Shards of Skye (The Skye Chronicles Book 1)

by Anna Moranski

  “You don’t understand, Maddox. I have a history with this girl and she’s more than what she seems. She’s special. I can’t leave her alone I’m sorry.” Maddox pushed his father backwards.

  “I know she’s special and has royal blood. It doesn’t matter. She’s untouchable. I will fight you on this. I won’t allow her to come to harm.” Maddox said.

  “I’m with your son. I won’t allow it either.” Buck said finally speaking up. They both looked at him shocked. Maddox knew Buck liked Skye but he never thought Buck would stand up for him or for her like this.

  “What did you both screw this girl?” he asked them.

  “Don’t talk about her like that!” Maddox yelled into his father’s face. “She’s a good person and you will leave her alone or I will fight you!”

  “You would fight me for this girl?”

  “I would fight to the death for her, yes.” Maddox answered his father without any hesitation.

  “You can’t expect to date an elf without any consequences, son.” Maddox shook his head.

  “I was stupid to think that before but I know it’s not the case. We aren’t together anymore and I know I can never have her again, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that no one is going to harm her.” Maddox waited. He knew his father was unconvinced and he knew it was only a matter of time before he struck out at him.

  “If you guys are going to talk about me then I think I have the right to put my opinion in on the matter.” Skye’s voice shocked Maddox. He looked over blown away that she was standing near them.

  “Skye get away from here now!” Maddox shouted to her. Skye looked at him with sad eyes but then focused on his father.

  “Skye, daughter of Cloud.” His father said with a smile. “I have been looking for you for a very long time.”

  “Ever since you murdered my father.” Skye said.

  “That was unfortunate.” Skye scoffed at his response.

  “Unfortunate? I lost my father and all you say…” She shook her head. “Why I thought a demon would be kind is beyond me. Demons prove themselves to be heartless.” She glanced towards Maddox when she said it.

  “My son is here defending you saying that I’m not allowed to eat you and yet you are saying he is heartless? Sounds like you don’t know your place little elf girl.” Luke sneered.

  “Look Luke, what happened between Maddox and me is private, but don’t worry it is over.” Skye looked towards Maddox. Her face was angry but her eyes screamed out in silent pain.

  Maddox knew she was putting on a brave face in front of him to hide how she felt. He wasn’t fooled though. He knew she was hurting as badly as he was inside, if not worse. Maddox would have given anything to take that pain away. He had no choice. He had done it to avoid the scene that was unfolding in front of him now.

  “Skye, would you please just go back to graduation with your friends?” Maddox said with his teeth clenched tightly.

  He was trying hard to keep control of his anger towards his father and the desire to take her into his arms to protect her, to beg for her forgiveness. He refused to break, especially when he knew his father could snap at any moment.

  Skye looked at Maddox as if he were completely insane. She had already let the thoughts of graduation go. She had her diploma. She figured she had played her part. She knew no one was there watching for her in order for her to be missed.

  “I could not care less about graduation. What I care about…” Skye broke off looking down away from Maddox. She turned to focus back on Luke. “What I care about is the fact that you killed my father because you were so wrapped up in coming after me.”

  Skye felt her blood boil in her veins. She felt hot, as if she were a volcano and she was reaching her boiling point. She looked at Luke and was shocked that she had been so afraid of him. She admitted to herself that he was a large man and could be considered scary.

  He would have been scary if she hadn’t already been around Maddox and Buck. Skye laughed suddenly. She realized she had nothing to fear. He had already taken everything from her. She had no real reason to fear him.

  Luke was amused at Skye’s sudden laughter. Maddox looked like he wanted to lock her away. He was sure she had lost her mind. Maddox started to move towards Skye. She looked at him with squinted eyes to warn him to stay put. He froze in shock at the hatred that was burning in her eyes, hatred meant for him.

  “I am at a loss here as to what is amusing you little girl. You should be afraid of me. Smart people are.” Luke said taking one step towards her.

