Breathless (The Breathe Series Book 1)

by Christy Johnson

  He stops, “I don’t know.” He sighs out, looking off into the distance. “We can’t stay in Rise any longer.” He goes over to the desk, picking up the book with a key illustration on the front. “This will teach her everything she needs to know. I know you fear for her greatness but you mustn’t keep her from her destiny, Les. Tell her everything.” His eyes searching hers for clarity. “Please?” He hands the book to her. She takes it slowly with tears in her eyes. “I have to draw them away from this realm. Pack up, grab Nora and go to Abenaki. You will be safe there.” He opens his locked safe and hands her a small briefcase filled with allowance bits. “This should hold you over for a while. Find the smallest cabin you can and live out a mediocre life. Be happy.”

  “But what am I?–”

  “You have to go on for our child’s sake. Now, go pack!” He yells. She turns from him, running up the stairs to Nora’s room.

  “Nora, wake up, baby. We have to go now.” Her voice shaking. Nora winces at the light being turned on by her mother. She sits up in the bed with her teddy tight within her clutch. Her mother rushes over to her. “Nora, get up, we have to go.” Leslie walks over to Nora’s closest, opening the glass door and pulling out a long white dress. “Here put this on.”

  “Where are we going, mommy?” Her smalls brown eyes squinting at her mother.

  “We just need to take a last minute trip.” Leslie lies. Nora slips into the dress, clutching her bear back to her chest. She follows her mother to her room as she changes into black pants, black shirt and slips on her small running shoes. “Okay, let’s go.”

  “I forgot my shoes.” Nora says trying to go back to her room to get them.

  “We’ll buy new ones, okay sweetie?” She nods compliantly as they both scurry downstairs.

  Alex bends down to face Nora. “Hey, daddy’s sweet girl. You will have to go away for a while with mommy.”

  “Where are you going to go?”

  “I just have to go on a business trip with my boss, okay?” He grins trying to mask the tears that were forming in his eyes. “Come here.” He pulls her in close, hugging her.

  “ALEX!” Luke exclaims through the door.

  “Dammit, they’re here.”

  “What are we going to do now?” Leslie panics, gripping Nora to her chest.

  “Stay calm. I will protect you. Follow me.” Leslie picks Nora up as Alex pulls them both into the bathroom with him. “I’ll open the portal making them think you two are already gone.”

  He turns to face the mirror, reading the words on the key symbol embedded into the sink vanity: Symbol of spiritual reflection, I come to you for my protection. Lead the way, give me a sign. Show me what I need to find. The mirror shifts open, allowing wind to pass through to this realm. “Hide under the stairwell, I will cloak it so they won’t be able to hear you or see you.” Alex yells to them over the wind.

  They all run back downstairs. Leslie and Nora hide under the stairs as Alex lifts his hands then slowly pulling them down, cloaking the stairs, “I’ll meet you again in the next lifetime, my love.” He smiles at Leslie.

  “I love you!” She shouts out to him.

  “And I, you.” The cloak masks Leslie and Nora from Alex but doesn’t mask Alex from them. They both watch in fear as Luke enters the home.

  “I’ve been waiting lifetimes for this day.” Luke grimaces.

  “What do you want, Luke?” Alex turns to face him. “I could have you banished for breaking and entering.”

  “Except you’re forgetting one thing—I run this world.” He grins mockingly. Alex doesn’t respond, he just watches Luke waddle his way further into his home.

  “Let’s get this over with, shall we?” Alex says, ready to slay Luke, but he knew better. Luke more powerful than he.

  “Cover your eyes, Nora.” Leslie whispers to her but Nora widens her eyes trying telepathically to save him. “Nora!”

  Luke flicks his left hand once and Alex flies backwards into the wall, grunting from the blow but he wasn’t ready to give up. He stands, facing Luke once more. Luke holds up his left hand again forming a fireball in the palm of it and throwing at Alex but he levitates into the air, escaping his demise. “Mm, good. For once, you fight back and not run.” Luke teases.

