The Amulet Trials

by Willa Alders

  “I’m glad. I was worried.” He said as he looked into my eyes.

  “Why were you worried?” I asked.

  “I finished dancing with everyone and was looking for this beautiful girl I call my wife but she was nowhere to be found. I was just hoping that you didn’t decide to change your mind.” Archer chuckled lightheartedly.

  “Well I don’t think you have to worry. It’s not as easy to get unmarried as it is to get married. Especially when you’re an immortal not to mention king and queen it makes things a little more difficult.” I said nonchalantly. “Besides, why would I want to change my mind when you kiss so well and you’re undeniably hot.” I blushed as I said the last part to him.

  Archer grinned my favorite smile then. His dimples growing deeper in his cheeks as his hair fell down around his face. He didn’t know it but I was growing impatient. I was ready to be alone with him. I made my mind up I wanted to get out our reception now. I wanted to hide away spending every second that I could with him until the battle.

  “What do you say we cut our cake so we can ditch this joint?” I said as we were walking to the cake.

  “If that is what you want to do beautiful then it's ok with me.” He said kissing my cheek.

  Everyone gathered around the cake table. Archer placed his hand on the knife then I put mine overtop of his as we cut into the cake. Archer took a little piece and put it in my mouth as I took the rest of the piece and smeared it in his face. Everyone just laughed as Vida handed him a napkin. He grinned wiping his face off.

  “Everyone enjoy the cake. We’re going to go to bed now.” I smiled as I grabbed his hand as we left the ballroom quietly. “You’re not going to carry me over the door way are you?” I asked Archer when we were right outside of our room.

  “I’d thought about it beautiful but I changed my mind.” He replied, raising his eyebrows.

  “Hmm…why?” I asked.

  “Well I was going to until you smeared that cake in my face. So I figured it’s only fair.” His smile was ornery.

  “Is that so?” I asked and he nodded. “I see…well that does put us in quite a predicament doesn’t it? You see I am the queen and what the queen wants she shall get.” I flirted with him.

  “So beautiful if you are the queen and you get what you want then what is it you want?” Archer asked catching on playing my game.

  I responded with one simple word as tempting as I could be. “You!”

  Archer smiled again at me as he wrapped both of his arms around me lifting me into the air. I put my arms around his neck as he nudged the door open carrying me into the bedroom. He didn’t put me down he continued holding me as he walked over to the bed. I bent my face down to him putting my lips on his for just a brief second.

  “I guess you got me to carry you in here.” He whispered.

  “I guess I did.” I said as I kissed him again.

  His arms tightened around me as he pulled me into him more than what I already was. I let my hands touch his cheeks as I allowed myself to be completely engulfed in what was happening. My mind was completely at ease right now. I was completely happy as I continued kissing him allowing myself to get lost just like always.

  My lips never left his as he put me down as we started undressing each other slowly. I backed up closer to the bed as he pulled me in closer lowering us both down to the bed. I was ready for what came next. We became intertwined together as one once again. This time just as perfect as all the rest except this time the only difference was that we were husband and wife now. Other than that it felt like the first time we were together all over again. Afterwards I curled up in Archer’s arms feeling completely whole. I knew that I would never ever get tired of him.

  “I love you.” I said into his chest as I yawned.

  “I love you too beautiful. Get some rest.” Archer kissed my head.

  I must have dozed off shortly after because the next thing I knew we had someone knocking at our doors. I sat up rubbing my eyes as I groaned, hoping they would go away. I wanted to stay locked up here forever with Archer. I didn’t want to get up because that meant I would be all that closer to facing Kilyn. I especially didn’t want to face her not today or ever for that matter but I knew I would have to. Facing her in the battle was my destiny and no matter how much I didn’t want too I just couldn’t fight that. I looked at the door as Archer sat up next to me.

  “Good morning beautiful yesterday was perfect.” He said kissing my lips.

  “Yes it was. I wish we could go on a honeymoon.” I sighed sadly.