  Maddox took another step when his father did. His eyes were trained more on his father than on Skye. Skye was annoyed at Maddox’s show of concern for her. If he had truly cared for her then he wouldn’t have broken her heart.

  “What doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger. That’s the saying right? I’ve lived in a cold dark world my entire life. I’ve suffered sure, but I’ve made it this far somewhat okay. You took my family away from me. Maddox dumped me.” Skye laughed at Luke, but it was without humor. “What can you possibly do to me that hasn’t already been done? Huh? Scare me! Please!” Skye screamed at him, taking a step in his direction.

  Luke’s gaze was completely tickled with her. He was in shock that such a small fragile looking girl could spit such venom towards him. His smile was of pure amusement at this creature in front of him.

  “I could kill you.” he said with a shrug. It almost sounded like he meant it in a pleasant way.

  Skye tilted her head to the side and looked at him. She smiled slowly and nodded slightly. She licked her lips slowly. She was amazed at how unafraid she was. Common sense told her that she should be afraid and try to leave the situation, however, common sense was not winning inside her head at that moment. Stubbornness won over.

  “Yeah. I suppose you could try that.” Skye finally responded after a long moment of silence.

  “Skye please shut up!” Maddox was shocked that he had yelled at her, but she was antagonizing his father and he knew his father’s temper. His father was not a man who liked to be challenged and even if she didn’t know it, which was exactly what she was doing.

  Skye looked to Maddox pursing her lips together in anger. She was beyond pissed that he would speak to her at all and especially in anger. He had no right to be angry with her.

  “Go to hell Maddox! You lost the chance to help me out or try to tell me what to do when you went and screwed Nancy!”

  Maddox started to walk towards her to try to shake some sense into her but his father grabbed his arm stopping him. Maddox looked at his father then back to Skye. He saw Mike walk up from behind her and put his arm around her shoulders. Maddox felt the tether that had held him in place snap. He started to charge Mike but his father’s arms wrapped around him stopping him.

  “Get your hands off of her!” Maddox snarled towards Mike.

  Everyone paused for a split second to look at Maddox in shock. His father was the only one who seemed to get over it quickly. Mike kept his arm around Skye.

  “You don’t have the right to say that to me.” Mike answered calmly.

  Skye looked at Mike and suddenly wished he hadn’t come over. She didn’t want to risk her friend’s life if Luke decided to attack.

  “Mike, its fine. You go back and hang out with the gang. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Skye said trying to sound calm, even though she was anything but that.

  “It sounded like you needed some backup. I’m not going to let that monster hurt you again.” Mike spoke to Skye while keeping his eyes trained on Maddox. Maddox was shaking in anger.

  Skye took a step in front of Mike as if she were guarding his body from the obvious tension radiating from Maddox. This only angered Maddox further.

  He broke free from his father and grabbed Skye’s arm gently, but had a firm grasp on her so she couldn’t shake him off. His eyes looked deep into hers begging her to understand what he could not say.

  Before Skye could say anything the
light that they seemed to share suddenly burst from them both and surrounded them completely. Skye gasped as the light filled every fiber of her being. Her purple light mixed with his red light once again fighting for control.

  The swirling colors surrounded them preventing anyone from entering the circle it had formed. Luke and Mike both tried to touch them but the light had formed a protective barrier between them. Mike and Luke were both speaking, but Maddox and Skye were unable to hear them at all.

  “Let me go.” Skye said feeling her resolve weaken.

  The pull towards him was stronger than before. Every inch of her wanted to touch every inch of him. His breathing was faster as he stared down at her lips.

  She shook her head knowing what he was thinking and as much as she wanted him to kiss her, she knew she couldn’t handle it. She knew she would break even more than she already had.

  He wrapped his other arm around her waist pushing her body against his. The feel of her body made his body react in a very predictable way. Skye gasped feeling his response to her. She suddenly felt breathless and was almost gasping for air.

