ReEmergent -Guardians of Vesturon [4] (6 page)

“
Why do you call me that?”

“
Call you what?”

“
Saylan?”

He swallowed and looked down for a brief moment. “Because it is your name. Your own very beautiful name,” he answered her as his voice cracked.

“
No, I am called Number Five.”

“
Is that what you prefer?”

She looked at him oddly then, confused by his question. “I don’t know.”

“
I hope not because I would hate to have to call you by a number instead of your birth name.”

“
Birth name?”

“
Oh sweet Deity. What in the bloody hell did they do to you?”

Her eyes darted about in confusion, not comprehending any of this. She looked at him again, not daring to look him in the eye for fear of being punished. She knew she was not supposed to do that. He was tall with long dark hair. He frightened her because he was so large. She cowered beneath her bedcovers, afraid he would strike her for being so bold with him.

“
I’m not certain what you are asking me.”

“
I wasn’t asking it of you. It was more of a rhetorical question.”

“
You speak in riddles. You confuse me.”

Xarrid stared at her. She was truly afraid of him. “Saylan, I swear to you I will not harm you.”

Saylan lifted her eyes and gazed upon the male standing before her. She had never seen him before, but for some odd reason, she did not doubt that he spoke the truth. “I believe you, though I don’t know why.”

“
Did they hurt you?”

“
Who?”

“
Those that held you prisoner.”

“
I don’t know what you mean.”

It all came crashing down on him, like a tidal wave, with its thundering roar and its crushing weight. Saylan had no recollection of him, their love, their shared joy, their bond. She didn’t even know she’d been kidnapped and had a chip implanted into her brain. She didn’t comprehend that she had been under the control of someone for over a year. She had no memory of
them
at all. According to her, there were no
Saylan and Xarrid
. They had never existed as a couple.

Xarrid

I thought I would mourn her, but I knew that would be ludicrous. I knew I would have to woo her and earn her love all over again. Loving Saylan became my motto. Everything I did centered around her.

Everything I looked at became a cause for me to love her even more. Saylan had taught me how to appreciate the little things that life handed you...small things really, that I usually took for granted. She always delighted in the beauty of the blue sky or a star lit night. I began to appreciate those too, after I knew her. Wildflowers that grew everywhere on Vesturon were a favorite of hers. Whenever I could, I would pick her a fresh bouquet and bring it to her. Her eyes would light up as she held them in her hand. Those moments were what I lived for. I strived to regain each and every one of them.

The first thing I did was to resign from The Guardians. Rayn wasn’t pleased at first, but we decided this would be temporary. I couldn’t do my due diligence as a Guardian if I was so preoccupied with getting Saylan her life back.

The next thing on my agenda was figuring out how to win Saylan back. This would be particularly difficult, as I knew she feared everything, especially me. I wasn’t quite sure why, but terror radiated from her, wrapping its tentacles around me, whenever I was near her.

The third thing I did was I became as informed as possible on memory loss and how to help those suffering from it. I was determined to win her back, if it took the rest of my life.

Saylan’s parents had turned her recovery and rehabilitation over to me. I suppose it was my fierce determination to see her return to her old self that convinced them. Or maybe it was my fanaticism at keeping all visitors out. Maddie was angry with me because I wouldn’t even allow her to see Saylan. I just thought it would do more harm than good. Julian couldn’t give me a good answer either way, so I went with my heart.

Jurek stayed on Vesturon with me, using his powers on Saylan when she became overwrought. Julian decided this was better than sedating her continuously and she seemed to be having fewer episodes of acute pain. The scans on her brain showed that the remaining parts of the nanochips seemed to be staying inactive, so we were all hopeful that she would make a full recovery. Julian believed she would gain her memory back, but he couldn’t say how much or when. This angered me and I exploded at the slightest provocation. My impatience drove me near the edge and I would find myself having to get away from the medical facility before I did something I regretted. Jurek would flash me to the sanctuary for a few hours of solace. It helped immeasurably.

“
This seems a bit off for me to mention this, but I’m not sure what I would have done without you these past weeks,” I said to Jurek during one of our quick visits to the sanctuary.

He threw back his head and laughed, which was so out of character for him. “You sound like I’m your lover or something.”

“
I know, right? But I thought you should know. I meant what I said and my gratitude goes beyond mere words.”

“
There’s no need for thanks my friend. I know you would return the favor if necessary.”

“
That I would. Jurek, do you think she will ever be the same again? Before that thing was implanted into her brain?”

“
I can’t say. But I know between you and Julian, she will get the best care anywhere in the universe.”

I nodded, but an uncomfortable feeling of uncertainty tainted my thoughts and sickened me.

“
Xarrid, you couldn’t have protected her any more than you did. You didn’t know where she was. You did everything in your power to find her. She’s back now so instead of beating yourself up over what happened, move your thoughts to getting her well.”

“
You’re right, of course. I just want to see her smile again. You know even if it takes forever for her to fall for me again, I just want to bring joy to her life again.”

Jurek clapped a hand on my shoulder and said, “You will.”

The most crushing of blows hit me when I returned to her room one day and she was gone. All of her things, her clothing, every sign of her had disappeared. Julian was there and saw the look on my face.

“
It’s not what you think Xarrid.”

“
Then please enlighten me Julian, because when I left her here, I was under the impression she would be here when I returned.”

“
She requested that you not be allowed to visit her. Under the circumstances, there wasn’t any reason to keep her here anymore, so her parents took her home. They’ve asked that you not visit until they get her settled. It seems your presence upsets her. Personally, I think it’s because it’s triggering some kind of buried memory or emotions that she is unable to deal with so the only thing she knows is to escape. Now before you get all riled up, her parents want you in her life and they will do everything they can to get her to open up to having you visit her.”

