by Donica Covey
Her mother nodded. “Go back to the portal. Take Xiuhcoatl with you so that he may say goodbye to the mother who raised him. You know how to open it?"
Keely nodded. “I pass my hand in front of the stones and chant, ‘exzues ma dialamta'."
"That's correct. You will be able to see the earth world through the mist. Then all you do is step through."
Keely nodded. “But if I leave..."
"You have done your duty. You've done all that was foretold. You are one with the people of this world. You will be allowed to return. You must close the portal behind you and if you fail to return within exactly twenty-four hours then the portal will remain closed."
Keely nodded. She was elated at the prospect of seeing her family again. Twenty-four hours didn't allow much time for goodbyes, but it was more than she'd had before.
"Thank you, Mother, I'll see you again soon."
Her mother shook her head. “No, Aldmakeelia. I've come to tell you goodbye as well."
"What?” She gazed one parent to the other and back again. “I don't understand."
"We've done our duty. Now it's time for us to move on."
"But what if I need your guidance?” She cast her eyes upon her father. “I've only just seen you and now you're going away?"
"You are a strong woman, an intelligent woman. A kind and just leader. You don't need our guidance. Trust your heart, lean on Xiuhcoatl and let him lean on you. Support each other. Love each other. Cherish each other and always be patient with each other."
Keely was crying again, but this time for the permanent loss of the parents she only just met and would never see again. “I love you both. Thank you Mother for your help during this."
Her mother smiled. “You didn't need me, Daughter. You had your heart to lead you."
"I love you."
"We love you.” Their words carried on the wind but they had disappeared from sight.
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Twenty One
Keely stood in front of the stone wall and reached for Xavier's hand. “Are you sure you want to do this?” Was she asking him or herself?
He gave a reassuring squeeze. “I'm sure. I need to see my mother one last time."
Keely tried to shore up against the pain she felt. “Then let's go.” She lifted her hand in front of the stone. “Exzues ma dialamta.” The stone began to shimmer and she could see the earth world though the swirling mists. She looked up into his eyes. “Are you still sure?"
He nodded. “I'm ready. Are you?"
She swallowed hard and nodded. Side by side they stepped out onto the grass of the park. A warm breeze ruffled the flowers on the cherry trees ringing the park around them. “We need to know exactly what time we stepped through."
He scanned the area. A couple sat on a bench, their backs to Xavier and Keely. He led her by the hand over to the bench. “Excuse me, can you tell me the time?"
Keely watched the couple stare at her and then Xavier. Keely realized how out of this world they must look. “The time please? We're late for a party."
The man nodded. “Eleven thirty."
"Thanks."
They stepped away from the bench and Xavier's arms stole around her waist. “Your place or mine?” he asked her with a saucy grin.
"I guess we should start with yours. My parents live a good distance away."
"It's not going to be easy."
"I know."
They didn't speak again until they were standing in front of Xavier's home. The Blake home. He paused and seemed to have trouble gathering his thoughts. “Xavier?"
* * * *
Xavier took a deep breath then led Keely up the steps. What was he going to say to his mother? Something witty like ‘Hey Mom, guess what? I'm from another world and I'm actually headed back. So good luck and good-bye.’ “What do I say?"
Keely touched his hand. “Say what your heart tells you to say."
It sounded so simple. Did Keely realize his mother would be completely alone now? What would Aramantha Blake do without her son? His resolve wavered but he felt Keely's strength seep inside him. He reached out and rang the bell.
For long moments no one came. Worry suffused him; had his mother become so ill, so depressed since he vanished that she'd had some kind of attack or stroke? He banged on the door.
It creaked open and a tuxedo-clad butler stepped from behind it. “Mr. Blake!” the man exclaimed and Xavier was grabbed tight and pulled inside. “We've missed you. What happened?” The man collected himself and stepped back. “You're mother will be thrilled."
"Where is she? Is she all right?"
The man shook his head. “She's been terribly distraught over your disappearance. She's in her room."
Xavier pulled Keely by the hand and led her up the steps. He took them two at a time and he could feel Keely struggling to keep up. “I'm sorry.” He tried to force himself to slow down but it didn't seem possible. He stopped outside his mother's room and rapped on the door.
She didn't answer right away and he knocked a little louder. He heard sounds coming from inside the room and finally her voice called out, “Come in."
Xavier opened the door and stepped inside. “Mother?"
She paled and let out a cry, then she leapt from the bed and grabbed him close. “Oh my baby. My son. Oh Xavier,” she wailed and covered him with kisses. “Where've you been? Oh, my son's come home."
He squeezed her close. “I've missed you."
"Three months. For three months I've searched for you. For three months I've worried, prayed, cried and pleaded. Where have you been?"
Where indeed? “Mother, I've been ... away. I've only come to see you one, umm,” he cleared his throat harshly, “one last time. I've got to go away again."
She pulled back in what appeared to be a combination of shock and horror. “Away? Go? No Xavier, I won't allow it. You can't go away."
Again Xavier cleared his throat. “Mother, darling, I have to go. There are people who need me. Desperately they need me. It's where I belong."
