by R. Lynn
-45-
“Phoebe, I don't get it. Why would he leave?” Sollara cried into her hands as she sat on the couch in Phoebe’s office.
“I don't know child, perhaps something changed his mind.”
She was trying to be comforting, but nothing other than Kai's embrace could comfort Sollara now. She needed to know why he left. She had to know or she would forever blame herself for not making love to him. That wouldn’t have been why he left, but try as she might, Sollara couldn’t think of any other reasons.
“Phoebe, take me to the room and make the mirror show me Kai. Not in the past but now. Can you do that?” She dried her eyes with her sleeve as she asked.
“Yes, I will do this for you.” What Phoebe did not admit, was that she, too, was worried. It wasn’t like Kai to act this way, and she also wanted to know why he left. Sollara followed her down into the depths of the manor to the room with the mirror pool.
As soon as Sollara entered the room, fear gripped at her chest. She hated this room. The last time she was there everything in her life shattered at her feet.
She closed her eyes and said a silent prayer to the Fates. “Please don't take Kai away from me, too.”
Phoebe started to chant, “Juint colapsio fornet extonia.”
The water started to glow and spin and twist and the mirror soon appeared. Phoebe then grabbed Sollara’s hand, and together they looked deep into the mirror.
Sollara’s vision slowly resolved into focus. She realized she was standing in front of her car. Inside of it were two bodies pressed against each other. Phoebe tightened her grip on Sollara’s hand as she felt her heart go into her throat. Hesitantly, Sollara walked up to the window to get a better look. She had to know if Kai was with another girl.
What she saw was unimaginable. She saw herself sitting almost naked on his lap. He was kissing her body while she moaned with pleasure. But she looked different, or maybe that was what she looked like when in the heat of passion. She couldn’t be sure. “I thought I asked you to show me Kai now, not Kai in the future.”
“But I don't understand. I am showing you Kai now. How can you be there?” As she said the words, her face dropped.
“That person is a shifterit is so rare I would never have noticed one walking through our school. I am so sorry Sollara.”
Anger built within Sollara. She wanted revenge. She wanted more than revengeshe wanted blood.
“No. No Phoebe, it can't be. He can't be with someone else. I can't, I...Just...No!” she screamed as she crumpled to the floor.
“Sollara you have to get up now. We have to go and try to stop this,” Phoebe yelled as she tried to pull Sollara up.
Struggling to get to her feet, she relied on Phoebe to steady her. Her eyes were closed tightly as she couldn't bear to see him touching another girl, even if the other girl looked just like her. She felt sick, lost, and alone. Her heart pressed her to run and to stop what was happening. But her rational side told her that she was already too late.
…As Kai felt his need and passion rise, he couldn’t help but feel wrong. It seemed as though Sollara wasn’t reciprocating. She was sitting on him and kissing his body, but it was just physical, about need not passion. The special connection they shared felt absent. It was one of the things he treasured, as it was deeper than passion, fuller than lust, and purer even than love. And it was definitely not there.
Their bodies were pressed against each other while they kissed. Yet unlike the other times, there were no white flames. It was weird, and Kai didn’t fully understand why things didn’t seem the same. But he knew that Sollara had been growing in her ability to control her gifts, and maybe she had learned to control their soul fire as well.
He started kissing down the side of her neck. Normally, she would let out a cute little moan. This time she said it tickled and asked him to cut it out. That was when he knew for sure something was not right. She didn’t seem to be enjoying herself, and truthfully, he was thinking too much to enjoy it either. Being there with her didn’t seem special or sacred enough for them to force making love.
He looked over her shoulder out the window while he tried to decide what to do. He had an odd sensation that Sollara was right outside. He felt foolish as she was on his lap kissing his neck. That was when he realized his heart was telling him that it wasn’t right, not here not now.
“Sollara wait,” he said as he pushed her off of his lap.
“Why? Don’t you find me attractive?” she pouted.
“No, it is not that. You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. It's just… I want to make this special for you. This is your first time and somehow this just doesn't seem right.”
“Fine, then we are over. Don't bother calling me, don't come to my room, just leave me alone. You were a horrible kisser and probably would be worse in the sack anyway. I hate you, Kai!” She grabbed her clothes and stormed out of the car.
“What the hell just happened?” He rested his head in his hands. How could she react like that when he was trying to put her first again?
-46-
“Oh man, I have a killer headache,” Hannah groaned as she walked down the hall. She was still wearing the same clothes from the day before, and they were covered in vomit from one of the boys and spilt alcohol. She looked a complete mess. And since she didn’t want to be seen like that, she took advantage of her new gift and hid herself from view
She passed a couple people in the hall who choked at her stench as she passed them. Hannah tried hard not to laugh at their facial expressions and wondered what they were thinking. The only reason she went to that party was because the boys begged her to. They wanted her to use her gift of invisibility to sneak up on the girls they liked and listen to which girl liked which guy. Even though she didn’t want to go, she really didn’t have a choice. She owed them a favor for the blood she took to Sollara
As she turned the corner to her dorm room, she stopped dead in her tracks. There in front of her was… herself! Hannah rubbed her head, trying to recount how much she had drunk and if the alcohol was making her see things.