  Alex comes in with full force, feeling the burn in his veins, the boil in the pit of his stomach as he unleashes his hatred for the stubby man. Lightning oozes from his hands as he points them at Luke, knocking him backwards but Alex’s powers weren’t strong enough to destroy him. Luke collides with Alex, releasing fire splitting Alex’s power of electrical matter. The fire makes its way to him, wounding him, causing him to meet the ground. Luke waddles over to him, looking down at him but Alex’s eyes drift over to the stairwell as he knew what would happen to him next.

  “Nice knowing you, Alex but your time has come.” He waves one hand over Alex’s body, releasing death onto him. Nora and Leslie watch helplessly as he squirms, trying to fight death but knowing that he was on the losing side. He smirks at his small family, praying his last prayer for them. He breathes his last breath, releasing his powers and entering the next realm.

  “May we meet again.” Leslie sobs out, clutching the book to her chest. Nora couldn’t speak or look away. She didn’t cry out as a normal child would when a parent dies; she just sits in silence—defecating. Leslie turns to her, “I’m so sorry, my love.” She whispers, “but I have to do this.” She cracks open the book, allowing it to shine in the tight space between them and without regret, she uses Nora’s magic against her, causing her to forget the events that had just played out before them, “oblitus.” Leslie waves her hand over Nora’s forehead. “Just forget.” She weeps as Nora falls into a deep slumber.

  *****

  PRESENT

  “What are you doing here?” I ask as I yank him into the room. I check the hallway in both directions, looking for anyone who may witness this intrusion. I slam the door and lean back on it. “Why are you here!?” I scold him.

  “I wanted it to be how it used to be. I wanted to make your birthday, um,” his eyes drift down to my open robe, “special.” I gasp. My bra and panties were on display. I snatch the ends of the robe and snap them shut around my body. He clears his throat and turns away from me.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come.” He says rushing over towards me but I could see in his eyes, he didn’t want to leave. He comes in close to me trying to reach for the door knob behind me. My breathing excavates as I feel his breath on my forehead. I couldn’t let him leave. He grimaces, almost as if he was in pain.

  “Well, aren’t you going to let me leave?” He looks down at me with sweet passion in his eyes, interrupting my thoughts of his facial expression.

  “I can’t.” I whisper unwillingly, conflicted with emotion. He comes in closer to me, brushing his lips against mine. I close my eyes, fighting the urge to kiss him—make love to him. He grabs my waist and pulls me in closer. Our bodies pressed together causing an emotional explosion. I feel a sense of security sweep over me—

  “What are you doing here!?” I nudge him away from me, breaking my thoughts of wanting him. He grunts.

  “I already told you, Nora.” He clenches his jaw and moves his face in closer to mine, almost kissing me again.

  “Was it your plan to seduce me? What is this?” I ease my way from under him, moving away from the door, pretending as if I didn’t just enjoy his breath gracing my forehead and his soft lips tag teaming mine.

  “What? No!” His face tenses as he turns to face me again. “I came to tell you that I never meant to hurt you–”

  “But you did, and it is over, Riley. I can’t put myself through another heartbreak because of you.” I interject. “Devin’s on his way over so–”

  “Are you two really serious?”

  “How is that any of your business?” I roll my eyes, turning from him to walk into my bedroom and he follows in after me. I pick up the package sent over to me.

  “What’s t
hat?” He ignores my question.

  “I don’t know.” I tear open the package.

  “Nora just be careful.”

  “With what?” I was almost 100% sure that he wasn’t talking about the package.

  “The—the package. I wouldn’t want you to get a cut.” He looks down away from me. I feel an uneasy feeling swarm in like those meticulous butterflies I feel every time I’m around him.

  “Um, okay, thanks but I’m fine. Really.” I snap.

  “Okay.” He whispers as I continue ripping open the package, opening the box to see two dozen black roses. My facial expression deepens. There was a small note that stated: To someone who is very special to me. Happy birthday. You deserve everything. I notice a small gold box right next to the note so I pull it out from the bigger box. I open it to find a small chained, Rose Pyrrptase. A necklace that would complement me well. I gape at its beauty.

  “Nora, who sent this to you?” Riley asks with suspicion.

