

"Mom!" We plowed into each other's arms and fell to our knees, her sobs cracking in my ears as she kissed my head multiple times.

"Don't you ever do that again!" She held my face in her hands, eyeing me. I nodded and gave her a small smile as we both stood from the ground.

"I'm glad I get to finally meet you." Perseus said. Astra stepped aside, and there he stood. My birth father who I hadn't ever seen, only in my dreams.

"Estelle, this is your father, Perseus." Astra held her hand towards him.

He took a step closer and held out his hand. I lifted an eyebrow. "That's what you're going to offer, a handshake?" I teased.

He looked down at his hand, then back at me, then back down at his hand. His face scrunched as I could imagine what was going through his head. Did I just offer my hand to my only daughter? "Get over here." He opened his big arms and scooped me from the ground squeezing tight. "Damn, how I've missed you!" He gave one good squeeze and let go. His fingers brushed in my hair, fixing my curls and tucking them behind my ears.

"Estelle, I–" I turned and saw Gramps walking toward me. "I'm sorry, I don't know what–"

"Gramps," I stopped him, placing my hand on his shoulder. "I already said I forgive you, don't worry."

He looked down at the ground, pulling his brows together that wrinkled. "Are you still my little star?"

I gave a small sigh. "Always, Gramps. Always."

His head perked up and flashed me a smile. Borin and Tara approached and gave their greetings. They were talking to me but I wasn't really listening. All I could do was search the area. I looked around for the one face I hadn't seen. The crowd parted and there he was, in his ever-living glory. He gave me his star-gazing smile with those ocean blue eyes and held out his arms. "Es." He was like a magnet.

I ran into his open arms as he enclosed them around me, wedging them as tight as he could. His embrace told me he would never let go. His lips descended onto my head, kissing it multiple times. "I can't believe you did that. Don't you ever do that again. Don't you ever leave me," he said between each kiss. I snuggled my head deeper into his chest, inhaling his musky after-battle scent. He picked me up from the ground and twirled me in a fit of joy. When my feet touched the ground once more, he leaned in close and when our lips touched, it was soft, yearning, and desperate all at once.

Destined to never part ever again.

"A-HEM!" Someone called.

I quickly pulled away and darted a look over at the others, who were staring attentively.

"Oh my!" Eula let out as I felt my cheeks flush, feeling all the eyes on us.

"Oh come on, like nobody saw that coming!" Gramps yelled. Everybody burst into laughter, including us.

"Wait, where's Vega?" I looked around but didn't see him or his guards.

"They fled once the Edifice started to collapse. Cowards," Borin spat. "By the way, how did you survive, Estelle?"

"Yes, how did you? I thought you were dead for sure when you went in those doors," Gramps said.

"It was our ancestors, they saved me, or I guess, I saved them. I pointed to the pendant still laying on my neck and explained everything I learned from them, about their souls being trapped and what caused the rampages.

"That's not possible. Astra, did you know?" Gramps turned to her.

"No," Astra replied, "that was never mentioned to me or anyone else. I never saw or heard of that anywhere in our history."

"Same here," Borin said. "I'm pretty good at keeping up and I don't think I saw anything about that."

"Well I hate to burst your bubbles, but it's true. I guess they sensed I was different and knew I could set them free. They gave me the power to break the other two, then they gave me a gift. Though I'm not quite sure what it is, I guess something to do with this because I still have it on," I say, indicating the pendant around my neck. "But I don't feel the same as I did before with it. I don't feel the urge to kill, I feel..." I rubbed the pendant gently with my thumb as I searched for the word. "Safe."

"I think I may know what happened," Borin said, raising his finger in the air. "You used your powers to get out when the building collapsed, didn't you?" I nodded. "Well, to hold that much weight for such a short amount of time, I think I may know what the gift is. I think they let you keep that pendant, but I think they each gave you a small amount of their powers. A memento I guess. Do you feel weak or anything?"

"Actually, no. I feel..."I lifted my hands and curled my fingers back and forth. "I guess the same, still powerful, but no rage in me."

"Aha! The ancestors each gave you a small part of their powers, but line that up with each ancestor from however many years, and you get to be the most powerful being in our solar system!" He clapped his hands together with a loud smack. "I still got it!"

"No way! Es is kicking ass!" Dennis laughed as I felt Reed's fingers give the slightest twitch. Well, looks like he is back to my real Reed. I gave his hand a small squeeze. I wouldn't have it any other way.

"I'm sorry to have to cut this victory short, but we need to get out of Valen. We need to get back to Galas," Perseus said.

"I agree, we can talk later," Kailor says.

"Everyone, follow me." Perseus turned.

"No." Astra voiced. We all turned towards her. "I'm staying." The tension rose in Perseus' eyes.

He stood in front of her, wanting to hug her, but flinched back. I could see their love, their wants writhing between them. The slight twitch in their fingers, the small shifts in their breaths. It made my heart ache to see them holding back.

"What do you mean you're staying?" he gritted through his teeth.

"I have to stay," she said, holding her chin higher.

"Vega will kill you if you stay. He's out of control!" Perseus waved his hand.

"No. He won't. I have to stay to keep Vega at bay. My place is here in Valen." Astra crossed her arms gently over her chest.

Perseus brought his arm up and gently placed it on her elbow. "I can't protect you," he whispered it so low, but I heard it clear as day.

She gave an unfamiliar smile. A smile I had never seen on her face since I had met her. A smile only someone in love can make. "Perseus, I have survived years without you, I think I can handle myself."

His shoulders drooped. "Always the strong one." He stroked his thumb on her arm, their electricity surging from that one touch.

Eula stood next to Astra and placed a hand on her shoulder as Perseus quickly retracted. "I will stay with her," she says.

"What?" We all yelled in unison, including Astra, as she turned to her with utter shock.

"Vega dare not take on two Queens, I will help keep him at bay as well and—" Eula squeezed her shoulder "—keep Queen Astra safe as well." She stepped to Perseus and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He gave her a kind smile in return and nodded.

"I will stay as well." Gramps stepped up and wrapped his arm around Astra's shoulders. "Gotta keep an eye on my little girl." She tilted her head up at him and smiled. "Plus, with Estelle having all that power, I think she can handle herself," he finished with a wink, making me laugh.

"All right, come on, we gotta move!" Perseus yells and turned again.

"Hang on," Borin's voice stopped him in his tracks as he let out a heavy, annoyed sigh. Borin turned to Tara and the few men of theirs from Cremor. "Tara, I need you and our men to take our ship back to Cremor. You need to prepare our army and take care of our people, just in case Vega decides to do anything stupid."

"I don't want to leave you again." Tara argued, gripping his arm as he gently caressed her cheek.

"Don't worry. We both have our tasks to do. I need to help protect Estelle and help get things in order at Galas, and you need to care for our planet. We will meet up again." She nodded as they engaged in a passionate kiss, making me look away.

"All right, I know Estelle, Reed, and Borin are coming. Who else is joining us?" Perseus said impatiently.

"I will," spoke Kailor.

"And I will." Dennis stood next to him.

"Dawkins!" Eula gasped.

He turned to her and says, "Mom, I will be fine."

She placed her hand on his face. "I want you here," she whined, "with me." It sounded more like a command.

He gave her that sly familiar smirk when he had made up his mind. "Mom, you know where my heart is," he whispered softly.

I immediately felt a wash of jealousy come over me, and awareness. Why was I feeling that way? Was it coming from Reed? I looked up at him, his face unwavering, eyeing Dennis. Why did I get the feeling that it was coming from him? I wasn't even trying to sense anything from him. It was like it was naturally blanketing over me. What was going on? I gently rubbed my head.

"Sadly, I do know where your heart is." She let out a heavy sigh. "Very well, but you come back to me, you hear?" She grabbed his neck and pulled him down in a hug.

"I will, Mom."

"I love you, son," she whispered. She closed her eyes and I saw the pressure of her fingers squeeze tighter behind his neck.

"I love you too, Mom," Dennis said, and they pulled from their embrace. It was nice seeing Eula in a sensitive, compassionate light. Her genuine love and concern for him shone in those same eyes that I'd despised when I first met her. I let go of Reed's tight grip on my hand and went to Astra.

"Mom, please be safe. I still need to get to know you better..." I looked back at Perseus, who was saying good bye to Tara and her men. "And Dad too."

"Don't worry, honey, I can handle Vega. You just make sure you put that gift to good use!" She tapped the pendant on my neck gently. "You come back to me safely and all three of us can have lots of time to talk together." She placed a small kiss on my forehead, bringing a smile to my face. I looked forward to the day this was all over. To the day I could sit down and get to know my parents.

"All right, Estelle, Reed, Borin, Kailor, and Dawkins, follow me. The rest of you—" he stared at the remaining crowd, Eula, Astra, Tara, and her men "—keep in touch." He tapped his forehead and ran off, all of us following close behind.
Chapter 27

I had no idea where we were going. We took so many turns that I lost track. We were passing a lot of trees and bushes, like a mini forest.