Then she redirected herself to Phoebe’s office. She would know if it was the alcohol in her system or if she really was hallucinating.
When she got to her office, she heard Sollara crying inside. Propelled by her desire to comfort her friend, she didn't bother knocking but entered, went straight in to Sollara, and started rubbing her back. Sollara started batting at the air and then looked around curiously.
“Oh, sorry I didn't realize I was still invisible,” Hannah said as she materialized out of the air. “Sollara, are you okay?” she asked, forgetting about her own problems.
“No, not at all. Kai cheated on me,” Sollara cried as she buried her face in her hands.
“What? Sollara, there is no way that could happen. You must be mistaken. That man loves you more than anything.”
Sollara didn't respond, as she was tongue-tied with tears. Hannah’s heart ached for her friend. She knew how Sollara felt. After all, the same thing had happened to her.
“Everyone gets cheated on, Sollara. Get over it.” Hannah was trying to snap her out of her grief.
“That may be true in many cases, Hannah, but not everyone is forced to watch it happen!”
Hannah could no longer contain the anger she felt. “That bastard! I’ll kill him myself.”
Phoebe took Hannah’s reaction as a need to intervene. “Hannah, you don't understand. Kai thought he was with Sollara. We watched through the looking pond, and, well, the girl looked just like Sollara.”
“Holy crap! That is the reason I came here. I was doing my invisibility cloak thing, and I saw myself pass by. I thought I was so drunk that I was seeing things.” She looked at Phoebe whose mouth was open in shock.
“Where was this other Hannah?” Phoebe asked.
“On her way to my room.”
“Hannah, I need you to cloak again and go to your room and bind her. I will join you shortly.
We have to stop her before she gets too much information or, worse, kills Sollara.”
Before Hannah could go, she needed to comfort Sollara. She couldn't bear seeing her friend in the same pain that Nathanial had forced upon her.
“You are lucky.” She sat beside Sollara and whispered to her. “Nathanial knew it wasn't mein fact he knew it would kill me, but he still slept with my sister. Yes it hurts, it’s awful. When my sister and Nathaniel slept together, I wanted to kill her. But she was my sister. Instead, I left and came here. I have not heard from them since. Last news I had they were still together. The betrayal hurts, but you know what hurts more? Living without him— do you honestly think you can live without Kai?”
Sollara looked up, eyes wide in understanding, and Hannah hoped she had gotten through to her. She gave Sollara one long hug before turning to leave. Just as she was about to reach the door, Phoebe grabbed her arm and stopped her. She pulled up her pant leg to reveal a dagger strapped to her calf.
“Take this with you and use it if you have to, but I would prefer having a chance to question her.”
Hannah took the dagger and looked at Sollara. “If Phoebe doesn't get to it first, I will kill this bitch, Sollara.” With that she turned and left.
On her way to find the shifter, Hannah focused on her hurt and used it to fuel her rage. She would take the opportunity with this shifter to heal some of her wounds from Nathaniel.
Sollara stayed with Phoebe, but the absence of Hannah made her feel weaker. She crumpled into a ball and fell to the floor. Her tears diminished her awareness, and she didn’t even notice Phoebe leave or Oya come in until she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Sollara wiped her eyes and looked up at Oya. “I ran into Phoebe, and she asked me to come check on you. She also explained to me what has happened.” Oya curiously watched Sollara as she quietly spoke the words. “They have the shifter pinned in the bathroom.” When Sollara did not respond she continued. “Hannah is working her over something fierce.”
This news caused Sollara to look up at Oya. She smiled and wiped the tears from Sollara’s cheeks.
“Sollara, I know you don't know me well, but I know Kai. And I know this is a tough situation, but he would have never cheated on you knowingly. He thought it was you, so please remember that when you talk to him.” Her words were full of sadness, and even though Sollara rationally heard her, her emotional side was not willing to let go and forgive Kai so easily.
“I'm not ready to talk to him, Oya. I'm not even ready to face anyone else. I feel like I’ve been ripped in two, torn to pieces. I’m a mess.”
“Whenever I’m going through tough times, I go to a place where nothing matters, where I float above the clouds and just breathe the fresh air. Is there anything that you have done to make yourself feel better?” she asked.
Sollara’s mind went to the Deep Kingdom and the library and her book, her special book. It was the one she read whenever she felt lonely and afraid.
“Well, I have this book I always used to read when I was upset.”
“Did you bring it with you when you left the Deep Kingdom?”
“Yes. It’s wrapped in a black silk dress in the top drawer in my room,” she sniffled.
Oya gracefully got up and floated out of the room in search of the book. Sollara tried to remain calm while she waited for Oya to come back with the book.
Thankfully, it didn’t take long before Oya glided back through the door and handed the parcel to Sollara. She then offered Sollara one more smile before leaving her alone with the book. Oya sat in the hall outside of Phoebe’s office and quarantined off the room, allowing Sollara time to think, breathe, and unwind.
