“Better?”
Rhiannon banged the glass against the table. “Better? No, I’m not better! You just dropped this bomb on me that pretty much changes my whole life—everything I’ve known, or at least, everything I thought I knew. And you ask if I’m better? No! No . . . no, I’m not better. I—I mean, what else haven’t you told me?”
Kavana stiffened as her face fell and her eyes widened.
Catching sight of this odd behavior, Rhiannon stepped closer and exhaled a deep sigh. “What? What else haven’t you told me?”
Silent for a few seconds, Kavana clenched her teeth and gave Rhiannon a half smile. “Actually, there are a few other things I left out. But . . . the main thing I forgot to mention is, uhm, well . . . you also have a twin brother.”
Chapter 4
More to the Story
James lowered his head onto the pillow and closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind of all the questions still bouncing around in his head. The anger and confusion looming inside him, after learning the truth two days ago, subsided. However, the fact that magic, prophecies, and a magical realm existed left an overwhelming uncertainty filling his mind—not to mention the fact he had a twin sister he never knew about, or at least, did not remember. What would happen next? The need to find his sister was consuming, almost painful. Once he found out everything about his past, he understood why his life never felt complete before. A piece of him was missing. He was disconnected. Lonely.
He was determined to do it this time. James was going to complete the jump and emerge in his created astral body—this time with total control and complete awareness. There was no doubt in his mind this time around. Or was there? With last night’s unsuccessful trial run still hanging over his head, James knew this time was going to be different, it had to be. He just needed to remove any lingering doubt from his mind and strengthen his magical connection to the realm and his sister.
Come on now. You got this. Drifting off into the darkness, James focused carefully on falling into a deep trance, being cautious not to fall asleep. Knowing he accomplished astral projection subconsciously a couple times before, he was convinced he would be able to do it again if he could only concentrate hard enough. Focus.
His inner voice faded, and he fell further into a meditative state. His breathing slowed and his heart thumped softly in his chest as he descended deeper into a conscious daydream. An unexpected breeze blew through the window and the warm, salty air brushed against his body. The comforting sensation drove James into a deeper trance. A sudden pull tugged at his body accompanied by another gust of wind.
***
James’s bare feet landed on warm sand, both knees buckling as he sank into the soft surface. He bent over and caught himself before falling. Standing up straight, he dusted off his hands and peered out at the waves slapping against the shoreline. The sun was overhead, and the brightness bounced off the glistening water, causing him to squint.
“I did it!” James exclaimed excitedly.
He was here. Well, he was somewhere other than his bedroom. That was easy. James glanced around, baffled by the simplicity of his accomplishment. Maybe a little too easy.
Shaking off the doubt, he continued to observe his new surroundings. The teal and cobalt blue ocean was endless, stretching out in front of him. A flock of seagulls circled around, cawing as they searched for their next meal. The seafoam green waves rolled closer, lapping crystal clear whitecaps across the undisturbed tan shores. Freshness filled the air, along with a twinge of salt tickling his nose.
The beach was a welcome surprise. James had not been to this part of the island. This place was more peaceful and promising than the other places he visited the last two times he was here. He even questioned whether he was in the right place. This has to be it, though.
Attempting to convince himself, James announced, “I must be on a different part of the island.” Yeah, that’s it. “I mean, Uncle Pavian did say this place was quite large.”
He was certain about this declaration and relaxed, but the moment was brief.
James turned his eyes to the sky and back down to the ocean. “Hopefully, I have better luck this time around.”
James did not have the best experiences with this place before. Thankfully though, the first visit was short-lived, lasting only a few minutes. But it still made his heart pound against his chest and his breathing to falter as he reminisced. He remembered waking up drenched in sweat from a nightmare where he had been chased by an enormous flying creature soaring behind him. Although, he later learned this was not a nightmare, and he truly did experience the horror of being pursued by some unknown creature.
His second time here was also not a memory he liked to relive. This one, however, ended with him waking to his Uncle Pavian shaking him as he screamed for help. Rubbing the faint scars on his forearm, he could still feel the ugly mermaid-like creature, with the bottom half of a shark, digging its sharp claws and teeth into him. This, too, was not a dream. Fearing he would see those monstrous creatures again, James quickly turned and faced away from the water. Just find her.
He stepped forward but stopped after pressing his foot back into the sand.
“Oh, crap,” he chuckled under his breath, continuing away from the water. “Two out of three.” He headed to a grassy hill inclining away from the beach just a few hundred feet from where he landed. “Well, at least the sand is warm.”
Reaching the hillside, he placed a foot onto the grass, but pulled away once it touched the cold ground. “Spoke too soon.”
James groaned and stepped from the warm sand onto the damp grass. He carefully walked up the incline, being mindful of each step. The ankle-high grass was slick, and he did not want to slip, but he was more concerned with injuring his feet. This was something he learned the hard way the first time he showed up here without any shoes. Luckily, this time, he did not have to deal with the sharp rocks cutting into him.
