by Taylor Leigh
She took a shaky step off the dock. The boat rocked and she fell into his arms. She looked up at him, trembling.
‘Not so bad, is it?’
Andrew untied the small craft and it darted away from the dock and out onto the vastness of the black lake.
After a long moment he turned to her. ‘To be honest, the fact that this is your last night is only part of the reason I brought you out here.’ He picked up on their earlier conversation as if they’d never broken off.
‘Oh?’ Now, why wasn’t she surprised?
‘Yes, I didn’t want eavesdroppers hearing what I’m about to say. This seemed to be the most private place.’
Victoria felt her stomach squirm. ‘Okay, what is it?’
Andrew studied her a moment in the red light, probably making note of the fact she’d been crying, hadn’t slept and how many cups of tea she’d had since they parted.
‘I’ve never had friends, Victoria. I’m sure that’s rather obvious to you. Never had much need for them. Relationships just slow me down, make my work harder. I’ve never cared for it, or anyone. For that matter. As you know, I see the world in a detached way. That’s what makes me so confused about you.’
Victoria bit her lip. ‘Why? What is it about me?’
He leant closer, frowning. The boat bobbed. ‘I’m not sure. I have just grown to…I am not sure if care is the right word, but you are important to me. You inspire me to be brilliant, unlike anyone else. I want to impress you and it makes me work even harder. You are a reason for me to want to do good things, and when I talk to you I feel like you illuminate my mind.’
Victoria stared at him in disbelief. ‘Wow. I can honestly say I was not expecting that. You actually think that I make you smarter?’
Andrew grinned slightly. ‘Don’t flatter yourself—don’t take that the wrong way,’ he said, once she started to protest. ‘You’re no different than the rest of the world when it comes to my intelligence. I’m just better. It’s just the fact that while the rest of the world irritates me with their questions and problems, you inspire me. And I’m not sure why.’
Victoria brushed sand from her palms. ‘Well, thanks, I think.’
He frowned, giving her a look. ‘When I let you go, at the keep, when we’d parted, the moment I did, I realised what a mistake I’d made, even though I know it could not have been any other way. It’s not one I want to make again. I need you around. Everyone else around here, they…they don’t understand. I know you don’t understand either but the others…they hate me for it. They hate me because they don’t understand me…you…you’ve never been that way. I need you because of how you inspire me.’ He clenched his teeth. ‘And for the life of me, I can’t seem to control my emotions around you. The passions I feel…I’m so torn and I don’t understand it. I almost…panic when you’re not around.’ He huffed his breath, emotions already shifting back to his normal, cold state. ‘I sound like I’m an obsessive, controlling monster. Perhaps I am.’
She didn’t know what to say. There were times when she hated him. Times she wanted to strangle him and times she just wanted to leave him in his misery, but she always came back. For this bloody reason she always came back, because Andrew always said something that caused her to give in all over again. She was rather sure that most of the time it was in genuine manipulation, but this conversation felt different. It felt sincere.
She spoke slowly. ‘Are you…trying to say you don’t want me to leave?’
Andrew glanced away, mulling it over. ‘No,’ he said at last. ‘I’m not going to stop that from happening. You need to go back. I realise that. You have a duty and as hard as I find it to believe, people there need you. I’m just letting you know that I’m not happy about it.’
Victoria frowned. Part of her wanted to be angry. Leaving Andrew knowing he didn’t care was one thing. Disappointing, yes, but something she could deal with. Leaving Andrew knowing that he wanted her to stay would be much harder. It was rather selfish of him once she thought about it. ‘Well, thanks for making me feel guilty,’ she grumped.
He raised his eyebrows, again a hidden smile appearing on his lips. ‘I thought that confessions like this were what normal people like. Am I wrong?’
Victoria groaned and tilted her head back, looking up at the looming planet. ‘No,’ she sighed. ‘It just makes things more difficult.’
He chuckled. ‘Yes, I suppose it does. Do you want me to tell you I am just making all of this nonsense up?’
‘No. I was just thinking we were going to have a proper snog in front of the fireplace.’