"All right, you guys, I apologize, she's kind of an old model, but she's the fastest and gets the job done," Perseus called back as we kept running and stopped as we came upon a clearing.

"Oh, come on! That hunk of junk!" Borin yelled. I tiptoed on my toes to try and see what was going on, but all of them were inches taller than me.

I finally pushed my way through them to the front and let out a breath. "What are you guys talking about, it's beautiful!" They all turned their heads towards me and gave me a disgusted look. The vehicle was silver and sleek like a falcon, and shined like a new quarter. Its pointy hull and tail made it look like it could go for miles on end. At the corner of the front, in big, bold, gold letters was: Astrelle.

"Astrelle?" I said it louder than I intended and Perseus looked back at me.

"Well of course, the two loves in my life." He winked as I beamed. I couldn't wait to get to know my other dad. From what my dream showed me, and seeing him with my mom, he seemed like a great guy.

"Even so, I still think you need to get a new one," Kailor muttered, followed with small chuckles all around.

"I forget Estelle lived on Earth. Damn, I don't even know how you guys travel in those death traps. What do you call them, planes?" Perseus laughed as he lowered the entrance ramp from the bottom of the ship.

"Yeah," Reed scoffed. "Wish we had planes like these." He leaned down to me as he nudged me with his elbow. I gave a slight giggle but kept it quiet.

It was big on the inside, compared to how it looked on the outside. It had countertops, almost like a kitchen, on each side with locks on each cabinet. It was sleek and shiny, matching the ship's appearance. Past that, there were ten seats, five on each side with straps and harnesses hanging from them. Lots of leg room and gadgets I didn't recognize. There was a small silver door at the end, which I assumed led to the cockpit.

"All right, everybody strap in. Borin, I'll need you as co-pilot." Perseus instructed as he entered the silver door with Borin behind him closing it, leaving Reed and I alone with Dennis and Kailor. Reed strapped me in a seat before taking the seat next to me and strapping himself in. Dennis and Kailor strapped themselves in on the other side across from us.

The intercom buzzed above us with Perseus' voice. "All right, you guys, it's going to be a little bumpy. I'll give you the signal when it's okay to move around." It buzzed again and then there was silence.

The ship started to take off from the ground, the whole thing shaking under my feet and jiggling my body. I gripped the small handles at the side as hard as I could. I didn't think I was a nervous flyer, but I guess it had been a while. I breathed in and out, focusing on not throwing up. A tingle sparked my hand, finding Reed's hand on mine.

"Relax, you'll be fine." He gave me his amazing smile that melted my heart and naturally, my hand relaxed. After a couple of minutes, which felt like a lifetime, the ship felt like it was a knife gliding through butter.

The silver door opened and out came Borin, stretching his arms. "All clear. Anyone want something to drink?" He went over to the cabinets, removed the lock, and pulled out a can.

"I might take you up on that," Kailor said as he unstrapped his seat and went to Borin. I looked at the straps wrapped around my chest and legs like a puzzle. I pulled one strap and pushed another button but had no idea what I was doing.

"Need help?" I looked at Reed's amused face watching me struggle.

"Yeah, probably." He undid his straps with ease and then undid mine. "How did... never mind." I laughed. He looked over at Kailor who was leaning on the counter, chatting with Borin. I remembered that he saw my memories and saw and heard what I knew.

He knows Kailor is his real dad.

"You should go and talk to him." I gave him a small nudge on his leg with my knee.

His eyes went dull and narrowed. "No. I don't think I can with what he did to you."

"Reed." I placed my hand on his, but he kept his gaze on Kailor. "It's more complicated than that. He wasn't doing it out of malice. He did it out of love, for me and for you. Ask him about your mom. Talk to him, get to know him. He really did take care of me when you weren't here. He was like an older version of you." I moved my hand onto his knee. "You would have been proud."

His lips twitched and I let the silence hover for a couple of seconds. Finally, he says, "All right, will you be okay?" He took my hand on his knee and brought it to his lips.

"Reed, I'm in a ship, kind of limited to where I can go," I answered.

He rolled his eyes and gave me a quick peck on my lips, sending tingles down my face. He stood up and walked over to Kailor and Borin. Kailor stood tall, surprised at his approach. He said a couple of words to Borin as he nodded, gave them both a pat on their shoulders and went to the other side of the cabinets, searching for something else. Kailor and Reed stood there, stiff and rigid as their lips started moving. They were so alike; their posture and demeanor. Almost mirroring each other's moves, not knowing what to do.

"How are you doing?" Dennis' voice whipped me out of my daze as he sat next to me.

"Okay, I guess," I say, "how about you?"

"I'm okay as long as you're okay," he said before he gave me one of his heart melting smiles. Damn charmer.

"Dennis, I–"

"Look, Es, as long as you're happy, I'm happy. I don't care who you're with. Well... I would rather you be with me." I slapped his shoulder as he pulled back, laughing. "But I've learned my lesson through the years not to interfere with the love between you two, so I just want to be here for you. To make sure you're okay, and keep Reed in line." He chuckled. "And hopefully, maybe I'll find someone to love the way you two have found each other."

I placed my hand on his shoulder. "Thanks, Dennis. I am sure you will find whoever it is that's out there for you."

"But—" he pointed his finger up "—in the meantime, I'll gaze afar at the one who still has my heart." Those burning eyes penetrated mine and yearned for a kiss. I know he didn't mean to do it, but I guess old habits die hard.

"Oh, by the way," I started. I wanted to change the subject, the tension between us was getting overwhelming, "You might not want to hear this, but–" I lifted my shoulders before I continued with, "What would you say if I were to tell you I kind of got Reed's memories back?" My voice got higher as I spit out the sentence and watched his reaction.

His piercing eyes dulled and his cheeks dropped along with his smile.
Chapter 28

"What?" Dennis let out a whispered, panic yell.

"He didn't say anything to you when he saw you?" I asked.

"No." His face scrunched. "Well damn, this makes it more complicated if he's back to the same old Reed— wait a minute." He paused and raised his brows. "His memories? You can't do that."

"Well, I did. It was right before I was captured."

"That's impossible! How did yo-you- you even– ?" he stuttered. "Maybe Borin will know?" He looked behind me again and yelled, "Borin!" He signaled using his hand as Borin was eating something from the cabinet.

He came over and sat on the other seat next to me where Reed was sitting before. "Hey, how are you guys doing?"

"Borin, Estelle just told me she got Reed's memories back. Is that possible?"

Borin's mouth slightly dropped, exposing a mess of mush in his mouth. He closed it again and continued to chew and then swallowed hard. "Hmm... well, I guess it is now." He looked at Dennis, then at me. "Wait, what exactly did you do? How did he get them?"

"I don't know? I guess I filled in the blanks I found with all the memories I had of him. All I know is that it was painful as hell." I shivered at the memory.

Borin rubbed his chin and asked, "Do you feel different at all?"

I shrugged. "Um, I don't know, maybe?"

"Have you had emotions that aren't yours?" he asked in a deeper voice.

I thought of when the feeling of jealousy washed over me back before we left, and when Dennis was talking to Eula. "Actually, yeah, one time."

"Wow," he paused, thinking for another few seconds. "This is rare, but I think I know what you did."

"What?" Both Dennis and I asked.

"You have performed a camaticism."

"Camaticism?" I asked.

"Yes, people who have done it are known as camatics. It's rare nowadays. It was mainly performed back in ancient times. This was done before with lovers, but it can be done with anyone that you are close to." He looked to the side, where Kailor and Reed were talking. "To even do this at all, your attitudes towards each other must include a never-ending trust. This was nothing to just meddle with, this is life." His eyes sprung forward back at us. "Stronger than marriage, life, or death. Camaticism unites the minds, bodies, hearts, and souls of the two participants." He took his hands and pushed them together. "Not everybody did it. This was definitely something everybody would dream to have. To have that person that you could do that with, well—" he gave a small shrug "—it was very rare. People would attempt, but fail miserably." I stared over at Reed talking to Kailor, both their dispositions having now relaxed. If it was anyone that fit that description, it was the two of us.

"But, the sacrifices are just as extreme," Borin continued, grabbing my attention again. "Once you do a camaticism, not only are your heart and souls together, but physically as well. If you die, Estelle, he dies too."

I let out a sharp gasp, leaving my mouth hanging open, struggling to remember to breathe. Everything seemed to stop. Silence stretched. "No. What have I done?" I whispered, suddenly feeling Dennis' hand rubbing my back.

"And... well," Borin mutters, "if he dies... you die."

Dennis' hand stopped on my back. I felt the tension as he put slight pressure on it. "What?" Dennis yelled a little louder than I wanted. I looked at Reed and Kailor, who stopped mid-conversation, turned, and stared at us. Reed scanned my face carefully. I put on a fake smile and shook my head like nothing was wrong and made a small wave for them to continue. They both paused for a second, but then returned their attention back to each other. I elbowed Dennis in the stomach.

"Sorry," he whispered and leaned towards Borin. "Are you telling me I have to watch his back too?"

