Coexist: Keegan's Chronicles (20 page)

“It was my mother that really saved you,”
Keegan shrugged. “I was just the foolish one to rush into the
middle of a battlefield.”

His incredibly blue eyes moved to hers. “So
you really died, huh? What was that like? Did you see the other
side? Do you feel different now that you are back in our
world?”

They were the questions she knew everyone
wanted to ask her, but didn’t dare.

“I don’t recall it at all,” Keegan told him
apologetically. “I know that’s not the exciting answer everyone
would like to hear. But if I hadn’t been told I died, I would have
never known. I do feel a little different. My body temperature
seems lower now, and I’m always cold. And apparently my bond to my
chosen has been broken. Other than that I feel like the same old
Keegan.”

Donald stepped back, his eyes widening.
Did he just hear
correctly? The bond was broken?
Suddenly, he felt very
nervous and unsure of himself. His palms were sweating. He didn’t
even trust himself to speak.

“Are you okay?” Keegan asked, frowning at
him. “You don’t look so well.”

“Sorry, I need to go. I’m glad you are alive,
and thanks again for saving my life.” He stumbled away.

Donald shoved his hands in his pockets, his
eyes on the dirty linoleum floor as he hurried down the hall. He
had dreamed of this moment; a chance with Keegan. Yet, when it was
staring him in the face he ran away like a scared lovesick
loser
. Real smooth,
Donald.

Chemistry class went slowly and Keegan sat
watching the second hand go round and round, wondering what in the
world had gotten into Donald. Usually, it was her favorite class,
but she just felt antsy today with too much on her mind.

She felt like she really needed to catch up
with Anna and Lauren because it seemed like forever since they had
talked. They always sat together at lunch and she was eager to
reach them. After suffering through a boring history lecture, it
was finally lunch time.

She practically ran for her locker to get rid
of her books, and slammed into Spencer and Sam in the hallway.
“Whoa, slow down Keegan. I feel like I’ve been hit by a bulldozer.”
Spencer rubbed his shoulder. He was a skinny guy whose long limbs
made him seem tall, with a head full of black hair and bright green
eyes, which he crossed at her. Sam, a good-looking blonde,
laughed.

“Hey guys, I can’t talk right now I’m in a
hurry,” she told them quickly, waving as she dashed off once
more.

They stared at her, sprinting to her locker
down the hallway as other students parted to make way. Glancing at
each other, Spencer and Sam shook their heads.

Once at her locker, she impatiently waited
for Anna and Lauren. She kept drumming her fingers on the beige
metal and looking at her watch.
Where were they?

Anna got there first, giving Keegan a cheesy
grin as she walked up.

“Oh thank God, I didn’t think you were ever
going to show up,” Keegan said with a sigh, leaning against her
locker wearily.

Looking at Keegan like she was crazy, Anna
responded, “I got here as soon as I could; the bell just rang.
Chill out.”

Lauren sauntered down the hall just a second
later in her cheering outfit. Anna and Keegan laughed as they
watched all the guys turn and stare at her legs as she walked by.
Lauren shook her hips deliberately, loving the attention, and
smiled at the girls.

“Let’s go outside to eat so we can catch up
in private,” Keegan said, grabbing them by the arms and pulling
them towards the door.

Keegan noticed a glance exchanged between
Anna and Lauren, and wondered what that was all about. Shrugging it
off, she led the way through the back doors of the school.

It was a brilliantly bright day with not a
cloud in sight. Some of their classmates were lounged around the
quad with their lunches and sodas, enjoying the mild weather and
sunshine. Laughter and the distant sound of cars on the main road
were the only sounds as the girls headed for the shade of an old
Oak tree.

Keegan turned with her hands planted on her
hips once they were hidden behind the bushes surrounding the tree.
“So how long have you guys known I wasn’t human?”

Lauren looked down sheepishly, unable to make
eye contact. Anna was smiling from ear to ear. “Finally! Do you
know how hard it has been all these years not to be able to talk
about the elephant in the room?”

Keegan wasn’t sure if she should laugh or
cry, or stomp her feet like a little kid while screaming
not fair!
She
settled for crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes
at her friends. “You have both known all this time?”

Anna shrugged her shoulders. “Hey, it’s not
our fault that elves like to be so secretive.”

“So, you’re a fairy?” Keegan turned her
attention to Lauren.

Lauren looked from side to side to make sure
no one was looking. Suddenly, flecks appeared in the air like
stars, and almost translucent wings flapped open behind her.
Flapping her wings, Lauren floated in the air with a big grin
across her face.

“Wow, that is really neat.” Keegan looked
over at Anna. “What’s your story? I hear people aren’t quite sure
about you, because your dad is human?”

Anna lifted her hands in the air and closed
her eyes. Keegan’s mouth dropped open as flames appeared in her
palms.

Keegan jumped up and down, clapping, and
squealed, “We are like the coolest kids ever!”

Anna’s face scrunched up. “I don’t know, I
think Calvron might be the coolest kid ever.”

Lauren nodded her head in agreement. “He is
awesome!”

Keegan crossed her arms tightly across her
chest and stared back and forth at them. It was not fair that they
all knew about each other and she was the only one left out. She
thought they were her friends. She gave in and asked, “Why is he so
cool?”

Smiling mysteriously, Lauren said, “He’s a
very powerful wizard, and they are rare these days. He can do
almost anything; at least, that’s how it seems.”

Anna looked wistful. “I wish I had a quarter
of his power.”

“What exactly are you, Anna?” Keegan raised
an eyebrow. “You’re not a spirit walker like your mom, are
you?”