  “This is really none of your business, Riley.” I say, picking up tattered pieces of paper from the bed and floor.

  “Who would send you black roses!? I mean, yea sure, red or pink but black? Nora, you cannot be that infatuated with him! Open your eyes!” He doesn’t mask his frustration.

  “Look! I don’t walk into your home and ask you questions about who you deal with and who you don’t. I just wish you would just stay–” I stop myself before I could damage him but it was already too late.

  “Stay out of your what, Nora?”

  “Nothing, Riley! Just nothing.”

  “Stay out of your life? You want me gone? If so, say it! Just say it!” He screams. I could see the tears forming.

  “Fine! Leave, go! That’s what you’re good at, anyway! You’re always leaving me behind when things get too hard so by all means, don’t break tradition now! Yes, I love you, alright? I love you! I always have and sadly, I always will.” I weep and cover my face so that he wouldn’t see me breaking.

  “Nora, I’m–”

  “I don’t need your damn apology!” I snap my head back up at him, lashing out.

  He comes over to me trying to console me. “Nora. Just breathe. I’m sorry. I love–”

  He reaches out to me again and I lurch away from him, leaving him to wallow in his own mess. “No! Don’t you dare say it! Don’t you dare say you love me. You lost that privilege a long time ago.”

  “I never ever meant to hurt you.” His voice still soft and sweet. I plant my knees into the floor, distracting myself from the argument. I continue to pick up the loose pieces of paper from the floor. “Did you hear me? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”

  “That’s what you always say but you always end up hurting me still and I always believe that you will change and not break me again but you always do.”

  “Well,” He sniffles, “I guess I’ll just go then. I just really wish you understood why it had to be this way.” He leaves the roses by my knees that are still planted into the floor. He walks away, leaving me to welter. I don’t look to him and I don’t stop him either.

  “Goodbye Nora.” He whispers before exiting.

  He slams the door behind him. As he stands by the door, he lifts his shirt to notice the skulls shading more of his butterfly. He was inches away from death. He throws his head back onto the door, “Crap!” and walks away.

  *****

  Mairi walks into the room, “Hey, Nor.” She doesn’t notice the puffiness in my eyes.

  “Hey.” I say, not really wanting to talk. I walk over to my closet and pull out a black, silky dress.

  “Happy birthday, by the way.” She says happily and plops down on my bed.

  “Thanks.” I say with no spunk. I pucker up my lips, looking into the mirror as I apply burgundy hourglass lipstick.

  “Are you okay?” She asks.

  “Yea, why wouldn’t I be?” I never look at her. I just continue to add blush to my cheeks and mascara to my eyelashes. I sweep the curls from the front of my face.

  “Okay?” She gets up and walks over to her side of the room. She sits on her bed and pulls her laptop out from under her pillow. She slips her wireless earbuds into her ears and I hear her music play. She rocks her head from side to side to the beat of the music.

  I put my makeup back into the bag and slip into the sexy black dress. I smooth it out, admiring my curves in the dress. I fluff my hair out and swoop it around to one side, slipping on a pair of burgundy heels to match the dark lipstick. I grab my trench coat and head out of the door where Devin was waiting for me outside.

  “Hey baby!” He says, getting out of the car, jogging over the passenger to open the door for me. He never allows the door to open itself for me.

  “Hey babe.” I fake a smile.

  “Happy birthday! Where’s your Rose Pyrrptase?” He asks, noticing my bear neck. I reach up to feel my bare collar bone.

  “Oh, um, I must have forgotten it back inside. One second, I’ll run up and get up.”

  “Okay.”

  I walk as swiftly as I could in my 4 inch heels. The elevator had a long line waiting in front of it so I make the worse decision to hike up the stairs all the way to the sixth floor.

