“Your words, Colt,” I tried to explain the hurt he made me feel. “You can’t ever take them back.”
“I never meant a word I said.”
I shook my head, my mind whirling around all that he’d just said. I had no idea what was true…was this another lie?
His fingers cupped my cheek, his thumb stroking it.
“I’m sorry.”
I pushed him away, and he released me. I stood still for a moment staring at him, searching for the truth.
“I almost killed you,” I whispered. “And you wouldn’t have stopped me.”
I turned and hurried toward the metal entry door. Jahlem stood beside it. He didn’t bother to hide his concern as he opened it and pulled me inside. He stopped me from running up the stairs and drew me into a hug. I wanted to run away screaming, but instead I allowed his comfort.
Why was Colt telling me this? Why was he playing with my heartstrings again? And why was I susceptible to it? I didn’t know whether to be angry or overjoyed at the possibility the real Colt had returned. But my thoughts turned dark. He’d tried to harm me. He helped bring me here…who was the man in the garden?
Jahlem didn’t say a word as he held me. Eventually I drew back. I followed him up the dark, winding, narrow staircase and went straight to my room. Darrien opened my door, but not before he and Jahlem exchanged glances.
I headed for my terrace and then halted as I saw Colt standing in the garden, staring up at me. Darrien pulled me inside and closed the terrace doors. He then pointed towards my sitting area, and I took a seat in the black velvet chair. I curled my legs under me and stared at the gray marble flooring. When was this nightmare ever going to end? My thoughts were becoming so jumbled.
I had no idea how much time had passed while I sat there thinking about what just transpired when Darrien slipped what looked like crumpled journal papers on the arm of the chair.
I looked up.
His hazel eyes softened. “I found them recently and thought they might be helpful for you.” He hesitated. “I know you’ve been carrying the others with you since you found them.”
I should have been upset that I’d been so careless with the other papers, but Jahlem and Darrien were here for me, no one else. If they hadn’t seen them, they might not have known what they meant to me.
“Thank you.”
I shuffled the few pages, glancing over them when Jahlem cleared his throat.
“We’ll leave you alone, Cheyenne,” he said, “but we won’t leave you vulnerable. We’ll be just outside the door. All you need do is call our names, and we’ll come.”
I nodded and watched them leave my room. I headed towards the bed and spread the papers out, focusing my attention on the dates to get them in some sort of order.
The papers weren’t as yellowed as the first ones I’d found, but it appeared they’d been ripped from a journal as well. Some of the writing was crisp and clean, while others seemed to be scribbled, wearily written.
October 22
It’s been a long time since I’ve last made an entry. So much has transpired, both good and bad. It’s been a long journey to get where I am today. A long, lonely, tiresome and heartbreaking journey that has taken years.
I’ve not written my thoughts for the fear of exposing myself, my heart and all the sorrows I’ve had to endure. All the failures I’ve made and the failures yet to come. But if I don’t come to terms with them, then I’ll never be able to move on, and I must move on.
My father is gone. He was murdered at the hands of Makhi and Marcus in revenge for my departure. But I know in my heart, he was long gone before Makhi and Marcus ever finalized it with death.
My father dabbled with the magic too much. He was too eager to please Makhi, to find his favor, and he succumbed to the powers within the rings. I’d begged him to stop, begged him to come with me, but it was too late.
I blamed myself for his death, but in the end it was never in my hands to control. He made the choice and lost himself in the process.
February 14
Again it has been too long since I’ve poured out my heart. But today is different, because I have hope, which has been nonexistent for such a long time I thought I’d never feel it again.
I’ve met him. The man I’ve been searching for, for so long.
He rejected me at first. Knew my power of persuasion and thought I’d use it on him. It’s taken months, many long months to finally win over his trust and the trust of other clan members. But where I had thought I might fail again, a surprising twist occurred. Along with his trust, he’s given me his heart as well.
June 21
Today’s the day and I’ve never felt like this before, happiness, fulfillment…love. It’s like my heart might explode and crumple to the floor in pieces if anything were to happen to him. The alliance that we’re creating is so much more than I thought it could ever be…because in return I gained the one thing I never thought I’d have, true love.
December 25
Again it’s been too long, too many long years of fighting and I’m exhausted.
We’re alone, in hiding, as we have been for the last seven months. We’re hiding because of you. Our hearts are already breaking at what we know we have to do—what your future will be. And the risk I’m taking writing down these words for you to see.
You need to live. You need to live and fight for us, for the Timeless race.
I was never strong enough to do what needed to be done, but you, my child, you will have your father’s powers. You will be stronger than those before you. You will understand what needs to be done when the time comes.
It’s your strength, your love and your determination in the end that will defeat him. You will be hurt. You will be judged by those around you. You will face obstacles that break my heart, knowing the burden you will bear alone. It’s only you—it’s only your powers—that will bring down what magic has raised.
Keep your allies close, and your enemies closer.
This is your destiny, my child, your destiny alone.
Tears poured down my cheeks. I’d been with them while she wrote this. It would have been my first and last Christmas with them. Their first and last words to me—ever. I pressed the papers to my chest, desperately trying to draw strength from her words, but they only brought me sorrow.