  He slowly bent his head towards her. His eyes never left her lips. Skye started to close her eyes and give in. The pull towards him was stronger than anything she had ever felt. His lips brushed hers lightly and she closed her eyes completely.

  Instantly the image of Maddox with Nancy was in her head. She gasped pulling back quickly. Despite her body begging her to touch him she did what her brain was yelling at her to do. She punched him right in the jaw. The instant her fist connected with his jaw a black light exploded from it causing him to fall backwards releasing her.

  Skye was so shocked at what had happened she just stood looking at him on the ground. Luke grabbed Maddox helping him stand right away. Luke took a step towards Skye but Maddox grabbed him.

  “No! I deserved that.” Maddox said. His pride was hurt but he couldn’t deny he deserved worse than that.

  “What the hell was that?” Kel said. Skye turned seeing Kel standing behind Buck with wide eyes. Skye inwardly groaned. She didn’t want her friends involved in the madness that she was drowning in.

  “I’m going to kill you. My son is in love with you and you harm him? You little bitch!” Luke spat as he rushed towards Skye. Maddox threw his arms around his father struggling to keep him away from Skye.

  Time seemed to slow down for Skye. She saw Maddox’s face turn red as he struggled to keep his father away from her. She saw Kel, Buck, and Mike run to her all grabbing ahold of her to pull her away, but she felt frozen in that moment.

  She put her hand up facing Luke prepared to blast him with the light she had been taught to use when suddenly a bright yellow light surrounded her and the friends that were holding onto her.

  Skye turned her head slightly and saw her Nanna standing there with both of her hands raised towards Skye. Skye’s eyes furrowed confused as to what was happening, but before she could say a word the yellow light was so bright she couldn’t see anything anymore.

  Maddox and Luke covered their eyes during the blast but it was over quickly. Maddox ran to where Skye had been standing. No one was there. He looked to his father about to question him when he saw the woman staring at them.

  “You’re her grandmother.” Maddox said. It wasn’t a question, he felt it. She nodded.

  “I am.” She looked to Luke then back to Maddox.

  “Where is she?” Maddox asked almost ready to panic.

  “I sent her home. She doesn’t belong here anymore.” She said with a sad smile.

  “Home? She has…” Maddox paused realizing what she meant. “No.” he whispered.

  “Yes. She needs her family. She has nothing left here now and we both know what would happen now that your father knows that she exists.” She looked to Luke.

  “You know there’s more to Skye than what she even realizes.” Luke said catching Maddox’s attention.

  “What are you talking about?” Maddox asked confused.

  “I do and you know I have to protect her because of that.” Skye’s grandmother snapped her fingers and she instantly disappeared. Maddox turned to his father walking towards him quickly. He pushed his father backwards.

  “What do you know about Skye that I don’t?” Maddox yelled in his father’s face.

  “A lot.” Luke looked at his son and sighed.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Skye moaned as she fought to open her eyes. Everything had been so bright and then suddenly she felt herself lying on the ground. She finally managed to open her eyes. She felt groggy and confused. Mike was kneeling besides her holding her head in his lap. He stroked her hair gently.

  “Hey it’s okay. You’re safe.” he whispered gently to her. She blinked at him a few times before realizing he looked different somehow. His eyes were shining brightly and his skin seemed to radiate a beautiful glow.

  “What happened?” Skye looked around. She sat up slowly with Mike’s help. The land around her was beyond beautiful. The trees were vibrant in color. The grass seemed to dance with the light wind that was blowing. Even the flowers seemed more alive.

  Mike helped Skye to slowly stand and kept his arm around her waist for support. Skye looked back at Mike in astonishment at this sudden appearance change. He looked more alive, more vital somehow. He was the same guy she had always known, yet somehow he was different in a way she couldn’t explain.

  She touched his face and felt the familiar warmth come from his skin. He closed his eyes for a moment then looked deeply into hers.