It took some effort to move, but Sollara managed to get back up on the couch. She rested the book on her lap and carefully ran her hand over the worn leather. The smell and feel brought a smile to her face.
Already she was forgetting her hurt with each moment of growing anticipation to revisit her favorite story. Oya was right; she just needed a distraction.
Tenderly, she opened the book and turned the first page. It was blank. She quickly thumbed through all the pages, and like the first they were also blank. Everything she had held dear had left her. She was just about to throw the book against the wall when something caught her attention. One of the pages had something on it. She flipped back through trying to find the page.
It was close to the middle of the book, and when she found it she couldn't believe her eyes. Written in beautiful cursive was her name.
Sollara
She always knew she had a special connection with the book. But how could it know her name? A tear landed on the page. Instantly, the ink began to swirl and change and soon words began to appear.
“Hello, Sollara. It is nice to meet you. If you would like to respond to me, please take the pen provided for you in the spine of this book and respond here. I will be able to answer all your questions.”
Turning the book, Sollara’s fingers coming to rest on the spine. And sure enough, in between the pages and the cover was a small gold pen. She couldn’t believe all the times she had read the book and never noticed that before.
“What do I ask? Hmmm,” she mumbled to herself as she put the pen to the book. No ink came out. She shook the pen and looked around to find something to test it on. When she couldn't find any scrap papers, she tried scribbling on her hand. Instead of ink coming out, the pen sliced her skin, and she started to bleed.
Upon contact with the blood, the pen began to glow. She stared at it for a moment before thinking to try it in the book. When she put the pen to the paper, sure enough she could write.
“Hello, how do you know my name? Does this pen require my blood to work?”
She had to focus on steadying her hand to write neatly as she was shaking. She watched intently as the words of response began to form.
“I know everything, and yes it does require your blood. Your blood activates the magic in the pen.”
“Who or what are you? And why does it require my blood to activate the magic?”
“I am the sacred book of Prophecy. I require your blood as security so that no other will be able to communicate with me.”
“I don't understand. Iresh said the sacred book of Prophecy has been missing for years. But I have been reading you as a story all along.”
Sollara was stunned. She could have known the truth many times over, but the book had never told her, never revealed its true self.
“When your mother died, only your blood could activate me. I can only communicate with those from the royal bloodline. Aurora brought me with you to the Deep Kingdom. I knew it was not time for me to reveal myself to you. So instead, I filled my pages with stories of your family and Atlanticus.”
“The stories are true? They are about my family?”
Sollara finally understood why they comforted her and made her feel happy all those years. Some part of her must have known that she belonged with the people and the places in the book. It had always been her dream to go to Atlanticus and protect it. Maybe, at last, she was ready to take over her mother’s place.
“Yes, Sollara, they are true. You and Kai are our last hope. I need you to go to Atlanticus.”
“How can I go to Atlanticus? I do not know where it is. And even if I did, I do not know how to open the gate.”
Sollara’s heartbeat started to gallop. Secretly she wanted to go, but the unknown frightened her.
“Do not fear Sollara. I will be with you and reveal the way. The Descendants are planning a war. The only tools that can help you defeat their dark magic are protected within the walls of the great city. You must go at once.”
-47-
“You’re an evil bitch!” Hannah screamed at the girl. She then slapped her across her face, which was really the perfect mirror image of her own face. Hannah stumbled backwards, finding it too bizarre to watch herself be hit.
“Take my face off, you slut!”
“You have no id
ea who you are messing with Hannah,” she smirked. “I could be your worst nightmare or your greatest ally.”
“Oh hell no, you are not trying to win me over. There are two things I hate. One, cheating bitches, and two, people messing with my friends.” She jabbed her fingers to emphasize her words. “What... or who are you?” she finished.
The girl didn't answer but continued smiling smugly.
“Take my face off now!” Hannah yelled at her. “Or so help me I will cut it off you!” She pressed the knife Phoebe gave her up to the side of the girl’s face as she smiled and lightly dragged it down her cheek, drawing a faint trace of blood.
“Hannah, calm down. We still have questions for her,” Phoebe reminded.
“Yeah Baby, calm down. Everything's going to be okay.”
Hannah looked back to the girl and no longer saw herself. Instead, she had her knife at Josiah’s throat.
“Why are you wearing his face?” she asked. The girl responded by throwing back Josiah’s head and laughing. The laughter quickly changed from Josiah husky voice to that of a higher and softer feminine voice. And the face changed to that of a woman that Hannah had never met.
“My name is Laora, and the reason I showed you his face is because he was the one I screwed while I looked like you...You are so naïve. He loves you, and I fucked him to get what I needed,” she laughed. “But don't worry, I made sure he enjoyed it.”
Hannah’s hands began to shake with anger, and only Phoebe’s strong grip held her back from slicing Laora’s throat.
“Temper, temper little one. If you kill me, I will not be able to tell you about Mari's plans. Then you will have no hope,” she chided.