It was my strength, my love and determination that would defeat Marcus. But how? I knew there’d be obstacles; I’d tripped over every single one of them. The burden I bore weighed heavily on my shoulders regardless of the fact that I’d tried to share it with Callon…my powers.
I dropped the papers to the bed again and scrambled to find the last entry.
This was my destiny, my destiny alone. The words jumped from the page.
I couldn’t share this burden with Callon by marrying him. I couldn’t share it with Colt either. It was by my powers…by keeping my enemy closer.
My hand flew to my mouth, and I couldn’t catch my breath. I knew what she was asking, what she wanted me to do!
“No!” I hissed. “No!”
I leapt from the bed, the papers flew to the floor, and I dashed for the bedroom door, swinging it open.
“Cheyenne?” Darrien tensed and tried to grab me as I ran down the hall. “Cheyenne!”
Thundering footsteps followed behind me as I leapt down the stairs, taking two at a time. Marcus ran out of the sitting room and tried to stop me but I slipped through his arms and dashed out the entry doors onto the terrace. I stopped for a moment, my chest heaving. I looked back. Marcus was nearing, his arms stretched out to show he wouldn’t hurt me.
Darrien and Jahlem were panicked as they slowly made an approach.
I sprinted off the terrace, knowing they were directly behind me. My feet slipped on the gravel as I tore down the path. The front gate was open, and I bolted past the Trackers and Tresezes, but they didn’t try and stop me. I found the narrow path leading to the lake and followed it. I slowed as I came to the water’s e
dge.
I fell to my knees and stared out across the water. The calm and seemingly serine landscape angered me. How could this lake remain tranquil when I was faced with such turmoil?
My mother had just told me why she had me…to destroy the one who destroyed her. She wasn’t strong enough, but I would be. I’d bear her burden, the entire Timeless race’s burden…I had to keep my enemy closer—I had to marry Marcus.
It was the only way. I had to form an alliance, an alliance that no one would understand. They’d judge me, say I betrayed them—and I’d lose them in the end. Anything I’d ever fought for would be destroyed, burned, and I’d be the one holding the matches. They’d never be able to look at me again with love and understanding. I’d be hated as much as Marcus was—I’d become like Marcus—I’d take his place once I’d destroyed him. It was just another vicious circle…
“Cheyenne?” Marcus said softly. He moved beside me and kneeled. “You’re upset?”
I sat on my legs and turned to him. I didn’t bother to hide the tears or sorrow.
“What’s wrong?” He wiped a falling tear away. “Tell me what makes you so sad.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but closed it. What could I say to him? He sat beside me, genuinely concerned about my well-being. How could I tell him that by marrying me, it would destroy him in the end? That his marrying me would destroy me in the end too.
He carefully drew me into a hug, but I didn’t fight it. This would be one of the few tender moments he’d ever get from me before I ruined his life. He rubbed my back gently and cradled my head in his hand. I didn’t have the strength to tell him I’d marry willingly—I didn’t want to have the strength.
A commotion sounded behind us, and Marcus’s hold tightened. He helped me to my feet. When I looked up, Daniel was only a few feet away. My breath caught, and I rushed to his side, only to have Marcus hold onto my wrist, preventing me from reaching him.
I raised my hand as the iridescent lights flickered, and Daniel raised his to match mine. It was my hope, but it had come to late. His deep blue eyes held such sadness. I felt the electricity tingle my skin as I pressed my palm forward and the pained looked on his face as he did the same. The enchantment wouldn’t allow us to touch, but just knowing he was reaching out like I was made me feel loved. The last love I’d probably ever feel again.
“I’m sorry,” I mouthed. “I’ve failed you.”
I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his despair. It was bad enough what I was feeling inside. Marcus drew me back, and we walked towards the gate. This would be the last time I’d ever see Daniel again, and I wanted to remember him and the love he so freely gave.
I remained secluded in my room, trying to find another solution other than marrying Marcus, but there was none. I pored over my mom’s writings, and every time I read it, I came to the same conclusion. It was the only way.
A guitar sat in the corner near the terrace doors. I knew Colt had brought it in while I slept. He was still trying to convince me that he was sorry for all he’d done, for what he’d put me through, but it was pointless. The only thing he’d done was send me further into despair. He’d been the one to lock me in the room where I found my mother’s papers…he’d been the one to seal my fate.
The last of the evening’s light began to fade from sight, and I picked up the guitar and walked onto my terrace. I sat, my fingers hovering over the strings, willing myself to let go. I closed my eyes as I began to strum, releasing all the pent-up emotions that had been swirling in my head. All the anger and regret that washed over me threatened to drown me in sorrows. All the words of betrayal I knew were to come…all the love I was about to lose for the sake of saving them.
Faces floated in my mind: Callon’s last panicked expression, the hurt and pain of failure. Daniel’s lost blue eyes, unsure what was to become of us…and Colt’s seeming betrayal of my heart. I’d never see them again, never know their touch or words of love. They soon would only be a memory, fading into the mist.