  “We will afterwards I promise. Come on beautiful.” He said taking my hand as we got dressed.

  The soft knock came again at the door. I knew it was Mariselle knocking because she was the only one that knocked that softly. I walked over opening the door. Mariselle stood there in front of me. Her little eyes were red and puffy. I knew she had been crying. Before I could say anything her arms wrapped around me squeezing me tightly. I hugged her back as tight as I could.

  “What is it Mariselle?” I asked her.

  “Do you really have to leave?” She sniffled.

  I hugged her. “Yes I’m afraid we have to. Trust me I don’t want to leave at all. I promise you Mariselle we will be back soon.”

  “Promise?” She asked her eyes pleading.

  “Yes I promise. Besides I need my friend here when I get back to help me rearrange this place.” I said nudging her arm. “Know any volunteers?”

  “Me. I would be glad to help Aralynn.” Her smile was so innocent.

  “You are exactly what I had in mind. However we need to give you a title. What about a duchess?” I smiled at her as Archer came up beside me.

  “Really….” She squealed in delight. “I’m a duchess. You really really mean it?” Her excited filled the room.

  “Yes I really mean it.” I watched as she began dancing around the room.

  “You won’t be sorry. I’ll be the best friend and the best duchess around.” She said wrapping her arms around me in a huge hug.

  “I know you will.” I hugged her back then let go as we headed out of the rom.

  Mariselle skipped ahead of us humming happily. I smiled as Archer grabbed my hand as we followed a few steps behind her.

  “That was really nice of you beautiful. You made her happy.” Archer whispered kissing my head.

  “I know.” I whispered to him as we walked down the steps to the massive entryway.

  Everyone was standing there making what was coming all that more real. Sam, Vida, Avery, Caleb, and Carmina were closest to the door with their bags and our bags ready to go. Orion and Lona were the closest to us as they each gave us a quick hug. I knew by their hug they weren’t coming back to our house. Nohelani appeared out of the side room then as glided over to me gracefully. She looked me deep in the eyes and I could read her face easily. Her expression filled with worry for a brief second then it washed away replaced with happiness that flushed her face with a smile.

  “We will see you soon my queen.” Nohelani said bowing at me.

  “You’re handing me the crown now?” I asked her softly. “Yes it is time for me to move on.” She said to me.

  “I’m not ready.” I mumbled quietly so only she could hear.

  I was in shock. Was she really handing me the crown now? I didn’t know why she would do that. I knew I wasn’t ready for this not yet at least. I figured I had at least till after the battle. How could she hand me this now when I was heading off into battle knowing that it could be my demise and I may not return. How could she just give it to me right now? This was all too much to take in. I watched Nohelani watch as my face filled with shock and worry as she took my face in her hands. She smiled which comforted me slightly.

  “You are ready to believe in that. You are the queen now. I will formally do this when you return.” She said bowing again as we headed out the doors of the palace.

  “See you all at home.” I said to my family and they nodded.

&nb
sp; “You ready Archer? I have to tell you my landing isn’t wonderful.” I smiled at him.

  “I know beautiful however I figure between your swooping and my being able to fly our landing should be decent.” He said hugging me.

  “You can fly?” I asked another thing I didn’t know.

  “Yup now come on. Think of home and let’s do this. I’m ready to come back here and begin our life together. I want to tell you everything I haven’t had the chance to tell you.” He said as I thought of home.

  I grabbed Archer’s hand as we started spinning. The wind appeared out of nowhere picking us up in the air. We were circling in the air impossibly fast as we twirled past the Eiffel Tower. I was fine until the land beneath us disappeared and we were over the oceans. I could hear the waves crashing furiously below us. It was as the water knew something was going on. I couldn’t let my mind continue to swim so I buried my head into Archer’s chest as we continued spinning high in the air. After what seemed like minutes the twirling slowed down as we landed right in front of my house smoothly.