"Well, this makes things much more complicated." Borin replied and rubbed his bald head back and forth. "If word was to spread of your newfound powers the ancestors gave you, a possible war with Valen, and you ruling this part of the solar system, well, let's just say you will have a huge red bull's eye on your back." Each of his words edged into me. With me being a big target, I didn't want to be the reason Reed died.

"Well, what happens if I just reverse it somehow? I can do that, right?" I blurted out.

"It's not that simple, Estelle, there are repercussions. A camaticism is not something you mess with. Probably why nobody does it anymore and just deals with marriage; a divorce is a mercy compared to reversing a camaticism."

"What would happen? I'll do anything!" I placed my hands on his. "Please! I don't want him to die because of me."

He stared into my pleading eyes, and then shut his as he answered quietly, "You can regress it, but in order to do that, everything gets reversed, including his memories, they will be taken away again, and not only his, yours as well." His words slammed into my heart. I could feel a piece breaking with each word. "A camaticism link is binding and literally makes two into one. When you regress that, it's like trying to make the sun cold. You are separating two things that need each other, that have become one. When you take that kind of link apart—" he pulled his hands apart "—they are both nothing. Neither of you will remember anything about each other, your memories, love, your connection... gone." He made a sharp snap with his fingers. "It will literally be as if you two never existed in each other's lives, and trust me, when you regress, there is no getting anything back."

I felt myself holding my breath. I wanted to cry. I wanted to leap into Reed's arms and never let go. Apologize for everything, for bringing him here and for giving his memories back. He should have stayed on Earth, where it was safe.

"You need to tell him this, Estelle, this is only the beginning. He is not in tune with himself or his powers, so he's probably not even noticing the camatic link, but he will soon. It is something that cannot be ignored. The more he harnesses his mind and you two grow closer, the more he will notice, just like you will." Borin's voice went soft.

"There's just so much that's happening and so much he has been through. I don't want to put this on him right now."

Borin's eyes gave me a look of disagreement. "I can't force you to do it, but you will have to, or he will find out on his own, then what, Estelle? Do you want him to find out you were lying to him the whole time?"

I knew he was right. Keeping the information from him wasn't fair, but he looked so happy right then, getting to know Kailor, I didn't want to add more worry than what he already was experiencing. "I'll tell him, don't worry. Just... not now." I tilted my head back at Dennis.

"Mum's the word," he said as he zipped his lips and threw an imaginary key in the air. "I hope you do tell him soon, because he will start to get curious when I start saving him all the damn time." He wiggled his brows as I gave a slight laugh just when the tears were about to fall. Dennis was always great at trying to cheer me up. No wonder I took our break-up hard.

"So, when he tried to rescue me, back at the Edifice, his eyes were flickering to black, did that mean he had my powers?" I asked Borin.

"Of course," he answered. "Because you were being restrained with the cuffs, your powers couldn't come out, but Reed could because, well, you guys are camatics."

"Wait, wait, wait." Dennis interrupted and waved his hand. "So you are saying not only is Estelle the most powerful being in this solar system, but dumb-dumb over there is too?" he whispered more quietly as I nudged him again in the stomach.

"Actually, yes, he is, but Estelle has the advantage because she knows her mind and powers better than he does. Technically she is still more powerful, but if Reed were to learn, he would be the same as her."

"Better watch your back Dennis," I mumbled.

"Yeah tell me about it!" He sighed and slumped back in his seat.

The intercom buzzed above us.

"Borin, I need you back here, now!" Perseus shouted. All of our attention went to the silver door. Borin hopped from his seat and ran into the door, leaving it cracked.

"What's going on?" Borin asked quickly and then we heard buttons clicking.

"Something is wrong. Base isn't responding and I'm trying to communicate telepathically, but no one is answering." I could hear the panic in Perseus' voice. I walked up to the door and tilted my head in, leaning on the frame for balance. They were too busy turning dials to even notice I was there. "Base come in, base come in. This is Astrelle, coming in for a landing. Precious cargo a board, needing assistance, over." They kept silent for a few seconds. "Damn it!" he yelled, slamming his fist on the armchair.

"Wait..." Borin looked at the green screen on the dashboard. "Something's coming. Is that another ship?" He pointed at a spear looking thing on the screen.

"No, no, too small." He looked out at the vast windshield. I saw the whites of his eyes as they got wide in the reflection. "Evasive maneuvers! We're being shot at!" The ship swerved a hard right, making me fall on the floor.
Chapter 29

"Es, you okay?" I felt Reed's soft touch on my waist, lifting me up.

"Everybody buckle up!" Perseus yelled.

Reed carefully helped me to the seat and strapped me in. When he was done in his, he quickly gripped my hand. Our feelings were definitely together. Our sense of worry, confusion, and fear for each other's safety consumed both of us. It was sending me into overdrive. I shut my eyes tight and stroked my forehead long and slow.

"Are you okay?" Dennis' voice came in my head. I looked over to him, but he was pretending to pay attention to the door.

"Did you say something?" Reed's asked. Dennis whipped his head back at me, his eyes widened and his mouth formed a small 'o' shape. "I'm sorry, did any of you say something? I swore I heard something?" Reed looked around the room in confusion. Borin was right. He was getting in tune... fast. I was dreading having that conversation. What happened if he got scared? What happens if he's not ready for that level of commitment? What happens if he wants to regress right away?

"Oh, sorry, just mumbling to myself." Dennis played it off well. The ship started to sway back and forth with sharp lefts and rights. Out of nowhere, on our side, an immense explosion rang. I gripped my head to diffuse the noise but I could already hear the ringing. I smelled smoke and fire. My hair blew erratically in the air as I felt a suction trying to pull me from my seat. I squinted open my eyes and saw a huge hole burning a couple of feet away from us.

"Perseus! Now's a good time to abandon ship!" Kailor yelled.

"Can't! No parachutes in Astrelle!" Perseus replied.

"What?" Kailor yelled again.

"She's an old gal, remember?" he pointed out.

"Are you telling me after all I've survived, I'm gonna die in a ship?" Borin yelled sarcastically from his seat.

"Ha, I guess so. At least we all die together, huh?" Perseus let out a nervous chuckle.

Something came over me on the inside. The same surge I used to feel during my episodes but this time, it was uplifting. I felt like I could do anything. I wasn't about to let all of them die. I looked down at my straps and tried to remember what Reed did. I fiddled my hands around it, frantically pulling and pushing.

"What are you doing?" Reed yelled over the humming noise coming from the hole.

These straps are pissing me off. I didn't need them.

I took my hand and focused the surge over the straps and waved them away in one quick movement before they ripped from the seat and flew out of the hole. I used my energy to stabilize my feet so I wouldn't fly out so easily. I stood and headed slowly to the hole in our ship.

"ES!" Reed reached for my hand, but the straps held him down. "Damn it, Es! Don't you dare." I could hear and feel his fear for me rush into my heart.

"Estelle!" Dennis and Kailor yelled.

"What do you think you're doing?" Perseus hollered.

"I wasn't given these gifts from my ancestors just to sit idly by and watch you all die!" I was at the hole, staring down at the multi-colors of Galas as we were approaching the ground at a fast speed. The wind and noise was deafening and whipping at my face. Luckily the wind from the fall put out the fire pretty fast.

Reed shook his head slowly and mouthed, no. I needed them as much as they needed me and I was not about to let us all go down without a fight.

I inhaled and jumped out of the ship, the screaming calls of my name a faint whisper as I dived in the sky. It was almost like my dream. I was soaring down through the clouds. I looked beside me and saw the ship falling faster.

"Oh no you don't." I muttered and straightened my body like a bullet and used all my energy at the end of my feet to propel me past the ship. I'd never done anything like this in my life and had no idea what I was doing.

I was only eighteen... had just turned eighteen, what, a few days ago, weeks? I hadn't even had time to breath, to soak all of it in.

I was not from Earth.

I was some sort of alien and not only did I have super powers, I now had super-super powers or something. I looked back and saw I had passed the ship a good distance, but that meant I was going to hit the ground, I saw as the green grass started to come closer. I focused back my surge into the front of my body to slow myself down.

The wind whistled in my ears.

I'm still going too fast."Stop it! Stop!" I held out my arms, feeling every ounce of energy dripping from my veins. "Damn it. This is going to hurt." I grumbled. I remembered the old tuck and roll and relax my muscles. The ground was thirty feet away. I curled my legs under me and wrapped my hands around my head, tucking it into my chest, forming a ball while still focusing my energy for me to stop. Within seconds the ground was on my head and back, as I rolled multiple times, my body splaying out.

I screamed when my ankle hit something and pain surged up my leg. I winced again at my last tumble, an excruciating pain shooting up my right elbow and into my shoulders. I finally laid still on my right side, gripping it with my left arm.

Tears streamed down my face as I held them shut.

I rolled onto my left side and used my left arm to pick myself up. I went to stand and collapsed back down, letting out another groan as I tried to stand on my right leg. I looked down at my ankle, spasms shooting through my whole right side.