Anna’s eyes squinted. “How did you know my
mom is a spirit walker?”

Keegan was momentarily stunned into silence.
“You guys didn’t hear?”

They exchanged another glance, this time
looking confused. Anna shook her head. “Hear what?”

Taking a deep breath Keegan told them the
long version of how she lost and regained her life. They both
stared at her with their mouths hanging open.

“You guys know about the battle between the
light and dark elves, right?”

Anna’s face fell and she nodded. “Yeah, we
heard something about it.”

“Well, I was there,” Keegan told them, giving
them a wry grin as they both gasped. Lauren covered her mouth with
one hand and touched Keegan’s shoulder with the other. “So were
Donald and the other guys. Donald was hurt and I ran onto the field
to help him. My mom is a Healer, and she was able to treat his
wounds, but we were in the middle of the fighting.” Keegan paused,
clearing her throat as she remembered the clash of old-fashioned
weaponry, the stench of hundreds of sweating bodies, and the
ground, drenched in blood. “I was hit by an arrow and killed.”

Anna and Lauren looked on her in horror, but
Keegan plunged on “Anna, your mom somehow knew I was dead and
showed up, bringing me back to life with dark magic.”

Lauren spoke first when she had finished,
“OMG, you were dead? Keegan you were dead!” She pulled Keegan into
a tight hug. “I can’t believe we could have lost you for good.”

Anna was quiet for several moments before she
whispered, “My mom knows dark magic?”

Neither Lauren nor Keegan knew what to say.
The look on Anna’s face made Keegan swiftly change the subject.
“What do you guys know about elves?” She was curious if they really
knew anything, and if so, whether any of it was accurate. She also
wanted to clear the gloom that had followed her story.

Lauren bounced up and down. “I’ve heard that
elves put on a front that they live among humans, but in reality
they live underground. Is that true?”

Keegan couldn’t help but smile. “There is a
sliver of truth. We have underground safe houses in case of
emergencies. Elves prefer living in nature over living in a
city.”

Anna finally spoke up, her voice a little
clearer than it had been moments before. “Well, we are all envious
that elves have the key to finding your perfect partner. We think
that is the real reason you are all so secretive. Although we
really wish elves would share what they know. It doesn’t seem fair
they are the only ones that know their soulmates without the
search.”

Anna’s observation brought all of Keegan’s
problems back to the surface, and she pouted.

What’s wrong?” Anna demanded, reaching to
shake Keegan’s shoulder gently.

“It is true about the perfect partner. We
call them our chosen since they are chosen for us at birth. We are
not supposed to meet them until we turn eighteen. Apparently, I
have already met my chosen, but because of the dark magic I don’t
recall him.” It felt good to finally have someone to talk to about
all of this; it was so confusing for her. She pulled out her phone
and showed them a picture she had saved on it of her and Rourk near
the waterfall. She explained how they had spent the weekend
together and she couldn’t remember.

“When I was brought back,” Keegan said,
shooting a glance at Anna, “and I met him, I felt nothing for him.”
Just looking at her friends faces she could tell they felt badly
for her. People searched high and low for their perfect match. To
have it handed to you and then taken away seemed too cruel.

“He’s hot.” Anna grinned, handing the phone
back to Keegan who managed a weak smile. Dropping her eyes, Anna
continued, “You asked what I was, because of my parents.” Anna
fidgeted with her sweater. “Well, I am a witch.” After a brief
pause she added, “On the side of the light.”

Keegan could tell she was bothered about her
mother knowing dark magic.

“I wonder if there are any spells to bring
back the bond?” Anna said. “It would seem if it was taken away that
it could be given back.”

For the first time Keegan allowed herself to
feel hopeful. “Do you really think that is possible?”

“I will have to look into it, there is still
so much I don’t know, and I’ve never had anyone to teach me. Maybe
I can talk to Calvron; he might be able to help or at least point
me in the right direction.”

Keegan glanced down at the photo one more
time before she put her phone away. “Thank you, Anna; you have no
idea how much this means to me.”

Keegan was excited and relieved that she
could finally share who she
really
was with her best friends. She wondered if
this was why they stayed friends no matter how different their
personalities were. Perhaps creatures of the light could sense one
another. Keegan smiled thinking of all the times she had made up
stories in her mind of people and guessed whether they were
creatures or human. Not once had she given thought to the fact that
her friends might not be. Oh, the irony of it.

A huge smile spread across her face, and she
couldn’t wait to see what adventures they would share together now
that their powers were out in the open.

J
ulia Crane is the author of the
Coexist: Keegan's Chronicles.
She has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Julia has believed
in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her
an Irish tale. Growing up her mother greatly encouraged reading and
using your imagination. Although she's spent most of her life on
the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband
and three children.

Find Julia online at
http://juliacraneauthor.com/index.html

A Novelette

Thaddeus is the only elf that stands between
his kind and complete extinction.

That’s a lot of responsibility for a twelve
year old. He’d rather play video games with his best friend and
make fun of his older sister Keegan than have constant visions
about the fate of elf-kind.

Unfortunately, his visions are happening more
and more as the time of the prophesied battle approaches, and it’s
making it hard for him to live a normal life. At the urging of his
father, leader of the Light Elves, Thaddeus begins a journal as
part of his training; even though he thinks it’s lame.

Through his witty and wise eyes, we glimpse
the world of Julia Crane’s
Coexist
, a novel about the battle between good and
evil and the triumph of love.

In the Mind of Thaddeus
can be read as a stand alone
story or as a supplement to
Coexist.
It is a 7,500 word novelette.