  “Good job beautiful. You did wonderful.” He said kissing my cheek.

  “No we did.” I replied quietly.

  Shortly after we landed my phone rang my heart jumped. Archer grabbed my hand squeezing it mind-speaking to me. We have this beautiful don’t worry but Kilyn knows though that we’re here I can already sense it. Be strong. She’s going to tell us to meet her at the factory on the outside of town ok. He nodded and I gulped at the thought of being in the factory and the movie reel was finally going to be real.

  “Kilyn,” I said as I answered the phone.

  “Ara you have my brother. I want him back.” She hissed through the phone and I could hear the evil coming from within her soul. It was so bad I thought it was going to shatter my phone.

  “You can’t have him back. Your deal is off do you understand me? He is mine. He is my husband and there is no way you will get him back. Meet me in the abandoned factory at the edge of town and we can settle this once and for all.” I hissed back through the phone.

  “Fine see you in one hour.” She said to me. “Be prepared to die.” She hissed hanging up.

  I looked over at Archer, and I saw what I wanted now even more. I wanted him forever. There was no way I would let either of us die. I wouldn’t let that happen. He looked at me then breaking my train of thought. I walked forward grabbing him kissing him harder than I ever had before.

  “I love you.” I said.

  “I love you two beautiful you did perfect. Now let’s go hug our family.” He said walking over with me to our loved ones.

  I didn’t even pay attention when we landed I was too concerned about the conversation I had with Kilyn to realize that our family had beaten us home. All of them were standing around on the porch looking at us. I looked at each of their faces and I couldn’t read any of them except one—Avery. His face said what my family was thinking. His eyes were down and his lips were pulled down in a glum frown. I knew what we were facing was bad and there was a chance we could get hurt. I knew that but that didn’t explain why Caleb, Carmina and Sam all felt the way Avery’s face looked. Any other time each of them especially Caleb and Avery would jump at the opportunity to fight. So why was this time striking them differently. I didn’t understand.

  “What is it you guys?” I asked.

  Carmina stepped off toward me as she touched my cheek. “The battle,” she paused as if she was struggling to find the right words. “We cannot interfere in it at all. Which means we cannot come along to help we have to stay here. This is something that you and Archer must face together without us because it is your destinies not ours. Just know my daughter we will be here waiting for you both to return. You both are more than ready for this. We’re all very sorry.” Carmina said sadly.

  “Wait…..what ...you guys aren’t helping? I can’t do this without you all.” I said in disbelief. I wasn’t hearing them correctly. I’m just losing it. I tried to convince myself of that.

  “Aralynn stop!” Archer said stepping right in front of me. I was having trouble looking at him in the eyes. He took his finger and lifted my gaze so I had no choice but to look at him now.

  “But…….” I started to say as Archer cut me off.

  “Beautiful you can’t blame them because they cannot come. Their destiny isn’t to fight Kilyn it’s ours. Haven’t you noticed that? None of them are ever in the movie reel when you see it. The only two people that are in it are me and you. So this is something we have to do by ourselves. They will be waiting here for us to return. Now come on let’s hug them.” Archer said wrapping his arms around me.

  He shook Avery’s hand, then Sam’s then Caleb’s. Then he hugged Carmina and his mom. I walked over to Sam and Avery both. They both looked at me and I let a tear fall down my face. I couldn’t lose my life, I wanted to come back because I needed my brothers no matter how annoying they got. They both grabbed me then hugging me in a tight bear hug. Avery let go and Sam hugged me tighter.

  “Now kick her ass kill her and come back.” Sam said to me as I nodded at him forcing a small smile.

  “I will Sam.” I said as he kissed my cheek and let me go.

  I walked over to Avery now looking at him not sure how awkward this was going to be now that I knew exactly how he felt. Even though he was hurting I could read it in his eyes he was worried and he didn’t want me to know that. He was afraid I wasn’t going to come back. I was afraid of that too. Avery pulled me into a tight hug.

