by C. C. Bolick
To my other side stood Dad. He didn’t opt for the green outfit and instead wore a well-cut black suit. No, he planned to take time off from all of his duties after this ceremony. His unfinished business would wait no longer.
Behind us stood Angel and Skip, both dressed in fancy Golvern-style clothes, along with Erin. Angel thought dressing like the locals would be fun. People here didn’t fear her powers and didn’t shiver if they touched her cold skin.
Surrounded by my closest family and friends, I accepted the fact this would be home now.
I flexed my hands. The black gloves had become a part of me. So far, I didn’t need the cure Erin hypothesized to get rid of my power to burn flesh. But maybe one day.
The queen walked onto the balcony in a long blue dress and addressed the people below. As she spoke to the crowd, Tyler translated since I’d yet to learn Golvern’s language. He seemed to enjoy showing off his superior memory.
She gave a speech of hope for the future, followed by the king with a speech thanking all those who helped save their planet, including Rena and her mother, along with everyone else who had a part. He called my father by the name Noah Payne.
I’d never asked his real name and didn’t plan to.
After the king’s speech, the queen stepped back in front of the crowd and declared a special honor for Dad, for all his years of working to save the planet. Maybe the fact he was successful wiped out some of the evil he’d done at my age.
“I would like to honor a family that has given more than imaginable in their efforts to save Golvern’s future,” she said. “As many of you know, the Olsandyol known as Raymond died to save my life and ensure I could one day take the throne. Years later his daughter gave her life to complete her father’s vision. All the while, his brother Lucifer saw the destruction and gave thirteen years of his life in service to save this planet.”
I leaned close and whispered to Dad. “Your real name is Lucifer?”
He nodded. “My mother also had the power to see the future. She predicted I’d do enough evil in my lifetime to live up to the name.”
A drop of water landed on my nose and I wiped it away. If she didn’t wrap this up soon, everyone would get drenched. “Have you?”
“I’ve done enough. We’ll leave it at that.”
In closing, she also thanked Van for his continued commitment to save the people of Golvern.
“Van once said it never snowed on Golvern, but one day it would,” she said. “Today we have a special surprise for the people of Golvern. Call it a gift from Earth.”
Rachelle walked out onto the balcony and stood by the queen’s side. She raised her hands and closed her eyes. A burst of cold radiated through the air and chilled my skin.
The faint drops that had begun to soak through my uniform turned to brilliant snowflakes. People below cheered and danced in the falling crystals.
Her power to change the air’s temperature amazed me no matter what anyone said. Turns out Angel’s power worked; like the queen, Rachelle needed another day to recover. Not only recover, now she was able to use her power without fear of it destroying her mind.
When the ceremony ended, Rachelle stopped at my side. “How did I do?”
“Great,” I said. “Except for the fact I only came here because it never gets cold enough to snow. Looks like I’ll have to pack up and go back to Earth.”
She grinned. “I’ll make the air cold again tomorrow just for saying that.”
“It’s time,” Dad said.
I didn’t miss the anticipation in his voice, along with the fear. Would this work?
* * * * *
Thirty minutes later, I walked down the long staircase leading into the underground mine. Below were the network of rooms Paleris had used as a base, along with the equipment he forced humans to use to mine the minerals Golvern needed.
Minerals now readily available through the trade agreement with Earth.
As we walked, Tyler spoke of his experience being trapped below and forced to work in the mine after first arriving on Golvern. My father walked in front of us—from everything I’d gathered, he called these caves home for thirteen years. When I asked about his experience, he remained quiet.
Behind us, Angel and Skip followed along with Chase. Tucked under Chase’s arm was a case holding the signal generator he’d built. “I swore I’d never come back down here,” he said.
“It’s for a good cause,” Tyler said. “Don’t you miss the cold, humid air and the slippery floor? The lights are what bother me the most. I still have nightmares about the bright lights over the conveyor where I was forced to mine minerals from dirt.”
Chase shook his head. “I don’t want to remember this place.”
“Are you sure you’re not getting any notions to take over the world?” I asked.
“The only thing I want right now is to be back on the surface. After today, I’m never going underground again.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Tyler said with a grin.
We walked to the room with the cylinders, a path I’d committed to memory after my last visit. Chase looked around in surprise at the rows of cylinders. “This is amazing technology.”
I nodded. “You’re telling me.”
He waved an arm around the room. “Since my gift is technology, I’m not often surprised by it. Like your gift to see the future, mine was inherited. My father designed the cylinders years ago and Paleris stole the plans.”
His father… “I thought Paleris stole the plans from the man who married his daughter.”
“Paleris had two daughters. One of them is my mother.”
“He was your grandfather?” I asked. “That’s pretty messed up.”
“You’re telling me,” he said.
“Do you remember the things he did to you?”