I was paralyzed by shock. I didn’t expect this and my mind was buzzing with the inability to accept this. My mind started to zing at how I would cope with this new blow.

“
Be patient Xarrid. She’ll find her way back to you.”

“
What should I do? The thought of not having her in my life...I don’t know what to do.”

“
Just let her be for a while and then try to visit her again. She’s very timid right now and trying to find her way. Reach out to her parents and let them be your guide.”

I shook my head, my world falling apart around me all over again. I sat on the bed that used to be hers and thought about the times when she was her old self, before all the horrible things had happened. Jurek was there with me before I even had a chance to call out to him.

“
Would you like to go to the sanctuary?”

“
No! I’m tired of running away from things. I need to start living my life again. I’ve put everything on hold, thinking I would dedicate this time to Saylan. Now I don’t have anything to do. I can’t go on like this. Going to the sanctuary will only prolong the inevitable.”

Jurek nodded and stood there silently. A thousand things poured through my mind, but the one thing that kept surfacing was I had to do something for the cause. Sitting here and lamenting over my heartbreak wouldn’t cut it anymore. I rose and looked at Jurek.

“
I’m going to join Sharra with the Star Avengers and try to stop the Xanthians by taking out their ships,” I announced.

He narrowed his eyes and looked at me thoughtfully before speaking. “How good are your skills as a pilot?”

“
Good enough. Why?”

“
My men are intercepting Xanthian shipments of weapons and supplies and diverting them to the rebels on Earth. I’m trying to help put Earth back into the hands of the humans, where it belongs. I could use your help in taking out some of their guard ships.”

“
I can do that. I need a Star Fighter to do it. Can you get me one?”

Jurek grinned. He wasn’t the least bit shy about his prominence or his wealth. “I can get you anything you need. You name it, it’s yours.”

I laughed. “Never short on equipment, are you?”

“
Huh uh. I have resources Xarrid.”

“
Okay, here’s my deal.”

Jurek looked at me and raised both brows.

“
Hey, I know you don’t take orders, but this is how it has to be for me. I must have a lot of leeway to get back here to check on Saylan. If she’s agreeable to me hanging around her, I’m here all the time. The other thing is that I can’t fly the fighter under Vesturion colors. No Vesturion ID at all. Are we clear?”

“
Pretty demanding, aren’t you?”

“
You want my help or not?”

He laughed, hard. “Yeah, I do. But now let
me
be clear. You’re the only one that ever gets to speak to me like that.”

“
You really are full of yourself, aren’t you?”

“
Seriously? And this is coming from a Guardian?”

We both laughed. “Thanks Jurek. You’ve been a real brother to me here.” I clasped him by the shoulders and gave him a brief hug.

Rayn paced the floors and clenched his fists repeatedly. He didn’t think it was possible to be angrier. Xarrid had gone beyond what he thought even approached acceptable. It wasn’t long before clipped footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor.

The door slid open with a soft swoosh and he stood in the entryway, looking inside for a moment before entering.

Rayn looked his brother over, noticing the subtle differences in him. He reflected back on the changes that had occurred in Xarrid over the last year. The changes were nothing short of disturbing. Yes, he was still handsome, but he had gone from a gentleman to a rugged looking wild thing. Unkempt long hair swung from his head, reaching past his shoulders. He was rarely clean shaven and there was absolutely nothing soft about him. No damn wonder he had frightened Saylan. His looks would scare any female. His penetrating, blue eyes had such an intensity about them that they made one feel as if they were reaching into the depths of their soul and exposing every secret within.

“
Were you ever going to tell me?” Rayn asked.

“
I suppose so. I had to do what I had to do.”

“
That’s ridiculous and you well know it.”

“
Do I? I don’t see it that way.”

“
Xarrid! For Deity’s sake, you’re a Guardian!”

“
No, Rayn. I am on a temporary sabbatical. I think you were present when I made that decision.”

“
What you’re doing is betraying the Guardians.”

Using his Power of Speed, Xarrid was standing before Rayn in a flash. “I think you are highly mistaken. I am betraying no one. Quite the contrary. I am assisting the human race, which I might remind you, you’ve seen fit to abandon in their most dire time of need. At least I’m helping them. I fly under no one’s colors. I do it on my own. Don’t make false assumptions Rayn,” he bit out.

Rayn furrowed his brow and stared at him intently. “I hardly know you anymore.”

“
And whose fault is that?”

“
What is that supposed to mean?”

“
It was a question that you seem to evade with ease. I will translate then. Why do you not know me anymore?”

“
Because you’ve changed so.”

“
Do you know why?”

Rayn made a move to turn away but Xarrid stopped him.

“
I asked you a question Rayn.”

“
I know. I believe you’ve changed because of Saylan.”

“
Hmm. Can you understand what I’ve been through and why I must do what I do?”

“
I suppose so.”

“
Then why do you judge me?”

“
I don’t.”

“
Yes, you do Rayn. You think I’m betraying my people. I’m not, and you well know I would never do that. I have enough to worry about with Saylan. I don’t need to have you and the rest of my family to worry about too. Sharra is aware of what I’m doing. If you need any intel on me, check with her. She can verify everything. So can Jurek.”

“
I’m beginning to think you are closer to him than to your own family.”

“
He has helped me more than I can say and I will always be indebted to him. Don’t tell me you are jealous.”

Rayn scrubbed his eyes with his palms. “This war is getting to me. I’m sorry. I do wish we had you back with us though.”