I wrapped the notes around me, tightening their hold and keeping what remnants remained inside me. Salvaging what I could before it all changed again—for the worse.
I played long and hard. I played until my fingers ached and I had nothing more inside me to give. Until every last ounce of me had poured itself out and exposed me for who I was…a weapon to destroy another.
I stilled and rested the guitar across my lap. The moon was now shedding its light across the garden, and I looked up, surprised at what I saw.
My small garden and the stone walls in front of me were filled with Trackers and Tresezes. They’d been drawn here by my music, entranced as they stared up at me. The entire time I’d been here, they’d kept to themselves, avoided me. I was sure Marcus had threatened them, but now they had seen for themselves. It was just like when I played around the fire in Marcus’s camp. They were spellbound.
Blond hair moved in the crowd. Colt inched his way to the front, but his face was hidden in the shadows. I rose and entered my bedroom, setting the guitar back where I’d found it.
I lurked in the shadows, watching the crowd dissipate from my garden. I wanted to walk around in it. I wanted to lie in the grass and stare up at the moonlit sky. I wanted to be alone.
Darrien and Jahlem met me outside my door and followed me to the locked metal door. Darrien opened it, and I followed them down the passage stairs and out into the garden. I stopped them before they followed.
“I want to be alone tonight,” I said putting up my hand.
They nodded and stayed behind. I knew they wouldn’t be far, but I wanted to be as alone as I could before I would come to grips with telling Marcus I’d marry him.
My shoes crunched over the gravel path, and I stopped to pick a lone pink daisy before lying down on the grass. I twirled the stem in my fingers as I stared up at the starlit sky. The scent of the freshly cut grass brought back memories of my mom and me. During the summer months we’d lie out on the freshly mowed field and stare up at the stars, counting, laughing and dreaming about what lie ahead for us. Neither of us would have ever dreamed this up, neither of us thought we’d be apart.
A shadow moved across the stone wall, and then the thud of feet landing on the grass neared. I knew who it was, knew he wouldn’t leave me alone till he got his sorrow off his chest and begged for forgiveness.
I didn’t acknowledge him at first. I kept my gaze elsewhere. Eventually he sat beside me.
He remained silent for a long time, staring out into the darkness. When he finally spoke, he couldn’t keep the raw emotions from pouring out.
“I wanted to take the burden of fighting Marcus away from you, Cheyenne.” He paused. “I didn’t mean for it to be like this. I thought I could defeat him from the inside. Even if I had to hurt you in the process, it would be nothing compared to the pain he would put you through. So I tried to push you back, to keep your emotions away from me. To stop you from loving me again.” He looked down at me. “But I made a mistake, and have paid the price.” He sighed. “I don’t deserve forgiveness. Yet no matter what you think of me, I love you, and I'll do whatever it takes for us to beat him. Together.”
I sat up. The shadows hid his eyes from me, but I knew who was speaking to me…my Colt. Why now? Why did he decide to reveal this to me now rather than earlier when he could have swayed my decision? Why did he have to be so cruel and drive me to the point of breaking?
“Why? Why’d you act so mean and heartless? You didn’t have to…” I trailed off, my mind wandering to the past encounters.
“I didn’t have a choice once I made the decision.”
“What do you mean you didn’t have a choice? There’s always a choice, Colt,” I snapped.
He shook his head. “No, there was no choice when I decided I’d rather die protecting you than see you suffer more. I just didn’t know the consequences to my decision.”
I stared up at him, waiting for more.
“When Marcus brought me back, I could
either fight him and die, or make him believe I’d conformed to his will. I made the decision to try and end this from the inside before he ever got to you again.”
“But you played a part in my capture. You’re the one who brought me here!” I hissed.
He sighed, his head sinking lower.
“It was never supposed to come to this.”
“But it did,” I said.
“And I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
We remained silent for a few moments before he spoke again. This time his head rose and his hand wrapped over mine, like he’d just made a sudden discovery.
“I know how we can get out of here.”
“How?”
“The enchantment, Marcus expanded it over the lake.” A sly smile rose. “It can’t go under the water.” He squeezed my hand tighter. “I can’t believe I just now realized this…”
I pinched my brows tighter. “What do you mean?”
“The enchantment can go around, or even over water, but never through.”
I still didn’t understand and shook my head.
“We can leave through the water, by going under the enchantment.”
I blinked. Our escape had been before us and I didn’t even know it.
He jumped to his feet, taking me with him. Hope lit in his eyes, where I knew I had none.
“I’m going to make this up to you, Cheyenne.” He leaned down and pressed a firm kiss to my lips before disappearing up and over the stone wall.
I paced the gray marble floor in front of the terrace in my bedroom. I hadn’t seen or heard from Colt since he’d made his confession to me a week ago. Regardless, I knew I couldn’t go with him. My fate had been sealed. I had no choice but to stand tall and accept destiny. It was just that my heart was breaking in the meantime.
A knock at the door drew my attention.
Darrien entered, holding a scrap of paper in his hands. He handed it to me.
I carefully unfolded it. It was a note from Colt. He wanted to see me in the garden. I looked up at Darrien.
Daylight, a Timeless Series Novel Page 40