Chase nodded. “I remember the abyss I created to shove him inside, deep enough he could never crawl out. His mistake was thinking I wouldn’t learn how to alter what happened in my own mind, but Kayden showed me how to defeat him. He cursed all of our names as he faded from sight.”
“That’s a good sign Paleris is gone.”
“Agreed.” He opened the case holding the signal generator next to Mom’s cylinder. He turned on the generator and adjusted the sound until jagged green waves bounced across the screen and the wail of a toy firetruck echoed through the room. Within seconds, the lock on Mom’s cylinder released.
As Dad opened the cylinder, a thick white cloud of mist rose from inside. He wrapped a warm blanket around her body. Her eyes were closed as she lay on the metal frame unmoving. The same reddish-brown hair I remembered curled around her face. Her smooth face reminded me of the fact she wasn’t much older than me.
Angel wiped tears from her eyes as she moved closer. “I didn’t believe I’d ever see her.”
Dad nodded. “Go ahead.”
Angel pricked her index finger. A drop of blood formed at the tip. Dad parted our mother’s pale lips and Angel dropped the blood into her mouth.
We all watched in silence as Chase monitored the time. Two minutes passed and then three. When we reached the five-minute mark, one of her fingers twitched. She took a breath and opened her eyes.
“Stay calm,” Dad said as he gripped her hand. “You’re waking up from the cryogenic cylinder. Do you remember going to sleep?”
She nodded slightly. “I don’t feel anything. How long did I sleep?”
“Eighteen years.” Dad leaned over her as she tried to move. He took her hand and helped her up to sit. “The numbness in your arms and legs will fade.”
She stared up at his face with a smile. “You found a way to save me.” Mom put a hand on his cheek. “You’re older.”
He pulled her into a tight embrace, his voice shaking. “I’ve waited years to hold you again.”
She hugged him and they kissed as if they’d never been separated. When Mom pulled away, she asked, “Where is Angel?”
“I’m here.” My sister steppe
d forward.
Mom reached for her hand. “Your skin is so cold.”
Angel nodded. “I hope you can look at me without thinking of my father.”
She pulled Angel into a hug. “My baby girl, you’ve always been loved. You have an equal part of me, so don’t forget that.” She touched Angel’s hair. “You even look like me.”
With a laugh, Angel gripped her tighter. “I’m so happy to finally meet you.”
My mother held Angel for a long moment before releasing her and looking up at me. She opened her arms for me.
“Her skin is cold, but mine you can’t touch,” I said.
She looked to Dad with confusion in her eyes.
“Long story,” he said. “Our son took on another power which burns the skin of anyone he touches. We’re working on a way to get rid of it, but for now touching him is off limits.”
“I’m not the same person,” I said.
Mom opened her arms wider and I leaned in, careful not to let her touch my skin. “I feared I’d never see you again. Did you forget me?”
“How could I forget you?” I asked while trying not to fall apart.
After rocking me from side to side and pulling back to grip my arms as she appeared to memorize every detail of my face, she released me and glanced around. “Where is Rena?”
“How do you know about her?” I shot Dad a questioning look. “You told Mom about Rena years ago?”
He shrugged.
“How long have you known I’d fall for Rena?”
“I’ve known from the first time I held you,” he said. “Some people are difficult for me to read, but you never were. Whenever I touched you, I saw another piece of your future.”
“I should be mad,” I said.
He put an arm around my shoulders. “You falling in love with Rena was one of the happiest visions I’ve ever had. I think my favorite part was when you told her how you’d searched for me over the years. You never gave up on finding me no matter who told you I’d died. You grew up to be a son any man would be proud of. I wanted that future for you, enough to leave Earth and make sure it happened.”
Mom grinned. “Your father promised Angel would save me and we’d all be a family at last.”
Angel leaned against me, shoving me closer to Dad. His fingers grazed my neck and he pulled away shaking his hand. “Maybe we did make our own fairytale,” she said. “Can’t get much better than this dysfunctional family.”
She’d found the family she searched for and so had I.
* * * * *
Two hours later, we stood in the royal wing of the hospital. The queen had ensured they were ready for our arrival, insisting Mom receive any tests the doctors could think of. Even with technology a thousand years more advanced than Earth’s, the rooms still smelled of antiseptic and I couldn’t wait to get out of there.
After our goodbyes, Skip and Angel followed me out into an evening of sunshine. The rain had subsided and left no trace of snow on the ground.
Skip put an arm around Angel. “We’re going to check out a bar downtown, one of my brother’s favorites. Want to come along?”
I checked my watch. “Not this time.”
Angel gave me a sly smile. “Big date tonight?”
“You’d like to know, wouldn’t you?” I teleported myself to the entrance of the palace and walked through security. They waved me on without a second thought. As the elevator rose to my floor, I remembered Angel’s face at first seeing Mom and smiled.
