For that reason, we came to the conclusion Joshua gifted me with his magical essence. Unfortunately, it was very instable thus far. Because Joshua’s magic was similar to Dean’s fire element, I’d been training with him, trying to learn to rein in its dangerous need to unpredictably erupt.
And I failed miserably. So far I set two couches, one bed, three dining chairs, and, oh yeah, Dean on fire. However overjoyed I was to know he was fireproof, that was the last straw. Setting inanimate objects on fire was one thing, but humans? No, I couldn’t risk it.
The only mystery left to resolve was what happened to Telal? No one understood if he’d been destroyed or merely weakened when the pure energy inside me burst with vengeance against him.
I sighed, shaking my head of the thoughts that were nothing but that… Thoughts. I closed the front door to my home, one final time. I hooked my thumb under the strap of my book bag and pushed it over my shoulder, taking one step at a time down the porch. My family and friends waited to say their good-byes as I embarked on a new journey to Dracia.
Pey stood before me, her eyes bloodshot and puffy. “Stay, please.” Her arms wrapped around my neck in a death grip.
I flinched, holding on to my stomach. Although Joshua healed me using his own essence, draining him of the power he needed to fight Telal, the battle wounds didn’t heal at the rate they should have. Rod’s black magic injections with Clouth and my near-death experience hindered my body from properly healing.
Great.
“Ah, Pey… I can’t breathe.” I patted her back as she swayed me back and forth, still not easing her grip.
Against everyone’s advice, I decided to tell Pey about the Dracians and what was expected of me. She was the one person in my life I would like to keep alive and be honest with. I was pleasantly surprised how well she took the news.
“Witch, you’re a bloody witch?” she said, mimicking a British accent. “That’s wicked. I could’ve used some of that mojo on Wade. A little bit of warts or boils or STDs would’ve been nice. Nothing major. That bastard deserved it.”
“We’ll see each other. Often?” she asked with hope.
“I’m not sure if that’s a good idea.” That was the wholehearted truth. “I-I don’t know.”
“Promise me.” She held my hand and my gaze. “Promise me you’ll try your damnedest to always keep in touch.”
I couldn’t promise to try. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to try. Everyone I dearly loved conveniently found themselves snuggled in bed with Death. And she was one of the people that influenced my life. There was no way I would risk her life for my selfish needs.
“I mean, they aren’t so barbaric they wouldn’t have a cell phone or computer or the internet. Right?” She waved her hand impatiently. “Don’t answer that. I’ll just have to charge in there and beat the shit out of anyone that tries to stop me from seeing my best friend.” I tried to hide my smile, but it was impossible.
I could only imagine the wrath Pey would rain down on anyone that tried to dampen her parade. And I for one didn’t want to be in the vicinity… scratch that… on the island when she did.
“Hey.” Axel placed his hands around my waist and kissed my forehead.
“Hey.” I leaned into him. He was my strength.
Cassie had moved in with me as my legal guardian, and I took a week off before going back to school. That was the worst decision of my life. Apart from Dean and Pey, everywhere I went, people felt sorry for me. They wouldn’t look at me and if they did, they looked guilty, like they were enjoying their lives while I suffered. That was when I decided to go back to Dracia before my eighteenth birthday like I was supposed to.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I will be.”
“Ohmygod, you guys are mind talking, aren’t you? Ohmygod.” She squealed. “Did you guys ever use it for, like, dirty talk or, like, phone sex… I mean, mind sex?”
I rolled my eyes and walked to the back of the black Cadillac Escalade. I threw in my book bag before heading back to Pey.
“Wait, is that better than real sex? I mean, since you guys will be in each other’s minds and…”
“Pey, babe, I love you, but take it down a notch,” Landon said, kissing her.
She pouted.
Axel laced his fingers with mine and pulled me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around him. These days, he seemed to want to touch me every chance he got. I didn’t complain. He stayed over every night, but slept on the couch downstairs.
Since the incident in Greece, I’d fallen victim to irregular sleep patterns and regular nightmares. I would wake up a few times a week, screaming, but never crying. The dreams were so vague. The only thing I’d remember at the end was always falling. Falling into an abyss. And Axel was there to catch me.
He was a dream boyfriend. He was patient and encouraged me to mourn my loss so I could start the healing process after Joshua’s death. But how ever hard I tried, I couldn’t.