I heard the roaring noise of the ship from up above. I had no time to worry about my pain. I crawled more to the left where I heard it coming closer, gripping on the grass and rocks to pull me farther. Luckily there weren't any trees around or I would have been screwed. I saw it almost directly above me, a little to my left.

"Here's as good as any," I mumbled. I used my left side to push myself up, my right foot toe-touched the ground to help keep me balanced, pain shooting each time I even put the slightest pressure.

The ship was coming closer and closer.

I lifted both my arms—Pain. Sharp. Slicing.

I brought them back to my chest. The ship was getting closer.

My lungs were burning, my hair tussled, and my body was all scratched up. I was drained and weak just from trying to land myself. "No time for pain." I whispered as I inhaled sharply and stepped firmly on both my feet, throwing my arms in the air towards the ship. I didn't even think of the pain. I would save them, even if it killed me, because Reed would die anyway if I didn't.
Chapter 30

"Please, ancestors, help me." I summoned all the strength and fortitude I had running in my veins and aimed it at the ship. I could feel it, the same surge shooting out toward it. My hands felt like they were grasping the hull. Gravity was working against me. I pulled it harder and harder to slow the speed, using the ground below me to steadily plant my body and to keep it from fluctuating.

It was about a two hundred feet away.

A hundred.

Fifty.

I pulled harder, bending my knees, sweat dripping from my forehead and running down my cheeks. Summoning more power from my heart and soul, I gave it everything I had.

STOP! STOP! STOP. STOP.

My eyes widened as it slowed next to me, hovering twenty feet from the ground, floating hesitantly. I wrapped one hand at the front of the ship, my force doing what I wanted, and the other at the end as I gently placed it on the grass in front of me. Bodies came flowing out of the hole immediately running to me.

Reed's shining face cascaded over mine.

They're safe.

Right at that moment, I became aware of the excruciating pain shooting up my whole right side. Like a million lightning bolts were thundering in my body and running through my nerves. I withdrew my arms and held them close to my chest. My right leg burned as I took off my weight and placed it on my left.

"Estelle!" Reed called out.

"You guys are safe," I whispered. I couldn't hold myself up any longer and collapsed to my left. I heard muffled voices and Reed's strong touch catching me, gently cradling me in his arms as he sat on the ground.

A grip came on my right shoulder and I let out another scream. The pain sweltered.

"Don't touch her!" Reed's voice and anger were hovering in me.

"Hey, watch it. I was trying to help!" It was Dennis.

"Reed, it's fine," I managed to get out through my dry throat. "Dennis?"

"I'm here, Es." I felt a gentle caress on my left ankle, thank goodness, because if he would've touched my right, I would be in even more pain.

"Estelle, Estelle stay with us." Perseus' soft voice brought them back in my vision.

It's so blurry and hazy.

"Estelle! Where are you hurt? Estelle! Stay awake! Come on!" Perseus' voice was muffled.

"Reed, wake her up!" Borin's voice yelled.

"What?"

"Wake her up, you can do it."

"How?"

"Just focus, think of giving her energy and keeping her eyes open. Do it!" Borin instructed.

Reed lifted my head more and onto his chest.

"Estelle, stay awake. Come on, open your eyes," he whispered as he shook me gently. A sudden rush of energy jolted through my eyes and ears, bringing my hearing back to normal and clearing my vision. I opened them and found Reed's face above me, Dennis at my feet, Perseus at my side, and Borin and Kailor standing above me.

"It worked," Reed gasped. He looked over at Borin, confused. "But how?"

Borin shifted his feet. "She'll tell you later."

"Move aside, let me see," Kailor says. Perseus moved as Kailor kneeled by me. "Estelle, tell me where it hurts."

"Right arm and right ankle," I somehow mumbled. I was so tired, yet I couldn't go to sleep. Kailor felt my right arm gently and squeezed at the top of my shoulder making me hiss.

"Stop! You're hurting her!" Reed yelled.

"Son, her shoulder is dislocated. I have to reset it and it will hurt. Here—" he took out a handkerchief from his pocket and folded it into a small thick pad "—put this in her mouth." Reed took it and did what he said. I looked at it warily. "Estelle, you have to bite down on that, trust me, you will need it."

"Go on, Es," Reed whispered and I opened my mouth slightly as he put it in and I bit down on the thick padding. Its smooth fabric rubbed against my teeth and tongue. It tasted like salty sweat.

"All right, son, you're going to have to hold that side, and I have this side, whatever you do, don't move or let go. Let me do the pulling, all right?" Reed nodded. "Grip her tight." I felt his hands on my left side. "On three. One... two..."

SNAP!

He yanked hard on my arm.

I screamed through the handkerchief as I bit down hard and saliva soaked into it. Tears fell as I shut my eyes tight, trying to think of anything but the searing pain that was throbbing.

"What the–" Reed cringed. I looked up at Reed and his face winced in pain. He rotated his right shoulder slowly. "Somebody better tell me what's going on here." He looked at Borin who shrugged and looked away. I mumbled something but couldn't speak clearly with the handkerchief in my mouth. Reed quickly took it out.

"Any better?" he whispered.

"A little." I felt pain shoot through my ankle as Kailor rotated it slightly.

"Isn't that enough, Dad?" I quickly looked up at Reed as he called him that, so did Kailor. His face was shocked, but quickly turned soft.

"Yes, you're right." He looked back at me. "You're ankle isn't broken, just a bad sprain. You'll have to stay off of it."

"We have to walk a couple of miles, the base is that way," Borin said pointing behind us. "We can take turns carrying you."

"No, I can do it," Reed immediately spoke up. "Can you get on my back?" he asked me. I nodded. Reed wrapped his hands gently around my waist, lifting me off his lap as Dennis held out his hand to help me up. They both lifted as I used my left leg to bring myself up, holding my right in mid-air.

"Now, keep your arm held to your chest, don't move your shoulders or arms too much, you have to let it heal." Kailor took my injured arm and placed it flat on my chest. "Like this. Hopefully you have fast healing capabilities with your newly acquired gifts."

I rolled my eyes.

"Ready, Es?" Reed kneeled down in front of me, with his back and hands towards me. I went on his back, hooking my legs into his arm and wrapping my good arm around his neck. He sent shivers up my leg when his hands gripped them. He gently stood up and leaned slightly forward.

"Comfortable?" He tilted his head to look back at me, my face close to his ear. I nodded. I looked forward and saw the other three gawking.

"Uh... so you said it's that way?" I wanted to change their gazes, as all three looked to where I pointed. I finally got a chance to notice the land. There were no trees, just grass and rocks all around. It was like a huge open field, nothing like Valen where I saw a lot of trees and bushes, at least where I was staying.

"Yeah, come on. It's not too far, just keep your guard up. We don't know what will be waiting for us there. No one is responding to me," Perseus warned as we all started walking.

"I always thought I'd catch a little piggy." Reed bounced me slightly as he moved his back up and down.

"Piggy?" I laughed.

"Yeah, piggy!" He wiggled again under me. "Piggy back ride, you're the piggy."

"I think you have that backwards." I placed my cheek against his head. "I'm getting a piggy back ride, meaning you are the pig."

"You're so full of it." Reed continued to look forward.

"You're full of it!" I mocked back. He tilted his head and his lip couldn't help but curl up.
Chapter 31

Astrelle was no longer in sight so we must have walked for a while. No one said anything, probably because we were all emotionally and physically drained. I could feel Reed pant harder and harder as we walked farther.

He couldn't hold me the whole time.

I looked over at Dennis, who was walking near us, but kept his distance. "I think you need a break," I whispered softly in his ear.

"No, I'm fine," he barely huffed it out.

"Reed, maybe Dennis can carry me just for a little, until you catch your breath." His body stiffened and that little thing called jealousy filled my mind.

"No way." Geez, he was stubborn.

"Reed, please. You can't protect me if you're dead from exhaustion." He stopped, catching his breath.

"Thank you." I gave him a gentle kiss on his cheek, feeling a small smile. "Dennis!" I called. His head whipped over and he was immediately at our side. Reed gently kneeled down and I hopped on one leg as I jumped off with Dennis' hand steadying me.

"Dennis?" Kailor's voice whipped my attention back to the other three up ahead, who actually stopped in their tracks and stared at us.

Shit.

"Nickname we came up with for each other, when we had our first meeting, in the dining room, remember?" Dennis quickly replied.

"Yeah, I didn't like his name Dawkins, so I came up with an Earth name for him. Dennis." I backed him up. His lying traits were getting contagious. Perseus' eyes were approving as he stared at Borin and Kailor's reaction to see if they bought it.

"Dennis huh? I guess it matches." Kailor shrugged. I think he bought it, but Borin eyed us like he knew we were lying.

"Ready?" Dennis asked, kneeling down. I could feel the satisfaction emanating from him and I rolled my eyes.

"Hang on." Kailor approached us, stopping me from climbing on. He took my injured arm and pulled it from my chest. "How's your shoulder?" he asked, stretching it gently.

"Actually, not too bad." I only felt a slight pinch of pain when he rotated it. He bent down and felt my ankle.

"Place your foot down." I did what he said and the pain was bearable, but still there as I lifted it back up.