Inside my room, I closed the curtains that covered a wall of windows. On the horizon, the first of Golvern’s suns had set. The second wouldn’t set for more than two hours.
I climbed into bed without a thought of changing out of my uniform. Pulling the sheet over me, I put an arm around a pillow and closed my eyes. The world faded fast.
Somewhere in the darkness, an arm circled my ribs. “Where were we?”
With a smile, I stared up into Rena’s twinkling eyes. “Come closer and I’ll show you.”
Rena leaned down to kiss me and I refused to release her until she was out of breath.
As she came up for air, she asked, “How did it go?”
“We brought her back,” I said. “If Golvern had a moon, my dad would be over it. He always believed Angel would save her.”
“What about you? It had to be exhilarating getting her back after eighteen years.”
“It was great. I’m glad Angel finally got to meet her.”
“Tell me every detail.”
“The details will have to wait. I’ve got something to show you.”
I turned on the radio next to the bed and pulled Rena to her feet. A song from Earth began to play, slow and sultry. She stood before me in her favorite black nightgown. I imagined her wearing a red dress instead and I wore a black tux.
“I like this one,” she said while smoothing her hands down the shimmering fabric.
“I’ve been practicing.” I pulled Rena close and lifted her arms to wrap around my neck. “I’ve also learned how to dance or at least something that resembles dancing. The queen said you’d appreciate me dancing with you.”
Rena linked her arms behind my neck and began to sway with me. “The queen was right. Are you ever going to call her Kayden?”
“Nope.”
With a playful laugh, she slapped my arm. “How long will you stay this time?”
“I thought we could take a vacation. Months, maybe years…”
“Hopefully that means you’ve checked out some of the cool spots to visit on this planet. I’m ready to share all of them with you.”
I took her hand. “We’ve got plenty of time.”
She smiled. “We have forever.”
To My Readers:
I’d like to extend a huge thanks to everyone who has followed along with Rena’s story. Bonus points if you’ve been with me since Leftover Girl. My greatest hope is that at least one of these characters has touched your life in a special way.
I always planned to end The Fear Chronicles on a note of hope for the future. I wanted to pull in many of my favorite characters from the other books and complete the entire series of thirteen books in an exciting, heartfelt way.
Fear Tomorrow was more than six months in the making as I worked through handwritten notes to weave each of the final stories together. I hope I did each of the characters justice. I love all of these characters and will continue to visit with them in my head.
Although this series is now complete, who knows? Maybe one day I’ll revisit their adventures again. If you’d like to read more, feel free to reach out and let me know.
Now, I must go. I’ve started a brand-new series and can’t wait to introduce you to Drakey, a teen with a special shifting ability. Look for her story in a few months. As always, I appreciate your support with my books more than you’ll ever know. I didn’t start writing just to publish books.
I started writing to reach you and I’ve enjoyed every moment.
C.C. Bolick
If you enjoyed this series, please tell a friend. Also, please consider leaving a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Your recommendations and reviews are essential to convincing new readers to take a chance on an unknown author like me. That’s how the bills get paid and how I get to keep doing what I love. Thanks in advance!
Here are my links – feel free to reach out anytime!
Website:
https://www.ccbolick.com/
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https://www.amazon.com/C-C-Bolick/e/B01LZLRR5G
Want to read more of my work? Check out The Mission, a novella featuring Agent Dallas. Becoming an agent wasn’t easy and there’s a reason she doesn’t like ghosts. Find out more of her story in the creepy supernatural town of Bulwark…
Acknowledgements
&nbs
p; Thanks to:
Everyone who has read this book. Please feel free to contact me anytime with your feedback since I love to hear from readers. And please take a moment to leave an honest review on Amazon and Goodreads. I do read these and I appreciate the time and effort that goes into each one of them.
The people who read my stories in pieces and offer suggestions: Larry, Barbara, Cindy, Robin, Jennifer, and Pete. I’m thrilled to be part of this great circle of writers.
Christie for once again looking after Travis. Her insights made me love this story even more.
Fiona for the last cover in this series. It makes me happy and teary-eyed at the same time.
Everyone in my family who has supported me during this journey.
About the Author
C.C. Bolick grew up in south Alabama, where she’s happy to still reside. She’s an engineer by day and a writer by night—too bad she could never do one without the other.
Camping, fishing… she loves the outdoors and the warm Alabama weather. For years she thought up stories to write and finally started putting them on paper back in 2006. If you hear her talking with no one to answer, don’t think she’s crazy. Since talking through her stories works best, a library is her worst place to write… even though it’s her favorite!
C.C. loves to mix sci-fi and paranormal—throw in a little romance and adventure and you’ve got her kind of story. She’s written a dozen books including the Leftover Girl series, The Agency series, and The Fear Chronicles.
Please visit her website at www.ccbolick.com for updates on future releases.