  The stainless steel door glides open with ease. Click, click, click—I grab the stair railing and pull my heels off and jolt upstairs as I hold them in my right hand. I make it to the top of the stairs, panting as I walk down the hall to my room. As I get closer to the door, I hear whispers and giggles but there was no way Mairi could have slipped someone into the room that quickly. I slowly push the key into the key hole, carefully turning the lock to unlock the door. A small click initiates that the door was safe to open. The giggles turn into boisterous laughter, followed by sweet mumbles from my bedroom. I could hear Mairi’s voice through the door but no one else’s. I press my ear up against it, trying to chime in on the conversation she was either having with someone or herself but I couldn’t make out a thing she was saying. It seemed as if she was speaking in a totally different language. I grab the doorknob, turning it gently and cracking the door open. I gasp with concern at the magic twirling before my eyes. I watch her flip her hair back over her shoulder, closing her eyes while doing it. The other part of her laughs indigenously, encouraging her to mock me again. I peek around to see the other half of her sitting on the bed eyeing herself. There were two of her standing there. She’s literally speaking to herself! I swing the door wide open and gape at her in fear of what she is. She sits on the bed, still listening to music, pretending as if she wasn’t just split into two beings. She must have meshed back into one person before I could witness her magic. What are you? I open my mouth to say but nothing escapes my lips.

  “Whoa!” She says, “surprised” to see me. She snatches her earbuds out of her ears.

  “What the hell?” I say.

  “Nora.” She pants out. “What’s wrong?” She asks, standing to face me.

  This isn’t real. This isn’t real. I close my eyes, fearing that I was really going insane.

  “Did I really just see that?” I ask her, desperate for her response of yes.

  “See what?” She asks using my half diagnosis of schizophrenia to her advantage. My face pales.

  “Are you okay?” She stands and comes over to me, touching my arm.

  “I could have sworn I had just seen you–”

  “Seen me what?” Her face contorts. “I’m worried about you.” She plops back down on her bed, placing her laptop back onto her lap.

  “Don’t be.” I breathe out. “Don’t be. I’m just here to get my, uh, necklace.” I walk over to my dresser to grab the gold box. She stares at me with concern. “I’ll see you later.” I walk out of the room before she could call anyone and explain how insane I have gone.

  It’s getting worse. Devin opens the door for me and I slip into the car. He asks none questions; he just walks around to the driver’s side, hopping into the car, driving us away.

  *****

  His intention, I t
hought, was to take me to dinner. Instead, we end up at his house. He rushes over to open my door before I could pull it open myself. He grabs my hand and I step out of the car.

  “I thought we were going out to dinner?” I ask him.

  “I have something else special in mind.” He winks at me. I smile but still concerned if I had seen Mairi double or not. “Come on.” He smirks, taking me by the hand, leading me into the house.

  The candlelight burn into my retinas. I gaze into Devin’s eyes astonished by this surprise. The room filled with an aroma so sweet, it hypnotizes my being. I stagger backwards, almost falling flat onto my back but he places his hand into the small of it in time before I could fall onto the floor. My heart thumps against the inside of my rib cage. “You okay?” He asks sweetly. I nod in acquiescence, still amazed at the surprise.

  The table's covered with red and black rose petals and candles. A “Happy Birthday” banner hung over couch in the living area. Gold balloons offset the rose petals that were scattered all over the floor.

  “Happy birthday baby.” He says as he bites his bottom lip.

  “Thank you!” I reach over to hug him.

  “You’re welcome babe. How about you go freshen up for dinner? Mmm?” He says pulling me away from him.

  “Okay.” I bite my lip and turn away from him, heading into his bedroom. I place my clutch bag onto the bed and slip my heels off just to get comfortable. I walk into the bathroom to wash my hands and to wipe away the grubby makeup from around my lips and eyes but I couldn’t look into the mirror; a part of me feared what would happen if I did.

  I squint at the counter space that had something dark under a basket, something I hadn’t noticed before. I dry my hands on the towel and remove everything from the top of the counter. “What is this?” I ask myself. A figure so similar to my tattoo rested under that basket of towels. The key looked just like the key on the book I had found in my mother’s office. Unlike mine on my wrist, it is finished, too, with that same crown as the handle. I run my fingers over the illustration, leaning in closer to see the words written on it.

  Symbol of spiritual reflection, I come to you for my protection. Lead the way, give me a sign. Show me what I need to find.