"Still sore, but not as bad," I say, holding it back up.

"I think you heal faster than I do. By the time we get there, I'm pretty sure you'll be good as new," Kailor said with pride and a hint of surprise.

"Really? That quick?" Borin asked and then I think I heard him mutter, "She is something, all right."

"All right, come on you guys, let's keep going," Perseus called as I hopped on Dennis' back, with Reed close at his side. His breathing was already steadying without me.

"Better?" I turned towards him and he brushed my hair from my face.

"Yes, I'll carry you soon," he promised before he gave a small peck on my cheek.

"Come on, guys, I'm right here. Geez!" Dennis started walking.

"Hey, don't complain. You're lucky she's even on your back." Reed growled, eyes narrowed towards him. Dennis' ignored him, but I felt his shoulders tense up.

"Come on, quit it, you two," I rolled my eyes. "So Perseus, where are all your trees?" I yelled up ahead, trying to get rid of the tension between them.

"Galas is known for its open lands so we don't have many. Didn't you notice, compared to Valen?" he answered.

"Well, I really didn't get to explore Valen. I mostly stayed in the house... or palace... whatever it's called."

"You never explored Valen?" He turned his head in surprise. I shook my head. "Well, you missed out. Valen is very beautiful, known for its trees, gardens, and all sorts of life. Galas is known for its vast open lands, with its plains, deserts, and mountains. I'll give you a tour when this all dies down."

I smiled. "I'd like that."

"Also, that's why we have to keep our guard up. When we approach, anyone will be able to see us, including our enemies, if they're there."

"What about Cremor?" I asked Borin, who was talking with Kailor.

He looked over at us. "Hmm... Cremor... well, it has a lot of caves, mountains, even in the underground. We also have a lot of dangers if you don't know what's what around our planet."

"Ah yes, Cremor. Cremor is pretty dangerous." Kailor laughed, almost with a hidden warning. Borin nudged him in the shoulder. "It is!" Kailor scoffed and then looked over at me, ignoring Borin's glare. "You must remember, Princess, Vega didn't lie about Cremor being a banished planet for criminals. It was a very dangerous place until they started to build a society and Borin began to rule. It is much better now, but the natural dangers of the planet are still there."

"How about you, Dennis? Have you been there?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Well maybe when this is all done, Borin can give us a safe tour?" I flashed him a smile.

"Well of course. If you are to rule, you will be visiting all three of us frequently." Borin says as a matter of fact. Did he really think I could rule a planet, let alone three? What was the matter with these guys? Did they forget I was still just a kid? My grip went tighter around Dennis' neck.

"Ahh– a little breathing room please." Dennis strained against my hold.

I loosened my grip and muttered, "Sorry."

"You okay?" Reed asked, placing his hand on my head. I wondered if he was starting to feel anything from me.

I avoided his eyes when I answered, "Um... yeah."

"Maybe now's a good time to let him know what's going on, before he finds out the hard way." Borin spit out. I whipped my head over to him and gave the hardest glare. He only saw it for a second before he quickly picked up his pace, getting as far as possible.

"What is it, what do you need to tell me?" Reed asked with a slight strain of worry and suspicion.

"Um... well." I shifted my eyes back and forth. I didn't even know where to begin.

His calming touch on my shoulder soothed me. "Whatever it is, I'll still be here."

I chuckled internally. Of course you'll still be here, you're stuck with me. "That's kind of the thing, remember when I got your memories back? The pain we went through and the whole process of what we did?" He nodded. "And when you pulled me from the Edifice, you felt different, didn't you?" I looked up ahead, then back at him. "With your powers?" Dennis' whole body was stiff under me, making me even more nervous.

"Yes, I wanted to save you so I just, I don't know." He looked ahead of him as he relived the memory. "This whole wave smashed into me somehow—" he moved his hands towards his chest in a rushed motion "—but then as I stopped you, I had the strangest urge to kill everyone who was behind me." He gripped his fists that still laid on his chest. "I was kind of freaking out, but was too bent on saving you that I didn't care."

Nothing like spitting out the truth. "Well, Borin said we did something called a camaticism. We are camatics now." Yeah, like he'd know what that was? Maybe he won't ask.

"Camatics?" He placed his hands back to his side and looked back at me, tilting his head.

Damn. He asked.

"Um... it's kind of like marriage, but stronger." I answered hesitantly. His brows lifted at the word marriage. "We kind of um– made a link to each other." I looked ahead at the other three walking, avoiding his never-ending stare. "So we are kind of one person." I squinted my eyes, almost shutting them, but not quite.

Silence.

Silence.

Five long— long... seconds.

"And that's different from before, how?" Reed finally says. My eyes sprung open as I looked back at him and found his head tilted slightly at me, but his whole face, his curled up lips, his raised amused brows... he wasn't screwing with me. He was looking at me like it was funny instead of running off.

"You're not scared?" I squeaked.

His hand came to my shoulder. "Es, I've been with you for so long. I think we were camatics the whole time." My heart literally turned into goop. Yes. Goop.

"Reed!" I leapt at his neck, forgetting that Dennis was under me.

Dennis let out a yell and his body started to tumble over. "Here, take her," he mumbled. His arms loosened from my thighs as I wrapped them around Reed's body.

Reed's arms held me tight as he breathed into my neck. "I love you, Es. Camaticism or not."

I squeezed him tighter. "I love you too, Reed."

He rubbed my back slowly. I peeled myself off of him and stood on my own feet.

"Your ankle?" He pointed.

I looked down at the weight I was putting on it and didn't feel anything. I lifted it and twirled it around. "Actually, it's better," I say.

"Shoulder?" He pointed again.

I lifted it back and forth and up and down.

"Wow, pretty good! I think I can walk on my own now," I said, as I jumped up and down.

"Well, good. Ready?" He held out his hand as I entwined my fingers in his and nodded. We fell a little ways back from the other four. Dennis kept walking, giving us our privacy.

"There's another thing about being camatics that Borin told me and you should know too." I continued. He made small, soothing circles with his thumb near the base of my wrist.

"What?" he asked.

"We are the same person, a camatic link, as Borin said, so if I die..." I glanced over at his side profile, watching his face put two and two together. His jaw went tight and his lips tilted slightly down, along with his brows.

His hand gripped mine tightly when he said softly, "That'll never happen."

"Well hopefully not, because... you'll die too," I whispered and his grip loosened.

He looked down at me through the corner of his eyes. "And if I die?"

I exhaled loudly. "I die."

I could feel his alarmed perplexity wash over me in a long thick blanket of anxiousness.
Chapter 32

"I don't care that I'll die if you die, but if I die first, I don't want you to follow." It was just one of his many rants he spouted at me since he heard the words come out of my mouth. He felt the same way I did. I didn't care if I died, but bringing him with me was too much of a burden. "Can't we reverse that somehow?" he asked after a long tinge of babbling.

"You can regress a camaticism, but..." I looked ahead as we walked. I couldn't even bear to think about what would happen, let alone say it aloud.

"What? What, Es?" he demanded as he shook my hand.

I closed my eyes tightly. "We wouldn't know each other anymore. We wouldn't have our connection. We won't remember our love at all. There would be no we." I took a deep breath after letting it all out without letting the tears take over me.

"We could bring it back just like we did before," he argued.

"No, we couldn't," I whispered and took another breath. "Borin said once you regress a camaticism, you're pulling the two forces apart and they become nothing to each other. That's the consequence." After about a minute of silence and slow walking, I finally got the courage to look up at his face. He was staring up ahead, his eyes untold.

"Reed?"

"Well then." He took a big breath through his nose then his shoulders drooped as he let it out slowly. "I guess I'll just have to deal with being in a camatic relationship, huh?"

"You don't want to regress it?"

He rolled his eyes, but kept them forward, hoping I didn't see. "Es, I would rather die with you, than live a life not knowing you. That is a fate worse than death." He stopped and faced me. "Do you feel the same?"

My heart and soul stopped in their tracks. They were glowing and radiating towards him and I knew the one word that would answer it all. I smiled. "Permanently."

He wrapped his arms around my waist and enveloped me with his lips. Our bodies molded as one and our hearts beat at the same time we touched.

I could stay like this forever.

He was right, camaticism or not, we were meant to be like this from the beginning. I slowly pulled my lips from his, letting his forehead lean on mine.

Not even two seconds passed, before Perseus snapped us out of our bliss. "Come on, you two. Stay close, we're approaching base."

Breathing deeply, we pulled our foreheads apart. We both knew our alone time would be limited, but we would cherish each one. If even for a second.

"Coming!" I answered and we headed over, hand in hand.

"Now, us being camatics, this means I just have to be on extra high alert, making sure you don't die," he whispered to me.

"Same for me, buddy." I nudged his ribs and shook my head. "You're right, how is this different?" He let out a deep laugh as we caught up with the others. We saw in the distance what looked like a prison of some sort. It had concrete gates surrounding it and black smoke rising from the inside.

