Vaalbara; Visions & Shadows (35 page)

             
“What are you doing? You had us all driven to insanity and back with worry.” I wanted to knock some sense into her.

             
The warrior princess spoke softly, “I came looking for you but when I could not find you I felt this pull towards something else. I had to keep searching and I did not stop until I found her. She was waiting here for me. A bundle of pure innocence, Alchera. We
have
to take her home with us.” She looked up at me with so much love for this child gleaming in her eyes that I didn’t know what to do.

             
“Alandra, you know I can only take ten. It’s for Michael to decide.”

             
She looked at me with her heart in her eyes. I didn’t know this Alandra. She walked over to me and placed the baby in my arms. I could feel the shadows in me cringe at our first touch. It felt as if a weight was being lifted off my shoulders. I handed her back to Alandra, and my shadows returned immediately.

             
“She is innocent, Alchera. She deserves to live. Please, you
must
take her. Can you not feel the difference in her?” I looked at Alandra, my once rock hard sister who was now begging for the life of an innocent child. Everyone had changed for the better but me.

             
“My fate is sealed. The shadows have crawled too deep.” I was whispering softly to myself, an idea forming in my mind. My heart started pounding as I spoke the words that would give the baby free passage to Vaalbara. “She will be worth my own life, and that is what I will pay for her. A life for a life.”

             
Carter grabbed me by the shoulders. “Do not say it! I beg you, Alchera, do not say it.” His eyes bore into mine as the final words formed on my lips.

             
“A soul for a soul. I will stay so she can go.”

             
“No!” Carter shook me violently. “What have you done?”

             
“I do not understand…what has happened?” Alandra’s worried voice was stifled as Carter’s arms pressed me against his chest.

             
“She swapped herself for the child. She cast a spell binding herself to Earth, giving the child free passage to Vaalbara. You have doomed your sister with your request, Alandra.” Carter’s voice was dead, just like the first time I’d met him.

             
“No, she hasn’t. I was damned to begin with.” I pushed Carter gently away, trying to think only of the here and now. I had to get them to safety.

             
“We can talk on the way out of here. I want you to see Elora before you leave, Alandra.” I looked at Carter, who stood still like a stone pillar; only his eyes showed the depth of the emotions he felt. “Can you take us back?”

             
When we got there, the heavens were a horrific arrangement of colors. People stood in groups. The horror on their faces proved that they knew what fate held in store for them.

             
Smaller rocks began to break through the atmosphere, making it look like a fireworks display.

             
Aedan was on his knees, whispering. At first I thought he was praying, but as I moved closer I heard the words of encouragement and love. He was whispering to his Elora.

             
I had to bite my bottom lip at the sight of his brokenness. Aedan’s face was a horrible gray color, as all his strength began to leave him. Elora was feeding off him now.

             
Alandra stood beside me.

             
“She’s above you.” My voice cracked as I took the baby from her.

             
Alandra looked up, her face changing into a mask of anguish. “Nooo!” She fell to her knees, her hand covering her mouth. “No, Elora, not you too.” Her hand was shaking but I knew she wouldn’t cry. She never cried; she was a warrior to the bone. “She is on fire, Alchera! She is destroying herself
with
this planet.”

             
“We have to go now. We are out of time.” Carter was screaming above a thunderous noise, as the wind began to harden his blows. The bulk of the asteroid broke through the Earth’s atmosphere, rocketing down for its final impact. It brought with it many smaller pieces of rock that moved faster. They started to fall around us, hitting people that hadn’t moved in time.

             
The day was over. The night had come.

             
I gave Alandra the baby, pushing them both towards Carter.

             
“Leave now! You have to leave now.” I hugged them quickly. “Please tell Raighne my last thought will be of him. Leave
now
!” Carter held my hand, not letting it go even as he shimmered away, taking Alandra and the baby with him. He had still tried to take me.

             
I looked up at my sister one last time. Her destiny was the greatest of us all.