  Skye knew he had feelings for her. He had even admitted them himself. This time, his eyes seemed to speak for him. The amount of love he had for her was overwhelming. Skye felt smothered in it so badly that she had to look away again.

  “Where are we?” she whispered, almost afraid to speak up. She looked back to Mike with wide eyes. “Am I dead? Did we die?” She thought it was the only logical reason that things suddenly were completely different, like Mike and their surroundings.

  “No. You’re home.” Mike said with a warm smile. Skye frowned at him even more confused. He waited patiently for it to sink in and when it did she gasped.

  “Home? As in… like… Elf land?” He had to laugh at her assessment.

  “Something like that. This is the realm where your family comes from.” Mike answered her.

  “Wait. How do you know about my family?” Skye took a step out of his arms. She eyed him suspiciously.

  “Because Skye, I’m like you.” he said.

  “Actually, he’s a lot more than that.” Kel said from behind her. She spun around surprised to see Kel and Buck standing there watching her.

  “Hold up. You know too?” Skye felt as if her whole world had been one big lie and that no one had cared to inform her of the fact.

  “Yeah. I’ve always known.” Kel said with a shrug. She apparently was the same in this realm as she was on earth.

  “Are you an elf too?” Skye asked.

  “Me? No. I’m a shape shifter.” Kel said with a smile.

  “A shape… shape shifter?” Skye felt a little dizzy.

  “Yeah. I always told you I was cool.” she laughed. “I can shift into any animal or creature that I want. Although I admit I prefer shifting into a dragon, griffon, and werewolf the most.” Kel had a huge smile on her face. Skye nodded.

  “Of course you do. Why shouldn’t you?” Skye was considering sitting back on the ground. She was beginning to wonder if anyone was just a plain old human anymore.

  “But, Mike is an elf.” Kel interrupted her thoughts. “In fact, he’s much more than that to you.” Mike tried to hush Kel but it only made her giggle.

  “Kel seriously? Can we give her time to adjust to the fact that we are more than what she knew before we just throw everything at her all at once?” Mike groaned. Skye shook her head looking at Mike.

  “No. We cannot. I have been in the dark my entire life and I refuse to be there anymore, so fess up.” Skye said putting h
er hands on her hips in a show of annoyance. Mike took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  “You and I knew each other when we were small children. We’re actually betrothed.” As soon as the words passed his lips Skye let out a nervous laugh.

  “Betrothed as in engaged?” She realized her voice sounded higher than normal but she couldn’t force herself to care.

  “Yes.” Mike said. Skye threw her arms up.

  “What the hell, Mike? We have never even dated and we are engaged?” Skye looked to Kel hoping she would tell her it was a joke, but Kel’s face said nothing of the sort. Buck was silent for once, which made Skye happy.

  “I realize that Skye. Our families arranged it before we were even born. It’s one of the reasons I tried to make you notice me before. I wanted you to love me for me and not because we were destined to be married.” Mike’s voice was full of compassion and hope.

  Skye stared at him for a long time before finally turning away from him. She couldn’t process the fact that she was technically ‘engaged’. She loved Mike but not in the way he deserved to be loved. Sadly she was still in love with Maddox. Maddox. She looked around and then looked at Buck.

  “Where’s Maddox and Luke?” Skye suddenly feared the worst. Had her Nanna killed them after she sent Skye and her friends away? Skye felt her chest tighten in fear.

  “They’re back on earth. Your grandmother sent us here to save you.” Buck said.

  “No offense Buck, but why did she send you here? You are a demon.” Skye stated the obvious.

  “I was trying to protect you and I guess she knew that. She sent us all here to as a group to protect you. I knew I had to choose whether to help Uncle Luke or protect you. You won.” He shrugged his shoulders as if it wasn’t a big decision.

  “Buck, why would you pick me over your family? Not that I’m not touched. I mean I am but…” Skye wasn’t sure what to say.