"Something's wrong." Perseus says and ran toward the building, all of us in tow. As we got closer, the stench was unbearable. And now we saw why, a battle had ensued. Bodies were all over the entrance and the concrete looking gates were wide open. The smell of fire and death filled my nostrils. I covered my nose as we walked past the lifeless bodies on the ground.

"Don't look." Reed grunted, trying to keep from gagging himself. He placed his hands around my head, averting my gaze to look at his shoulder, but I had already seen what had gone down.

"Everybody stay close. Keep an eye out for survivors," Borin whispered as we entered the base. Reed's hands flew over my eyes, I saw nothing but black.

"Reed!" I scolded.

"No. Don't. Look." His voice was too still and stoic, but I could feel him in me. I gripped his shirt as his other hand was around me, guiding me where to go.

His horror and anguish battered into my chest making me flinch slightly. His hardship of sorrow and suffering enveloped my heart. I knew what he was seeing without looking at it for myself. There were bodies all around and I could smell the blood still lingering in the air.

"In here!" Perseus yelled, as Reed guided me to wherever we were going. I heard a door shut behind us and Reed's hands left my eyes. We were in some sort of control room. Dozens of computers screens glared in front of us. Perseus went over to one and started typing.

"Who did this?" Kailor asked with disgust.

"Hang on, I'm trying to pull up footage, but, wait, there's a message here." Perseus pushed a button and a too familiar face came on the big screen in front of us.

"Hello, Perseus."

Vega.

My body cringed.

An arrogant smile played on his lips as he started to speak, "If you find this, I see you have found the little gift I left for you... or what's left of it." He let out an deep chuckle. "Let this be a lesson that you do not mess with Valen. Oh, and if Borin is there with you—" he lifted his brow and stroked his thick beard "—let him know I left a little present for him on Cremor too." His lip curled up one side. "Well, gentleman, I hope you enjoy these gifts..." He leaned closer to the screen, before he yelled, "And let the war begin." The screen went black.

"Damn it!" Borin screamed and kicked the side of the monitors.

"Can he do that? Declare war on two planets? Is he that stupid?" Kailor yelled.

"Well, it is done." Perseus says, rubbing his forehead. "He has officially declared war on Galas and Cremor."

"Perseus, can you contact Cremor from here?" Borin asked, slightly panicked.

He pushed a bunch of buttons. "No, they damaged a lot of our communications, can you sense her?" Borin closed his eyes for a couple of seconds.

Boring grunted. "Damn it, no." He turned to me. "Estelle, can you do it?"

"Huh? Me?" I shrilled.

"Yes, your gifts supersede mine. If anyone can communicate across large distances, it's you," Borin begged as all of their eyes laid on me.

I swallowed hard. "All right, I'll try." I closed my eyes tight, summoning the energy and focused. Everything swirled around me, sounds started to echo, and the air felt thick.

"Tara? Tara? Tara! Are you there? Tara! It's Estelle! Tara!" I waited. And waited. It felt like half an hour, but it was really just one long minute. I could see all these strands glinting in the darkness, but not really there, until one started to stand out. My mind felt a tug.

"Estelle?" Tara's voice echoed. "Estelle! Is Borin all right?"

"Yes, we are fine, Galas' base was attacked. Borin couldn't get in touch with you. How about over there at Cremor?"

"I know. I've been having trouble getting in touch with him too. One of our main bases was under attack as well. I'm trying to evacuate and tell our people to hide in our caves, but Vega's armies are relentless! I don't know how long we can hold them off!" Her voice was filled with panic. "Estelle, what do I do, what do I do?" Something kicked in me, something strong and forceful.

"You are going to do what you do best: lead. Do what you can and we will send help over. You are doing great, Tara. Don't worry. You are a queen." My inner voice sounded different— I felt different.

I was talking like a... queen. Those moments had happened here and there, but it was at its strongest right then. People's lives depended on me. Planets depended on me. I was not about to let them down.

"Thank you, Estelle. I will do my best. Stay safe also and let Borin know I love him and we are all right."

"I will. Keep in touch, Tara." And the tug was gone.

I opened my eyes and found desperate ones waiting for my answer. "She's fine," I say. Borin let out a deep sigh as if he was holding his breath the whole time I was talking. "One of your main bases got attacked too. She's evacuating the people into caves, but she can't hold off the armies for long."

"Why can't we just overpower him? We have the strength of two planets," Reed asked.

Perseus shook his head. "It's not that simple. This is why I even considered a treaty with him, because Valen is a bigger planet and he trains his armies to be ruthless, just like he is. His army is probably the same size, possibly larger, than both our armies combined."

"This is ridiculous. We can't just stand here while he takes over," Dennis says.

"Hang on, let me see if I can communicate with one of my other bases." Perseus pushed a ton of buttons as the screens changed multiple times. One of the oldest men I have seen here came on. He had silver shining hair and a gray beard with chocolate eyes that widened with surprise. Something about him seemed familiar but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Your Majesty! You're alive!" His deep rustic voice tugged at something in my heart. I placed my hand on it and rubbed, maybe it was just heart burn.

"Hello, Jefion, good to see you. How is our base there?" Perseus asked.

"All right so far, but we are hearing of attacks at our other bases. Jovian and I are doing our best at preparing, sir," he answered professionally and unscathed.

"Okay, look, I need all of you to evacuate immediately and come to base ten, got it? Gather as many needed supplies as you can."

"Yes, sir, over." And the screen went blank again.

"Who was that?" I asked curiously.

"Jefion? Oh, my top general and trusted advisor. Don't worry, if anyone can get the job done, it's him."

"Well, what are we going to do?" I asked, frustrated.

"We sit and wait. They will bring a bigger ship and more men. We can gather necessary supplies and head to Cremor to unite our forces." Perseus leaned his head back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Is that what I had to look forward to when I was ruler? Waiting? I don't know how my parents did it away from each other. I looked up at Reed as he stood close to my side. I would never want to be away from him. He must have felt me staring, or sensed me, because his eyes looked down at me and his smile blanketed me with a warmth that made me feel like everything will be all right.
Chapter 33

I got tired of standing, so I leaned against the wall and slid down against it, allowing my butt to slowly touch the cold floor. Reed quickly followed, sitting close by me, our shoulders and hips touching so tight it would be hard to peel us away. Borin was right, you do grow closer and closer. In all my years, right then was the closest I had ever felt to him, the urge of not wanting to leave his side growing with every breath.

Perseus and Borin almost looked like they were asleep with their eyes closed and their feet balancing at the edge of the computers. Kailor sat across from us against the other wall. His head leaned back, as if it was his first real sleep in a long time. Dennis sat on my other side, about an arm's length away. He had his head leaned back, staring at the boring white ceiling. He felt my gaze and his eyes met mine, giving me a flirty wink before he looked back at the ceiling. I rolled my eyes and looked at Reed next to me. His eyes were slightly scrunched, his gaze focused.

What was he doing?

I looked at the direction he was looking and saw a ball of ruffled up paper at the side of a shiny steel bucket. It was moving slightly, trying to make its way closer to the trash bin. "Are you trying to pick up that paper?" I tried to hold back my laugh by covering my mouth, but failed miserably.

"Hey, we all can't just stop ships mid-crash, all right," he teased and the paper stopped moving when he lost focus. He let out a heavy sigh and slumped his shoulders. A single bead of sweat dripped onto his brow.

"Reed, relax. You're trying too hard and you have to let go of the doubt. You need to free your mind, as though there is nothing but you and your goal and it will flow freely." I lifted my hand. "Watch."

The flowing energy flew threw me as I slowly waved my hand and the ball of paper floated slowly from the ground and into the bin. I waved my hand back out and the paper came back out of the bin and slowly fluttered onto the floor where it was. That was easy compared to dealing with the ship. I looked at my hand and stretched my fingers. I wondered if moving the ship would be easier now.

"Your mind is a muscle too, so the more you work it and push your limits, the stronger it will be," Dennis said. I flicked my eyes over to him; he was still staring at the ceiling.

"I guess that makes sense," I replied. Hopefully if I ever need to stop a ship again, it'll be easier and less painful. I turned back to Reed. "Now you try. Remember what I said." He looked at me, then back at the paper ball. He took his hand and slowly waved it, as the ball started to slowly lift off the floor. He let out a small triumphant laugh as it started to go higher. "I knew you could do it!" As I placed my hand on his knee, the ball shot up into the ceiling and slammed into the bin, making it spin on its rim on the bottom making a loud drumming sound, startling everybody as they pounced to their feet in a fighting stance.

"Holy shit! Did you guys see that?" Dennis yelled as Kailor placed his hand on the trash bin to make it stop spinning.

"What happened?" Perseus asked as all their bodies relaxed.

"I saw it all. Estelle touched Reed while he was moving something and they both shot it up and slammed it in," Dennis shouted as he made the motions with his hand. I took my hand from Reed's knee and shook it, as if I got shocked.

"I told you, they're camatics now, they're different. When they are together, their powers are at their strongest," Borin said.

"This is great, we have a trump card against Vega," Perseus mumbles. He turns to us and says, "Believe it or not, but our fates rest in your hands."