  “You better come back do you hear me?” Avery said seriously. “You owe me a race.” Avery said in a happier voice.

  I laughed. “I will. You know there’s no way you can win Avery.”

  “Darlin you are overly confident and you’re underestimating me. Trust me I will win and when I do you owe me ten grand.” Avery laughed hugging me.

  “Ten grand is nothing. You’ve got yourself a deal! But if I win you owe me then.” I said shaking his hand on the deal. That was going to be a fun race I would have to return and win because I didn’t want to lose ten grand I thought.

  “In your dreams darlin, now go on. I love you.” He said letting me go.

  “I love you too Avery.” I said as I walked over to Caleb and Carmina.

  There stood my so-called parents that I should have had from birth. They had taught me what it was to be me and loved me no matter what I did. I looked at them and flung myself into their arms. Caleb hugged me and Carmina rubbed the back of my head. I may have been married now but I felt like a kid in their arms. I felt like I was ten jut needing to hear the I love you from them.

  “Listen remember everything you were trained on and remember to shield your thoughts both of you and Archer’s.” Caleb said as he kissed my head.

  “We love you.” Carmina said as well looking at me as well as she kissed my head too.

  “I love you both.” I said as I hugged them back. Then I walked over to Vida.

  Then I walked over to where Vida was hugging Archer. Her warm smile welcomed me as I stepped into her arms hugging her.

  “I’ve already told Archer that I need you both to return. I want to get the chance to get to know you more my new daughter. I already love you so much because of how happy you make my son.” She smiled again as she pulled me in again for another hug. “Remember the amulet’s protection.” She whispered as she held out her one arm for Archer to come to her.

  As little as Vida was her arms felt extremely long to fit around the both of us. “I love you both.” She said as she tightened her squeeze then she let us go.

  I looked at Archer hugging him tightly. This was the part of the movie reel where we said our goodbyes I thought. I realized I had been wrong all along. We weren’t saying our goodbyes to each other. We were wishing each other good luck because we would never say goodbye to each other because there was no way we would lose. We were meant to be together.

  “I love you, we can handle this right?” I asked him.

  �
��Of course beautiful don’t worry I’ll be right here by your side with you the whole time. Are you ready for this?” Archer asked rubbing my arms

  “I suppose so. I love you.” I whispered.

  “Now let’s go do what we have to do so we can come back and be king and queen together. Remember my forever is with you always. I love you I will always return to your side.” He said kissing me.

  “I love you too.” I said kissing him back as we twirled.

  CHAPTER 19 ARALYNN

  We swooped to the factory outside of town. Carter was already there waiting in the shadows when we landed. He was propped up on the side railing of the stairs in front of the building. His head was hung low so you couldn’t see his face. The only thing that lit him up a little so you could see his shadow was a small yellow orange flickering of light coming from his mouth. I could smell the cigarette burning as he stood there silently. I watched his arm move as his fingers started tracing the lion perched on the tip of the railing.

  Standing there in the pitch back with only the light from cigarette illuminating him Carter was definitely someone to look at. The way he stood made you want to look at him even if you couldn’t see him clearly. In the light Carter looked like he had been a male model. The way he dressed and acted made you think that even more. He had this certain mystique that you couldn’t help but be curious about him.

  Even in the dark of the night when you couldn’t see him fully and could only see his shadow you still wanted to look at him. The way the flicker of the cigarette would show his eye just for a moment would mesmerize a normal human. The way he stood there quiet and readily waiting just made you more curious. If I hadn’t known who he was, and what he was pure evil, and if I hadn’t ever met Archer I knew that I would have easily fallen for Carter. Something about him would have drawn me to him like he had a magnetic force field. The difference now was his magnetic force field couldn’t draw me to him because I knew him, and I knew what he was. He was pure evil and I despised him.

  “He doesn’t want you beautiful. You go find my sister I’ll keep him occupied.” Archer said as his bow and arrow shot out from his hand.