This time I had no tears to shed, no sleepless nights. I ate well and remained healthy. There was nothing in my behavior to indicate Joshua was gone. When my parents died, I felt a part of me was torn apart. This time, none of that. I think that scared Axel the most.
Dean picked up my last lingering suitcase and threw it in the trunk of the SUV with a clunk. “What the hell did you put in here, Nellie?”
“Hey.” I pulled myself from Axel. “If it is any consolation, I’ve only got two and half suitcases.”
Axel pulled me to him. “You can buy a lot of what you need back home,” he said, rubbing my back.
My heart pinched, knowing why I was leaving my home and my friends.
“I don’t know if and when I’ll get the chance to shop, being on house-arrest and all.” My shoulders slumped.
“You’re being escorted, for your safety,” Axel was quick to point out.
“It doesn’t feel that way.”
“Hey, look at me.” He placed his fingers under my chin, tilting it upward. “I’ll die before I let anything happen to you.” He searched my eyes. “You know that, right?”
I nodded.
“Even you can’t protect her from everything, oh your royal high-ass.” Dean sneered.
Axel flinched.
Dean pulled me from Axel’s embrace like he owned me.
“Be nice,” I said, poking my index finger into his chest.
“Alright, alright.” He raised his hands in defeat. “Now, how about a hug for your best friend that you’re throwing away like a ragdoll?”
I wrapped my arms around him, chuckling. He pulled me into a bear hug and lifted me off the ground with a grunt.
“I’ll miss you, Nellie,” he whispered, his voice weak and sad.
“What’re you going to do with yourself?”
Dean’s eyes twinkled with mischief.
His lips curved up in an I’m-up-to-no-good type of smile. “You’ll see me sooner than you think.” Then his eyes turned dark blue and intense. His gaze narrowed in on my face. “You be safe. Got it?”
I hugged him. “I’m going to miss you, Dean.”
I hated good-byes and this was no different. I gave one-last-time hugs to John, Sarah, Landon, Pey, and Dean.
I looked at Cassie. “I’m so sorry,” I said, hugging her. “So, so, sorry.”
She was the only one I owed any kind of apology. If it weren’t for me, Joshua would be alive. If it weren’t for me, Cassie wouldn’t have lost her husband. If it weren’t for my very existence, none of this would’ve happened.
“It is not your fault,” she said, choking with emotion. She cupped my face between her hands and kissed my forehead. “Joshua knew what he was doing. I knew what we had to do. No one blames you, Ren. We would make this same choice all over again, if it came down to it.” She tucked a strand of hair behind my ear before kissing my forehead tenderly. “I love you.”
That was the last straw. As a treacherous single bead of a tear escaped, I immediately swiped it with my hand. I gave her a weak
smile and turned around, heading toward the SUV.
Axel held the door open, giving me a sympathetic smile. “You ready?”
I nodded and slid into the leather seat. I pulled on the seatbelt and locked it with a click as the SUV moved forward. I looked back as my only connection to the human world slipped from my sight. I closed my eyes, memorizing their faces before pushing them so far back in my mind it would take great effort to remember them.
“We’ll make it through this.” Axel pulled my hand into his, lacing our fingers together before pulling it to his lips and kissing them. “Together.”
I looked at our interlaced fingers on the middle console and knew the next thing I needed to sever from my life.
Am I strong enough?
The Journey Continues…
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Priya Kanaparti was born in India, grew up in Detroit, and is now settled in Boise, ID. She attended Wayne State University for her undergrad degree in Bachelor of Science in Biology, and University of Phoenix for her Masters in Business Administration. Priya works as a project manager in software field during the day and lives in the world of her characters during the nights and weekends.
She had found the love for reading and writing in 2012, when she stayed home with her son and needed something to occupy those ‘downtime’ hours.
She loves playing tennis on a good summer day and chess during the cold winters, but reading and writing has become a year round hobby.
She lives in Boise with her husband, son and a Yorkie. Dracian Legacy is her debut novel.
Feel free to visit her blog at: http://priyakanaparti.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorpriyakanaparti?ref=tn_tnmn
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pkanaparti
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6526707.Priya_Kanaparti
Dracian Legacy Page 28