James was dead set on controlling what was going to happen here. He was determined to get this astral projection thing under control and find his sister. She was all he cared about. If he could not find her here, then maybe he could try to contact her. Warn her about the prophecy. Let her know they needed to find each other and get back to the realm in their physical bodies to reclaim their full magical powers.
Somehow his magic reached out and found him. Called to him. Even though he did not possess any magic now, it brought him here. James was hopeful her magic would do the same. If both wanted to regain their magic, they needed to find each other. James needed her. Together, they were the crucial part of reopening the portals and potentially saving magic and the realm.
But what if she hasn’t found out the truth yet? What if all this is for nothing? What if she doesn’t want anything to do with me, or our magic?
He reached the top of the hill, stopped, and huffed. “Well, you won’t know if you don’t find her.”
Standing at the peak of the hillside, he was awestruck by the vast plateau. The sun’s rays bounced off the wet grass and created a blinding reflection, forcing him to close his eyes. Raising an arm, he cast a shadow along his face and took in the magnificent views. This place is so magical.
James smirked. “Of course, it is.”
He continued laughing, making his way through the grass and onto the mesa.
Far in the distance was a heavily wooded forest. The trees stood high above the ground, resting in front of a small mountain range with the peaks barely touching the off-white clouds. The rich, brown mountain flowed down into knolls, fading into a desert oasis along the sandy shores. To the south, the meadow turned into rolling hills covered in a thick mix of grass and blooming wildflowers. Shades of deep green, pink, lavender, and white blended together like a watercolor painting. Not much more was beyond the continuing horizon, except for more mountains and a large valley leading to more grassy terrain. Being on an island, and with the ocean behind him, James was headed in the ri
ght direction––inland.
After walking for over an hour through the dense field, his swift stride turned to a sluggish saunter.
“This is taking forever!” He stopped and perked up. “I wonder if I can just project myself somewhere else.” I was able to get myself here on command. Why couldn’t I just— “Project myself to another part of the island?” I wonder.
He questioned whether he was powerful enough to control the astral projection even more, so he closed his eyes and focused.
Exhaling, he opened his eyes and rolled them back. “I can’t do this standing up.” Sitting down on the ground, he stretched his dirty feet out in front of him. “Shoes. Don’t forget shoes.”
James lay on the grass and allowed his eyes to close. Vivid images flashed through his mind as his breathing grew heavy. His eyes flickered and his head twitched as he was forced into a previous astral projection—his bloody feet pressing hard into sharp rocks as he ran for his life, red smears trailing behind him. Deep growls echoed overhead. A creature reminiscent of an enormous bird with lizard-like features sped through the air after him.
He drove his eyes open and sat up. James was not going to let the memories consume him again and throw him from his astral body. His chest burned as he lunged forward, panting and rubbing the reemerged pain along his feet. Trying to erase the images from his mind and calm his nerves, he centered his attention on the task at hand and regained focus.
Moments passed as clouds floated by above him, parading in sync with the soft breeze rolling across his body. The grass rustled and emitted a calming scent. James took a deep breath, relaxing as he exhaled. Shifting his mind and body into a deep stasis, he slowed his breathing and closed his eyes. He took control of every part of himself, settling his heart into a gradual rhythm and clearing his mind completely. His body was still, and his mind was empty. The smell of wet grass and dirt filled his nose as he took in shallow breaths. His body became limp. Giving in to the urge to fall, James lay back, pressing his body into the grass. The sunshine lit up the inside of his eyelids as he focused his attention on the island. James was unsure if it would even work, but he concentrated his energy on moving somewhere else. Where do I go?
Nothing happened.
With his eyes still closed, he whispered, “I wonder if I can just go to her.” He concentrated even harder on his sister. “Rhiannon.”
Warmth filled his body. It was working, he could sense her.
James fell into a deep trance again. This time, it was like he was sleeping but fully aware of everything. It worked. He was bodiless. No physical form, but rather an essence, like a ghost. Floating in the nothingness around him, he was weightless—invisible, even a little invincible. Despite this newfound superiority complex surging through him, James stayed focused. Rhiannon.
He was not sure how to return to his body—the real one or even the astral one.
Before he had time to come up with a plan, a faint voice whispered, ‘Someone . . . please help me,’ followed by a strong whiff of blood.
The smell made him sick to his stomach, but it faded after he was rapidly yanked forward. He was aware of every part of his body again, but he was still weightless, traveling swiftly in mid-air. With a burst of wind, James landed gracefully on the ground and grinned. I’m getting better at this. Silently applauding himself, James smiled wider. Not only had he landed perfectly for the second time today, but he also had on shoes.
Catching sight of a girl kneeling in the grass not far from him, his sly grin vanished. It was her. Without even thinking, he raced in her direction.
“Rhiannon!”
He ran under a stone archway just as the girl tossed up her head. A faint smile fell across Rhiannon’s face, but she did not move or call back. Slumped over and bleeding, she was badly injured. His legs burned as he ran faster, his heart pounding in his throat.
“Rhiannon!”
James pushed through the discomfort. He was almost there.