His mother studied him closely and he saw the moment when she spotted Keely. “Who is this? Why are you dressed like that? Where have you been? Where are you going?"
The rapid-fire of questions was laced with uncertainty and just a trace of panic. “One question at a time, dear. This,” he reached and pulled Keely to his side, “is Keely. She's my life ... going to be my wife. We've been to ... our home. Our birthplace. We are dressed like this because...” Yeah, why are you dressed like some performer in a renaissance fair?
You can do this Xavier, listen to your heart, Keely whispered in his mind.
"Mother, you need to sit down. This is going to take a lot of explaining and we don't have much time."
Aramantha leaned on his arm for support as he guided her to the bed.
"Mother, the family who gave me up. I've found them."
She made a sharp, pained intake of breath. “Found them?"
"Yes. Keely and I were both from the same place. Our parents gave us up to..."
"To protect you?"
He stared at his mother open mouthed. “How did you know?"
"I didn't. What's this all about?"
"Mother, my world isn't here. It's far away and I've got to go back there. I've only come to let you know that I'm alive, well, happy and in love with the perfect woman."
"When will you come back to see me?"
It was killing him, he knew it would destroy his mother. How could he do this to her. He felt the weight of Keely's gentle hand and found the courage to answer. “I'm not coming back."
"What?” his mother wailed and threw herself into his chest. “Your father's gone and now you're leaving. I'm going to be alone, Xavier.” She stopped and took a deep breath. Her composure was a hard fight but she finally seemed to be getting hold of it. “You are a grown man. I understand that. I know you've found someone whom you think will be the perfect wife. But how can she be so perfect if she's taking you away f
rom your home? And you'll never return? What nonsense is this?” She gave Keely a hard, dagger filled look.
Keely tensed beside him and Xavier straightened. “Keely has not brainwashed me. She's not part of a cult who is going to see my end. She and I are just different now. We've found a world where we belong. We've got to go back to that world."
"I don't understand. I just don't understand."
"I doubt you ever will, Mother. Not completely. You know I've struggled with my life. That I've felt disconnected, like I was lost in a world where I didn't belong."
His mother's nod was barely perceptible.
"I know why, now. I've found my place. My home. My world. Keely and I are going back but we have to stay away. There can be no phone calls, no letters, no emails."
"But why?"
"I don't know how to make you see.” He sat and gathered her hands in his. “I'm ... we're from another world. One called Grogan. In this world I'm going to be a king. This world, the people in it, they need me."
His mother stared at him as if he'd lost his mind. “Going away? Yes I see."
He almost laughed. “No, I've not lost my mind. Keely?"
She nodded and moved over to the bed to reach for his mother's hands. She recoiled from the touch and cast another harsh look at Keely.
Xavier shrugged and lifted his hands into the air. He formed a small ball of flame and rolled it from hand to hand. “I'm a dragon."
Aramantha choked and Keely reached out to support her sagging frame. “Merely an illusion,” Aramantha whispered.
Xavier sighed. “Mother, I'm a dragon.” He reached for her and focused his energy on shifting just his hand into the dragon's claw.
"My God.” Aramantha pressed into her pillow. “The medicine. The doctor has me on a medicine that is obviously too strong. Hallucinations. Nightmares."
Xavier exchanged a worried look with Keely. He turned back to his mother's pale face then sat down on the edge of the bed and took her frail hand in his. He'd never noticed how fragile she really was. “Mother, I wish I could help you understand."
"I wish my son were truly here,” Aramantha choked and sobbed.
"How do I convince you it's not a dream?” he asked more of himself than of his mother.
Xavier, I'm so sorry, Keely whispered in his head.
He nodded at Keely and placed his mother's hand to his lips. “I love you, dear, and I'm going to miss you. I wish we could stay but that isn't the path destiny laid out for us. I'll think of you always."
He shifted on the mattress and took her in his arms. “I'll never forget everything you and father did for me. The home, the love, the guidance, all of it. I pray you'll be well and there will be times we'll both feel as if our hearts are breaking but we must go on.” He pressed a kiss into her hair and pushed up from the bed.
Aramantha reached for him, sobs wracking her thin frame. “Please don't leave me. Come back."
"If I could stay I would but...” He hated that he was breaking her heart. Why did it have to be so hard? He should be able to do his duty and be able to see his mother. Even if they only exchanged letters. “I am sorry. But I've got to go. We still have to see Keely's family and tell them goodbye."
"But why must you leave so soon? You've only just arrived."
"That's the way it is. We only have twenty-four hours to say our goodbyes."
He straightened and forced the stiffness in his spine. He had to be strong. If he fell apart now, if he wavered, he may never be able to go back. Grogan would need strong guiding hands to rebuild it. There were still small factions of Montrose's people that flared up, though it was coming less frequently. He belonged by Keely's side and they belonged in their world.
He looked down at his mother one last time. “Goodbye."
She reached for him and he had to compel the pivot on his heel and the stiff steps to the bedroom door. If he paused now he wouldn't have the strength to leave. Each step was hard fought as he headed for the door. Leaving this home, leaving his mother was going to be the hardest task he'd encountered yet.