             
The asteroid was now all I could see. It would disintegrate Earth on impact. There would be nothing left of this once beautiful world I had called home. My Rainbow Falls I loved so dearly would be gone. Molly, the school, everything…gone.

             
A sob ripped through my body as I knelt beside Aedan. Today I
would
die praying and not smiling as I’d said before. I would die praying, as the Earth took its final breath.

             
“Oh, Awo, how blind I’ve been all this time. You were trying to teach me that I had to be broken, so I could be tender. You tried to teach me that I had to suffer pain in order to understand another’s. In order to learn, I had first to endure. In order to gain, I had to lose. In order to grow, I had to stand and look beyond the hurt. Awo, You taught me in the end that when all else is gone, hope remains. And one cannot have hope without You in their heart. You are my hope. Thank you.”

             
Aedan fell to the ground exhaling his last breath, just as a pair of hands grabbed hold of me.

Chapter Fourteen

Revelations

Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, I was given a thorn in the flesh.

I pleaded with Awo that it would be taken away from me, but He said,

“
My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

I am now pleased. For when I am weak, that is when I am at my strongest, as Awo’s grace then carries me.  -
Alchera

I was saved by an Angel. I was stunned into utter silence when Michael sat me down in the Chapel of the Holy City. I couldn’t ask him why. I didn’t have the courage after being touched by him. I just stared while he stood in front of me; his touch still lingered inside my soul. It felt as if tiny sparks were running all over my skin. I felt them in my mouth, sizzling on my tongue.

             
“Be at peace, Alchera. You have fulfilled your destiny of retrieving the Ten Chosen Ones.” Michael smiled at me, bending his dark head slightly forward. It was the first time I noticed his eyes were topaz. “Plus one, we see. The child is to be given to Jason and Sarah. They are to raise her as their own.” Michael turned to go, but he paused.

             
“No one seems to have informed you of your true destiny, Alchera. You have been given the talent of visions…dreams. And with that talent comes the responsibility of
everyone’s
dreams. If
you
do not dream, everyone on Vaalbara will cease to dream. You do not want that. People need to dream in order to deal with their subconscious thoughts and concerns. Remember that.” He walked all the way to the door this time. I could hear the rustle of wings, though I could not see them. He began to glimmer.

             
“I hope the next time we meet it will be under happier circumstances.” His smile lit the world.

~*~

It’d been a week since the end…or, the beginning as I now thought of it.

             
I still had nightmares. I was glad I’d slept in my own room in the castle. I missed being held by Raighne and waking up in his arms, but it was better this way. It would worry him unnecessarily to know of the nightmares - the shadows that have never fully retreated.

             
The dream was the same every night.

             
I opened my eyes and before me was a spring clothed in the most wonderful colors and the water cushioned by lush trees. Straight ahead was a thin waterfall stream breaking through the emerald green. I willed myself through the curtain, only to appear under a tree with a lake stretching out to my left. Roots were covered in the greenest moss I’d ever seen under my bare feet.

             
The air was squeezed out of my lungs when I looked to my right. It was dark. Above the mountains were massive tunneling clouds; the one nearest to me surged with bolts of lightning.

             
I started towards it. The pull was so strong that I had no choice but to walk closer to the Land of Shadows.

             
In the midst of the gray, barren land a man greeted me. He offered me a kind and caring smile. He made me feel welcome. His build was lean and tall, he wore a long dark turquoise robe. I loved that color. There were gray hairs scattered in between his short, black hair. He was the first man I’d seen on Vaalbara with such short hair.

             
“I have been waiting for you, Alchera.”

             
“Who are you?” I had a feeling I would dread his reply, but still I asked.

             
“My name is Void.” As he said his name a dark emptiness sank into my very core.

             
I always woke up with his name still sounding in my ears.