Reed looked at me, his face giving away his nervousness. He wasn't ready for that responsibility and neither was I. But what choice did we have? I gasped as the floor below us started to shake. We all jumped to our feet as the building shook again. Perseus jumped on the computers and brought up a screen looking at the outside while a dark blue sleek ship was firing at our base.

"That's a Valen ship," Kailor says. "Why is it here, didn't it already take over this base?"

"Damn it, Vega must know we're here. Come on, we gotta get out of here!" Perseus busted open the door and ran out, all of us following his lead. The stench surrounded us again, but I had to block it out. Dennis ran in front of me and Reed watched my back.

We started to pass by bodies laid out all over the floor. I kept my vision on the back of Dennis' head, trying not to focus on them. Perseus smashed through another door, which led us back to the outside of the base. We looked up and there were three ships in the air hovering close to the ground as a dozen men jumped out of each one.

"Shit! Opening that damn message must have alerted him. Come on." Perseus turned us around towards the back exit. The men came darting quickly behind us. I felt my foot trip on something and I fell face first onto the ground and found blank, dead eyes staring at me. I let out a sharp gasp as I pushed myself up and dragged myself away from the body. I found myself hitting another one with my back, making the weight tumble onto my shoulders. I pushed him off and frantically jumped to my feet.

So many bodies... no, please no. Blood. Eyes staring openly at me, faces stuck in horror from death, arms tangled, legs twisted... the souls gone from their hollow eyes.

I was going to throw up.

"Estelle!" Reed yelled, his voice pulling me from my panic. Reed had stopped in his tracks a couple of feet away from me, as the others didn't even realize I tripped. He started to run back, but his body flew across the way.

"Reed!" I yelled. His body dragged on the ground from the fall, as the others turned back around to help him. I looked behind me. More than a dozen men were running toward them and another dozen ran toward me, all in the same blue uniform I saw when I was back at the Edifice in Valen.

"Estelle Caldwell." A man at the front of the group stopped near me. "We have orders to deliver you back to Vega, alive."

"And the others?" I raised my brow.

"Just you, Princess," he replied.

I looked back and found the men had surrounded the others. The urge to rule kicked in. "And if I refuse?" I snapped. The other men stepped forward.

"We have permission to use any force necessary." The man answered.

"Do you know what I think of your force?" I lifted my hands and my energy flowed so easily through me as all the men raised from the ground, wiggling their feet and hands, and groaning in fear. I lifted them higher and higher and then I leaned back and threw them with all my force toward their ship, like a pitcher throwing a baseball. Their bodies got smaller the farther they went and slammed against their ship, causing the ship to twirl in the air. I looked over at the others, as they were back-to-back with each other, forming a circle against the other men.

"Reed! Focus!" I hollered. His gaze immediately met mine and he gave a small nod. I raised my arms, his eyes still on me, mimicking my moves.

The difference was night and day. As if an energy was flowing between him and me, linking us together. His surge darted into me as mine darted into him, back and forth, as the surge grew stronger and stronger, like a conveyor belt spinning and spinning, creating more friction and power. We both raised our hands and I felt every single one of the men's energies pushing against us, trying to get free, as they dangled helplessly in the air. We both glanced at the other ships in the air and aimed the men there, including the one that was in front of me; thuds of bodies echoed as it hit metal.

Reed ran to me and wrapped his arms tightly around my neck. "Are you all right?" He quickly let go and examined me.

I nodded.

"That was so awesome!" Dennis yelled from the distance.

"Come on. They'll be back with reinforcements," Perseus said, as he continued running. Reed grabbed my hand and pushed me ahead as we ran after them. We came upon a small hidden door at the side as Perseus slammed through it and continued running. We came out of the base at the back, running through an open field of gravel. He sure was right: Galas was very barren and open. We heard distant humming from back at the base.

"Hurry! They're coming back!" Perseus hollered over the engines of the ships approaching us.
Chapter 34

We ran faster as the humming approached us, the wind blowing on our backs. The ships were on our heels. My heart was beating so fast. I looked at all the men around me, running for their lives. Borin, the great-uncle who was my almost first kill. Who I thought I despised and would really kill the next time I saw him. Turned out he was a smart, wise old man that I could find myself sitting with, listening to his knowledge. Kailor, my first friend at Valen and the dad of my best friend. He gave me friendship when I needed it the most. Reed and he had too much catching up to do. Dennis, oh Dennis. His silky black hair was thrown in the wind as we ran. Dennis, you made me feel loved, you broke me, and then you gave me what I needed, when I needed it. You are a small bundle of good and bad in my life. Can't have you die.

I looked ahead of me at the fast paced ground, avoiding those damn blues. Those blues I could get lost in. I still got lost in. My first real friend. You'd been there through everything. You conquered memory loss and you found your way back to me.

You remembered.

You're with me.

I knew what I had to do.

Forgive me, Reed.

I summoned all my strength and aimed it at them. They all lifted their running feet from the ground.

"What the–?"

"HEY!"

"What's going on?"

It happened so fast, the voices protesting around me.

"Es! What are you doing?"

I kept running, not looking any of them in the eyes, but focusing on the vast land ahead of us, past how far the eye could see, out of harm's way.

I threw them there.

Yup. Literally. Threw.

Their bodies flew like water out of a bridge, steadfast and easy. Their voices became muted whispers. I turned back to the ship on my heels and placed my hands in its direction, stopping it in its tracks as my heels dragged beneath me. Dennis was right, the more I worked my mind, the easier it was. The ship was probably double the size of Astrelle, yet it felt easier to control, easier to wrap my surge around. The sweat dripped from my forehead and fell in droplets. The ship pushed and pushed against me, dragging my feet slowly. Another ship came from the side. I kept one hand on the one in front of me and held out my hand to the other, both ships charging. I pushed my hands farther out, as I took one painful step forward. Both the ships seized and threw me back three more steps. My arms and body felt like they were going to mold into Jell-O, but I couldn't give up now. I had to give them more time. The pushing pressure stopped as I looked up and the ships both landed in front of me. Their ramps flew open and a never-ending line of men started to flow out.

I focused on the men flying at me, throwing one after the other to the side, but they kept coming and my body was not keeping up. One got past me and threw me to the floor, my body tumbling against the ground. I sprang myself back up as another pushed me back again, sending me flying on my back, throwing the air out of my lungs. I tried to swallow the air around me, gaining my breath back as I slowly tried to pull myself up. Another force threw me with a mental hard kick in my ribs, throwing me back down on my side.

I tasted the iron of blood.

Just when I thought I was done for, shots were fired in their direction, making them fly away from me. The strong wind and humming hovered over me. I glanced up and found a red sleek ship firing at the men behind me. A figure darted out of the open ramp and headed to me.

Black combat boots came in my field of vision as it stopped in front of me. My eyes worked their way up its strong exterior; thick legs in black rugged pants, a broad chest and shoulders enclosed in a silk black shirt. His dark cherry colored hair flowed with the wind caused by the ship. His piercing amber eyes, almost glowing in the sunlight stared down at me, as if in shock at the sight of my face.

"Come on, Jovian! What are you waiting for? Get in here!" The familiar gruff voice snapped me out of my spell, as Jefion's body hung from the opened ramp. I looked back at the amber eyes as they blinked rapidly and grabbed my arm.

"Come on, let's go!" his voice rang in my ears, as he pulled me to my feet and ran towards the ship. "Go!" He grabbed my waist and threw me up onto the ramp, his energy wrapping around me and floating me up, with him quickly following. I fell on my hands and knees panting. I heard more firing and shouting as the ramp closed behind us.

"Your Majesty." I looked up and found Jefion's kind face as he held out his hands. He reminded me of Gramps, who I hoped was doing fine. I took his hand and stood up. "I am General Jefion and right-hand to your father, King Perseus." He bowed his head slightly as I nodded back. "This is my son, Jovian. My second-in-command." He pointed behind me as Jovian stared at me with eyes of utmost disbelief. Something about him was irking me and I didn't know why.

A couple more seconds passed.

More staring.

"A-hem! Jovian!" Jefion scolded. Jovian shook his head and bowed.

I looked at the empty ship we were in. Similar in layout to the Astrelle, but more high tech. "Where are your men? Perseus said you would have reinforcements."

His eyes gazed sadly at the floor. "We were the only ones that made it out. I'm sorry, Princess."

I placed my hand on his shoulders on instinct. "No, I'm sorry."

"Thank you." He gave a candid smile. "Where is the king? We saw you in trouble, but no one else?"

"Oh, he's going to be mad." I shuffled my feet back and forth. "I threw them that way." I pointed to where I flung them. "So keep going there, we should eventually run into them." I looked back at the floor and shrugged. "I guess."

Jefion lifted his brows, surprised, yet curious. "All right, let me go manually drive this, I'll be right back. Jovian can help you with anything you need." He bowed his head again and went to the small door at the end.

"Do you need anything, Your Majesty?" Jovian asked.