He shrugged. ‘Well, we can do that as well, I suppose.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘Moment’s ruined, sorry.’ She leant forward and kissed him on the forehead. ‘Thanks for telling me, Andrew. It was the most romantic thing anybody has ever said to me.’
‘Not sure if that was my intention.’
Victoria studied his face. He was tired, weak. Agonisingly wonderful. Victoria wasn’t sure if she’d be able to go on without him either.
‘Are you still nervous to be this close to the water, or is something else bothering you?’ Andrew said, startling Victoria.
‘When I leave, will you forget me, Andrew?’ Was all she could say.
‘Hmm,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘How do I best express that in your terms?’ He leant in and kissed her. It was a real kiss, a deep kiss; with more longing and emotion behind it Victoria had thought he was capable of expressing. Perhaps it was an act; perhaps it wasn’t. With him, it was impossible to say. At the moment, she didn’t really care. She closed her eyes, feeling the boat bob beneath her and the sweet pull of his lips against hers. And for once, she let all of her worries of the days ahead drift away.
* * * * *
‘Right, all set then!’ Tollin cried triumphantly as he tightened another basket of stoneflowers to the base of a bobbing, floating pod. They were back at Watcher’s Keep, at the top of the tallest tower, and it was the night of the Passing. They had spent the day packing, gathering stoneflowers and the floating pods, and then finally travelling to the keep. The hours had passed much too quickly for anything besides work and she’d seen little of her friends.
It had been a subdued day for Victoria. Leaving Scottorr was something she’d come to accept. After her night with Andrew she felt more at peace with the decision, but she still wasn’t happy about it. Thedric and Andrew had decided to accompany them to the keep instead of saying their goodbyes at the village and Victoria was happy to have them along.
On the ride to their destination they had run into a small group of Druids whom were working together with a few Blaiden, teaching them to gather herbs. Victoria hadn’t seen Flynn, but she hadn’t really expected to. Wherever he was, she wished him the best.
‘How much time do we have?’ She tied a knot tighter round another basket of stoneflowers and cast a look over her shoulder at Tollin.
He studied his timepiece, then looked at the sky, which was shining brilliantly with white light, then licked his finger and held it out into the wind. ‘Uh, about five minutes, I’d say.’
Victoria felt a rush roll through her. The time always passed too soon!
‘Right,’ Thedric said awkwardly. ‘Guess that means we better say goodbye and get below before the pull happens, then.’
Victoria swallowed. ‘Guess so.’
Thedric trotted towards her and looked down his hooked nose. ‘Goodbye!’ he said in a happy sing-song voice. He enveloped Victoria in a great bear hug and Victoria gave him a happy squeeze as her feet left the ground. ‘It’s been great,’ he said, smiling. ‘Glad I didn’t kill you!’
‘Me too,’ Victoria smiled then stood on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. ‘Goodbye, Thedric. You’ve been a great friend. I won’t forget you.’
He smiled again, a great, goofy grin. He shook Tollin’s hand, was encircled in a hug, and then walked towards the sheltered room that housed the stairs leading back down the tower. He gave a wave
and then disappeared into the shadows.
Victoria turned to look at Andrew. He stood several paces away, looking rather aloof and clasping a book in one pale hand. She walked over to him and took his free hand. She tried to memorise his face, from his dramatic cheekbones, short blond hair, rounded nose and gentle lips. Everything about him, she decided, was beautiful.
‘I don’t do goodbyes. I don’t care for them. Don’t see the point.’ Still, he did not look at her.
‘I figured.’ Victoria nodded.
Andrew turned and gazed down at her, sharp eyes boring into her. ‘For you, I suppose I’ll make an exception.’
‘I’m honoured.’
Andrew pushed the book he was holding into her hands. ‘This is for you. A compendium of sorts on the history and several aspects of Scottorr. I believe it would make a valuable addition to any works you have on our planet and will perhaps offer some insight that the scholars on your world do not understand.’
Victoria smiled. ‘Thank you.’ She decided not to mention that when it came to Scrabia, scholars were about as rare as water.