             
Thankfully, my screams were muted by Carter’s chest, as every time I woke up I found myself comforted by his arms wrapped tightly around me. I would hang onto him for what felt like hours, while he just sat there with me, never saying a thing. Just before he would shimmer away again, he would gently touch my cheek and smile.

             
We never spoke of those moments to each other, nor to anyone else. It was our secret and I owed him for that.

             
I also still cried myself to sleep every night. I cried for both Alandra and myself, for the father we’d lost, the brother we’d lost, and our sweet sister. Elora had left an empty spot in both our hearts that couldn’t be filled. I cried for the hurt Raighne had to endure at the loss of Aedan. And I cried for Adeth, who never had a chance. She never had a second chance like I had been given.

             
It had been a week and I couldn’t hide in my room anymore. Mom didn’t want to hear a thing about me sinking away into the pits of depression. Yeah, I called her Mom. After all, I was still me. I still talked the same, walked the same and, yes, Sid was in ICU recovering from the ordeal we had been through.

             
My way of talking? They all seemed to have settled for it. I haven’t had any complaints lately. Give it time though, they could just be playing nice for a while before the lectures started up again.

             
A knock on the door broke my train of thought. I smiled as Fleur came in; she had a vase filled with Freesia and Jasmine flowers in her hand. She found out that I loved their smell, and had made sure I had fresh ones in my room ever since.

             
“Are you ready to go to the hall?” Fleur was happy, holding out her hand to me. River had made their relationship public the other day, announcing to the whole of Vaalbara that he had the intention of marrying her. She hasn’t stopped beaming since.

             
“Can’t we skip it? You can teach me more about potions and spells.”

             
Fleur gave me a dark look. “You have been forbidden to ever cast a spell again. Do not forget that.”

             
I smiled at her.

             
Fleur continued, “I still think Aster was overreacting when she said that. She was just being emotional.” Pulling me up, Fleur dragged me out the door.

             
Alder had gotten this silly notion that it would be great for everyone to get to know each other better. So, here we were, all on our way to the great hall for an afternoon of -
I am, so and so and you are?
We were even getting nametags.

             
I smiled as I entered the hall. Raighne was at my side in a split second, with Carter falling in behind us. It irritated Raighne to no end. Here was the man of my dreams and he just couldn’t make peace with my best friend. They growled hello and goodbye at each other. Well, they actually growled ‘peace be’ to each other, because they had to. I still hadn’t gotten used to the way of greeting others, here on Vaalbara.

             
We took our seats up front - Raighne and Carter flanked me as we patiently waited for Alder to start his meeting.

             
He was clearly very excited, prancing around the stage. “Silence, please. Silence!” He waited for everyone to take their seats before continuing. “Peace be, everyone. Aster and I thought it best that everyone should have a chance to introduce themselves, Immortals and humans alike. Just say who you are and what you think makes you special. We will start with ourselves and then go back there to Lee, who thought he could be last.” Everyone laughed. “I am Alder, the oldest living Immortal by one thousand seven-hundred and seventy years. I am special because I have been blessed with so many children sitting before me today, many old ones and eleven new ones.”

             
Aster came up next. “I am Aster, and I am the second oldest by a mere nine hundred and ninety-seven years. I am special for living as long as I have, enduring Alder’s whims.” Snickers once again filled the room, as he continued, “We are also known as the ‘Council’ on Vaalbara, and are truly happy to share the news that we will soon be joined by two others at this celebration.”

             
It was Lee’s turn. He stood up straight and offered a salute. “My name is Major Lee Smith. I am forty-one years of age. I am, ah…I have a Degree in Architecture. I defend what is mine and…I guess that’s it.” We tried our best to keep our laughter in while Carlo rose from his seat.

             
“I’m Carlo Smith, Lee’s younger brother. As you can see we are total opposites.” We had to laugh, he was being cute in his ‘nutty professor’ way. “I am a Professor of History and Languages. I speak…I’ve forgotten how many languages I speak.”