Her body swayed and fell, disappearing into the tall grass. Reaching where she once knelt, he stopped. She was gone. The only thing left was a flattened spot among the foliage.
“Dammit!” he panted, leaning over onto his knees.
He slammed his fist against his leg and circled around, scanning the area. Stomping through the grass, he kicked the ground and ripped flower buds from their stems. Heat radiated through his body and his heartbeat intensified. Breathing became difficult and he grew tense.
He failed. Not only had he failed, but somewhere out there was his sister, and she was hurt. Trying to stay focused, he started to lose control. The disappointment filled his chest, tightening with each difficult breath. Leaning over and resting his hands against his knees again, James could no longer control his body. A rush of air filled the area around him followed by another harsh pull against his body.
***
Laying on his bed, James stared up at the ceiling. He jumped onto his feet and smacked the lamp off the desk next to his bed. It broke as it crashed against the wall.
“Dammit, I was so close!”
Chapter 5
Failure is Not an Option
Two nights ago, James learned a secret. A secret which terrified him at first, but now, he wanted more. More information. More adventure. Finding out he was part of a centuries-old prophecy was daunting, and the frightening realization made his insides twist and his head throb. However, learning he had magical powers, and that these powers might be the strongest anyone had ever seen, was worth the headache and upset stomach. He took the news rather well. In fact, James insisted he must return to the magical realm as soon as possible. He wanted to get his powers back. He wanted to fully embrace them and learn just how powerful he was, but what mattered most was, he needed to reunite with his sister. Nothing else mattered to him after finding out the truth. Not his home, although he never liked living on an isolated island anyway. Nor his education, again not a subject he particularly cared for. Not even his friends––come to think of it, he did not have any. His life was not ideal for a typical teenager, and he wanted something more.
James Cassil was a loner, always cut off from the real world. Finding solace in the many escapes and mysteries of videogames, he learned to entertain himself and accept his life for what it was—boring. James hated living on this island. He disliked not having anywhere to go, not just physically, but also, metaphorically. He needed a purpose, a reason. He had a deep desire to do something meaningful, something extraordinary. He prided himself on being the best. Failure was not something he took lightly.
Magic was real. Magical creatures and supernatural beings were real. He pondered all the amazing things he could do with magic, the abilities he would possess. This secret about magic was his ticket out of here, an escape from his mediocre life. Magic was his chance to prove himself. But his powers came with a price—a prophecy. However, discovering his future was linked to a magical prophecy was, honestly, the least of his concerns. Finding his twin sister was vital. She was one part of the key to returning to the realm and getting back their magic. More importantly, he needed to reconnect to the part of him he lost over the years. Rhiannon, along with this newfound magical destiny, was the one thing he needed right now. He had a chance to be triumphant, the opportunity to live a meaningful life, the possibility to have more, be more. This was his chance to have an adventure, have a family, and fight for something. He was determined to find his sister, get back his magic, and face this prophecy head-on.
***
Moonlight illuminated the small, dark room and a warm breeze flowed through an open window. Waves outside whispered a gentle song as they danced along the shore. The night was calm, but the chaos inside was quite the opposite.
James’s fists were clenched, and his heavy stride sounded throughout the room. A loud bang erupted from the window as he forced it shut. Kicking over a trash can, he stomped to his bedroom door and yanked it open. It crashed against the wall, sending
a loud echo booming down the hall.
He paused and cringed. “Whoops.”
Tiptoeing down a narrow hallway, James flipped on the lights as he entered the kitchen, jumping as the area lit up. A man hid in the shadows and sat on a barstool at the far end of the counter. Straining his eyes, the man peered over at James.
“What are you doing awake?” James snapped, grabbing his chest and trying to ignore his racing heartbeat.
Steam rose from a ceramic mug as the man lifted it up toward his mouth, stopping short of his lips. “I think everyone within a half mile radius of the house is awake with all the noise you were making.” The man sipped his drink.
Pulling open the refrigerator door, James snickered, “Well then, I guess it’s a good thing our closest neighbors are the fish and seagulls on this God-forsaken island, huh?”
The man choked back the urge to spit out his drink and smirked. “Very funny.”
Placing his mug on the counter, the man pushed back the barstool and stood up. Stepping into the light, the tall, athletic man strolled into the kitchen. His short, black hair was messy, and his thin beard covered the lower half of his face.
The man reached the counter next to where James stood and leaned against it, folding his arms. “What’s wrong?”
Staring into the open refrigerator, James did not respond.
“James? What’s wrong?”
“I failed!” James yelled, slamming the refrigerator door closed.
His yell ricocheted off the walls and the man scowled.
Dropping his arms, the man asked calmly, “Whoa, wait. You failed? Failed at what?”
James lowered his head and his voice cracked. “I saw her, Uncle Pavian. She was right there––right in front of me . . . but I couldn’t get to her in time. I tried, but I wasn’t fast enough. She just vanished.” He stepped away, passing his uncle and entering the dining room. “And the worst part was”—his tone increased—"she was hurt, and I wasn’t able to help her!”
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