I looked back behind me at the stilled, motionless eyes still staring intently on me. "I'm sorry, is there something on my face? You seem to be staring really hard." I touched and rubbed on my cheeks.

He finally showed emotion and laughed quietly while shaking his head. "No, Your Majesty, you just remind me of someone."

"Please, call me Estelle, don't start with that stuff." I huffed and sat on one of the seats and planted my elbows on my knees, gripping my head. I felt drained after those two ships and needed to recuperate, especially with Reed away from me. It felt like I was running with half a body.

Jovian shifted and sat next to me. His energy was familiar and yearning. I looked at him and his eyes quickly shifted away as I caught him staring... again.

"Are you sure we haven't met?" I asked.

He shook his head.

"Who do I remind you of then?"

He looked down at me. "Huh?"

"You said I remind you of someone, who do I remind you of?"

His eyes went back to facing forward. "A woman I used to know," he breathed.

"Used to?"

"She's gone now," his answer was short and calculated.

"I'm sorry."

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Was she your... ?" I didn't want to offend him, leaving my words hanging for him to fill in the blank.

"Camatic."

I sat up straight. Did he say what I thought he said?

"You did a camaticism? And you're still alive?" I screeched.

He nodded.

"How?" I yelled louder than I intended and he slightly pulled back. If he knew something that Borin didn't, then there was hope. I could somehow save Reed even if I died.

"Trust me, Your Highness, you don't want to know."

"No, I do want to know. Tell me." I turned in my seat so I was facing towards him.

He let out a sigh as he closed his eyes for a second, then opened them as he took a breath in. "I did die. But I was brought back and she wasn't." He took his hand and reached into a side pocket in his pants, taking out a small piece of paper, a worn out picture. "Her name was Ellia."

He handed the small square picture over to me. It was old and worn at all the edges. There were two people in the picture, his face was barely there, but her face was clear as day, standing next to him and leaning on his shoulder. Her black curly hair flowed down to her waist. Her smile as white as pearls. Her eyes a sapphire blue. Her face was filled with joy as she hung onto the strong arm next to her. A familiar gem hung from her neck.

I gripped the necklace on mine.

She looked almost exactly like me.

The breath escaped my lungs as I stared harder at the picture, as if to burn a hole right in that face. That familiar, striking twin face. Something tingled around me and lifted the hairs off my back.

Why did I feel this way? Why did she look like me? I looked back at his face, close to mine, watching my every reaction. His face leaned closer. Wait? Was he? Was he going to k– ? I wanted to pull away, but the force running through my veins told me not to.

"Everything all right in here?" Jefion's voice threw me back into place as I quickly stood up and he slowly followed. Jefion's stare never left his son.

"Yes," Jovian says.

"No," I said at the same time. I walked to Jefion with the picture and held it up to my face, showing the likeness. "Who is this?"

"Ah, Ellia. She was a great woman." He took the picture and rubbed it gently. "My son's camatic."

"Yes, I know that, but how is she dead and he's alive, and why does she look like me? Did she die from the rage of the pendant?" I wanted answers. Was that why I was destined to destroy the Edifice? And why was I being drawn to Jovian?

Was she me? And I her?

"Come." Jefion led me to the seat and sat us down. "I know we don't look it, but we are older than you think." I glanced at Jefion, who did already look old, and then at Jovian who looked to be maybe in his late twenties, early thirties. "But yes she did succumb to the powers of the pendant and she tried to kill me, but my son saved my life." I glanced over at Jovian, who held his eyes shut, as if he was reliving it with each word.

"Ellia killed Jovian? Her camatic?" I continued to stare at the picture in my hand.

"Yes, but she didn't mean to. It just happened so fast. We found this out the hard way, because once you're camatics, of course you will never kill each other. But we found out that if one camatic dies by the other's hands the other still lives, letting them live a life without their other half.

"Ellia went in a rage and couldn't bear to live with herself, so she sacrificed herself for him, she gave her life force, and everything she had into him to bring him back, thus ending her life. Now, no one knows of this. No one dares to speak of killings between camatics, so we lied. We created a story when they questioned us on how we were able to kill her while she was on a rampage."

"Then why are you telling me this?"

"Because I believe she is in you somehow, probably in your bloodline somewhere since you look alike. I sense a familiarity from you, a unique life force that we dare not forget." He looked at Jovian, who was staring back at his father. "And if anyone can tell if it's her, it's him." I looked at Jovian, whose kind eyes reverted back to me.

"Do you feel anything? Any emotions for me?" His eyes searched into mine, as if he could feel my soul.

I couldn't lie, I did feel something for him, but how was it possible? And without me thinking, it flew out of my mouth naturally. "Yes." His hand gently rubbed my arm, sending familiar tingles into my heart.

Was that possible?

Of course it was. I just turned eighteen and was whisked away to my home planet, finding more drama there than Earth ever brought me. The memories of my loved ones were taken from them, leaving them safe, but leaving my heart broken. I finally met my birth mom, who I first really saw through my dream! Then met my so called "step-dad" who just wanted to kill me. And on top of that I met my best friend's long lost real dad and bump back into my ex-boyfriend?

But hey, that wasn't enough? Let's throw in me having to save our ancestors from the prison of the pendants in order to keep myself alive from the power that would have consumed me.

But even through that, I got the love of my life back. Even without his memories, he still wanted me. He still remembered me. He wanted to be with me. We had one of the toughest struggles that I could have imagined.

And now, after all that we had been through, I couldn't help the pull of an old soul toward the amber eyes next to me.

How could I have two camatic links?

Fate, you are not kind.

THE END.

For Now.
SNEAK PEEK: Book Two

Surge

Release Date: April 24, 2015

"Estelle, good to see you!"

"Princess, so happy you're safe."

"What took you so long?"

"What is the matter with you?"

"You're crazy!"

"Don't do that again!"

All the voices were yelling at the same time with a mix of anger and support embodied in their tones.

Perseus and I rose from the ground, with multiple hands helping us up. I smiled at all their familiar faces, whether they were angry or happy. The one face I wanted to see was at the back, giving us space.

All the other faces blurred around me as his stood sharp and prominent. How his jaw curved, having that strong angle to where it connects with his chin. A few of his strands hung on his forehead, making me want to run my fingers through that smoky, messy dark hair. And those eyes– oh those deep, mesmerizing electric-blue eyes. They had a soft sense of eagerness behind them. His lips lifted slowly, raising his cheeks, and giving that star-gazing smile, melting my heart. My chest gave a small dip as I let out a small breath.

It was as if the friction between us drew us together like magnets. As I took a step forward, a fissure started interfering in our pull. Reed must have felt it as well; his face scrunched as he looked both confused and torn.

"Hey, who's that?" Jovian asked by my side, staring curiously at Reed. His body language changed quickly, growing tall and rigid. My magnetism floated to Jovian.

No. No. Don't do that! Why?

My head and heart were torn in two different directions and I couldn't seem to get them together. I opened my mouth to explain something... anything. Did I know what to say?

Hell no.

But as usual, Reed had great timing and knew me so well. He ran to me and scooped me in his arms, twirling me in the air. The wind blew in my face and my hair twirled around me as his touch brought me back to how it should be. Jovian swayed away from us in shock, as Reed pushed him out of the way like he wasn't even there. He placed me gently back down and moved his lips to mine ever so gently. His mouth came down slow, then lifted off and back down. It was one of the slowest, most sensual kisses we have had, our breaths breathing in the other's.

"Perseus!" Jefion's voice seemed to be purposefully loud to break us apart. "So good to see you!" I quickly pulled back and glanced at the crowd greeting Jefion, as Perseus enclosed him in a manly bear hug. My eyes found Jovian's, and they were blank as he eyed Reed and me.

What was that? Was that his heart cracking in mine? I cringed slightly at the burning ache in my chest. His gaze averted as Jefion distracted him, introducing him to the rest of the men, and putting on a fake smile.

BOOK THREE: CAMATIC

Release Date: September 10, 2015
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Acknowledgements

My utmost appreciation and thanks to my husband, David, and Amy, my 'gull'... wink... wink! I love you guys!

Without them, I wouldn't have had the strength or courage to start and finish this journey.

And of course, to my wonderful readers and fans! Without you guys, I don't know what I'd do.

Remember, the simplest thing you can do for me is to leave a review and spread the joy my books have brought you!

You can leave them on Amazon and Goodreads.
About the Author

  Serena Kearney was originally born on the island of Guam, a US territory. She moved to Durham, North Carolina in the year 2002. In 2003, she met her high school sweetheart, and now husband, David Kearney. They live in their house with their spoiled cat, Bongo-Bongo. She has done a lot in her life, from working with animals to writing books.

She was never an avid reader in her younger days, but now, she can't seem to stop putting books down. Finally, she wanted to bring the same joy to people that the books she read brought to her. She wanted to bring out her pent up imagination through words. She self-published PNEUMA in November 2014.

She loves to hear from her readers and read their reviews! If you want to show some love, don't forget to leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads!
Table of Contents

Dedication:

> > Other Works by Serena Kearney:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

> > Follow Serena Kearney:

> > About the Author