She began flipping through the book. It was all written in Andrew’s hand. Detailed sketches covered pages with explanatory notes scratched in every blank space. She saw the keep, the village, the ocean all beautifully drawn. Then she came to the back. There were portraits there. One of Thedric, one of Molly, Flynn, the Blaiden and the last, hastily drawn and not nearly as detailed as the rest, of Andrew himself. She rested her fingers on the last page and stared down at the artwork, breathless. ‘It’s beautiful.’
He nodded. ‘I hope it’s helpful to you.’
‘I’ll treasure it.’
‘Just let others learn from it.’
She nodded. ‘Of course. Thank you!’ She threw her arms round Andrew. He froze like a stone and then slowly put his arms round her. It was not what Victoria would call a warm, affectionate hug, but being in his arms was a strange, wonderful feeling. It ended too quickly.
Tears started to well in her eyes. ‘Now, take care of yourself. Remember to keep drinking that potion Molly created for you. I have to know you’re staying healthy.’
His lips twitched.
‘Uh, Victoria,’ Tollin muttered. ‘I hate to break up your goodbye, but we’ve got to go.’ He reached out his hand, fingers extended, for Victoria to take hold of. She became aware of the noise of Scrabia above her; she could actually hear it pulling closer.
Andrew stepped back into the safety of the building that housed the stairs. Victoria hesitantly took Tollin’s extended fingers in her own and stepped closer to him. She turned and looked back at Andrew.
‘Safe travel, both of you,’ Andrew said.
Victoria felt torn. Never seeing Andrew again was suddenly a prospect she didn’t think she would be able to handle. Suddenly, Tollin’s words echoed through her mind: no-one ever said anything about you having to go alone.
‘Come with us!’ she cried.
Andrew raised his eyebrows. The noise of the planet rotating closer was growing louder, it wouldn’t be long now.
Victoria smiled. ‘This could be the start of a planetary exchange programme! We could work on building a relationship between these two worlds, and I can’t think of a better Scottorrian ambassador than you!’ Not entirely true, Andrew being the most arrogant, impertinent man she’d ever met, but he was smart, which was something Scrabia seemed to desperately lack.
Andrew seemed to debate this internally for a moment. He shifted uncomfortably. ‘Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve been offered a visit to Academia—’
Victoria rolled her eyes. ‘Oh, wouldn’t you rather experience places for once, instead of always reading about them? Besides, you could revise your Scrabian book; you could make it better. See things for yourself!’ Victoria stared at him. ‘You could point out all the stuff I got wrong.’
‘Oh, here we go!’ Tollin cried, feet starting to leave the ground, like he was floating in water. The seed pods were already up in the air, spiralling towards the red planet.
Victoria stretched out her hand to Andrew. ‘C’mon, what a difference you could make, Andrew!’
Andrew glanced back towards the safety of the inside of the tower, then turned back to Victoria. ‘It’s completely impractical,’ he sighed.
Victoria felt herself getting lighter; she felt a rising panic inside of her. He wasn’t coming!
Suddenly, Andrew broke into a run and grabbed Victoria’s hand. ‘But I’ve never really been able to pass up a chance to learn new things!’
Victoria laughed in wild relief as the three of them left the ground.
Tollin looked down. ‘Welcome aboard, Andrew! Oh, the difference you could make on Scrabia! You’ll love it! Hang on!’
They spiralled upwards, away from the green earth, leaving Thedric’s shouting behind them. Up towards the red world they flew, and with both of her hands grasping each of her friends’, Victoria couldn’t help but feel hope rising within her, that perhaps returning to Scrabia wouldn’t be so horrible after all.
How could they not? They were flying into the Light.
About the Author
Taylor Leigh is a geeky Greek girl who's been in love with writing ever since she learned how to. She’s loved stories and books her entire life and is happy she gets to spend every day with them, since she work at a library. She loves all things science fiction and fantasy and sees a great need to put it in all she writes. Writing is one of the things in life that brings her the greatest joy and she love hearing what other people have to say about it. Please visit her on TaylorLeighWrites.blogspot.com, where you can find more about her books and other ways to contact her.