             
“Eight!” Lee’s voice boomed over everyone. The brothers who were like day and night were yet to be seen apart.

             
“Thank you.” Carlo sat down, giving Sky an encouraging smile as it was her turn to go. It turned out Sky was twenty-six, although she still looked sixteen to me.

             
Isobel was forty-six and Anna twenty-three. I knew they had been chosen because they were both doctors, though I couldn’t help but wonder if the real reason was for the compassion I had seen them show those people. The unconditional care for someone you know nothing about.

             
Antonio, on the other hand, had definitely overreacted when he’d shot me. He had been chosen for his talents of preservation, and his knowledge of the arts. He had gone mad when he’d thought it was all gone, and because of his fierce loyalty to his religion he
really
had thought we were minions of the Devil. Poor man thought he was on his way to Hell.

             
Sarah was next.

             
“I am Sarah O’Kelly and I am twenty-four. I am special because I’m alive.” She started to cry and so did Jason who stood up next to her. “I am Jason and I am special because this amazing woman is my fiancé.” He kissed her in front of everyone, and the audience broke out in loud applause. I was so proud of them.

             
Doug, the silent one, stood up. Just then I realized I knew nothing about him. “Hi, I’m Douglas O’Kelly, but I go by Doug. I am Sarah’s big brother and used to be needed by her, but Jason has replaced me.” He smiled. “I was a Psychiatrist back on Earth, but I don’t know what I’m going to do here on Vaalbara - unless one of you have something you’d like to talk about.”

There was loud laughter to his comment, though it felt like a fist had just taken hold of my heart. Doug looked straight at me. He wasn’t finished yet, as he held up his hand. “Laugh all you want but, remember, many a true word is spoken in jest.”

             
As we moved through a few Immortals, my eyes skipped back to my new friends. They all seemed so happy. I saw Lee eyeing Isobel, who’s attention was locked on whoever was speaking, and I smiled. I was beginning to feel slightly relaxed when Carter suddenly stood up beside me, and I practically jumped off my chair.

             
“Peace be. My name is Carter. I am one hundred and ninety-six years old.” I looked at him in shock when he mentioned his age, though he just smiled down at me “I am special because I was given a second chance. I have many talents, of which some might scare you, so I would rather not mention them in company. I am very thankful for my friendship with Alchera.” Carter’s eyes held mine as he spoke, his skew smile pulling at his lips. “She saved me. She is still saving me every day.”

             
It was my turn next. Suddenly I was as nervous as hell. The last time I’d spoken in front of people was when I had to do my poem reading in class. I got up slowly, looking at my hands.

             
“My name is Alchera and I’m eighteen.” So far I was the youngest in the hall. “I’m special because I have friends and I have a family.” I looked up from my hands, my eyes sweeping over all the smiling faces looking back at me. “I was given a task to fulfill and in doing so, I found out what it meant to truly live. I found out that you can’t go through life alone, you have to lean on others. And if it weren’t for all of you sitting in this room I wouldn’t be here today. So, thank you to each and every one of you for caring enough - for playing your part so we could all come home.” I sat down quickly before anyone could see the tears in my eyes.

             
“Peace be. My name is Raighne.” It calmed me to hear his voice so soon after my own. “I am two hundred and one.” He cringed as he said his age, pausing a moment before going on. Did he want to hear my reaction? Yes, it came as a shock, but he was still the man I loved with all my heart. No age difference was going to change that. “I am special because I am the guardian of Alchera.”

             
He took a deep breath as he went down on one knee. What was he doing? My whole body stiffened, as I gripped the sides of my chair.

             
“I would be more special if she would do me the honor of becoming my wife.” I was looking into his stormy gray-blue eyes as he said this. “So what do you say, my dreamer? Will you marry me and make me the happiest man on Vaalbara?” I gawked at him at first; his words took a few seconds to settle in my stunned mind. While I slowly realized what Raighne had asked me, a smile began to creep over my face.