Keely stepped beside him, took his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
He couldn't look at her, but he nodded. They stepped from the bedroom and he closed the door behind them. Aramantha's crying tore at him but he didn't stop.
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Twenty Two
Xavier was silent as they left the house. His pain was deep but his resolve hadn't wavered. This was the only way, she could feel it, could read it in his mind.
He opened a garage door and for a moment the sheer number of cars inside dazzled Keely. How could anyone drive so many vehicles?
"I just chose one for the day and one for the night,” Xavier tried to joke but his tone came out flat.
"We've got a long ride ahead of us. My parent's farm is a bit away, like five hours."
Five hours. She felt panic. Ten hours for the drive there and back, they'd just spent four hours with Mrs. Blake. So already almost fourteen hours were accounted for. Keely still had time to spend with her family assuring her she was fine and happy but her life wasn't here any longer. How long would it take to break her mother's heart?
Xavier opened a panel and punched in some sort of code on a door. It opened and he selected a set of keys and moved to a vintage mustang.
He opened her door and then went to his side. The engine roared to life and they pulled out into the early morning. Dread washed over her as they merged onto the highway and sped south.
"I know it's going to be hard, Keely.” He reached and took her hand.
"It's the right thing. What we're supposed to do, and it hurts so I guess that means it's right."
He offered her a halfhearted grin. “I've never been good at being good. It was always more fun to be a little naughty."
"The thought of never seeing them again...” She couldn't speak past the lump in her throat. A tear trickled down her cheek.
"I know. I'd always thought I'd find the perfect woman, settle down in the house with Mother, run the business and raise a bunch of kids with her bouncing them around the house, spoiling them rotten and making it hard for us to keep the kids in line."
"You make it sound so appealing,” Keely chuckled softly. “I imagined my wedding, my father walking me down the aisle, giving me away. Then my husband and I would buy a little piece of land down near the farm and start our own ranch raising beef, maybe a few hogs and chickens. We'd have a large garden and I'd spend all summer tending to the garden, canning, cooking, cleaning and watching as my husband taught our kids how to ride horses and ATVs. After the kids went to bed we would sit on a porch swing and star up at the stars twinkling in the deep velvet night sky."
He sighed and she saw the images dancing in Xavier's mind. “I guess we'd be in completely different worlds. I can't see myself working a farm."
"I can't see you there, either,” Keely admitted sadly.
"Which exit?"
She brushed at a tear. “Next one. Go right and stay in the left lane."
He was quiet once more and she leaned her back into her seat. Her eyes closed and she imagined her parents’ reaction to the news. Her father would probably want to shoot Xavier, because it was his fault she'd been missing. That was one hurdle Keely would have to leap over.
Then there would be the disbelief, the argument, the pain, and finally the goodbye.
Xavier had been so strong, could she find that same strength?
I'll be here to give it to you as you gave it to me.
She inhaled a ragged breath. Her chest constricted painfully. Already it hurt and she hadn't even seen her family. Xavier was trying to offer comfort and she wanted to soak it in, but it was hard.
She had always been so sure that one day she'd find a strong man to love her and they'd spend a life working together. They'd set up house close to her family and share Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays and anniversaries. The happily ever after every little girl dreamed of.
&n
bsp; She was getting part of that. A man she adored and a world that needed her. Soon would be a family of her own to raise. She hated this. She deserved a happily ever after dammit! Why did it have to be so black and white? Why couldn't they have it both ways? She scooted across the seat and stared out the window as the miles passed by.
The rest of the drive the only communication between her and Xavier was directions to the farm. When they pulled into the drive in front of the large stone house where she'd grown up, panic washed over her.
It was still early in the day and life seemed normal. That wasn't going to last long. A dog darted under the car and Xavier slammed on the brakes. “I didn't hit it, did I?"
Keely smiled. “LB has a thing for tires but she's a smart dog. She knows when to dodge."
He nodded and parked the car. “Ready?"
"No."
"We've got to do it. Our time's running out."
"I know."
Jake Morgan's tractor rolled up and Keely jumped from the car. “Daddy!"
"Baby! Where've you been? What happened to you?” He cut his eyes toward Xavier. “Who the hell is that?"
"Daddy, this is Xavier. He's my fiancé."
"What?” her father roared. “Who is he?"
Keely started again. “He's a good man, Daddy. He's strong, intelligent, and so brave. And he makes me very happy."
Her father's finger trailed under her chin and lifted her face to his. He stared deep into her eyes. “Right. I can see how happy you are,” sarcasm laced his words. He glared at Xavier again. “We've been worried sick about you. Police have searched for you. Even the FBI popped in and did some investigating. This man was the last one seen around you. Then the both of you disappeared. I want to know what in hell happened."
"I know you've been worried. I'm sorry. I'll explain it all to you and Momma.” She pulled back. “Where is she?"
"Up at the garden. You better get up there and let her know you're alive.” His eyes jerked back to Xavier. “You go. We're going to have a little talk."