by Anne, Melody
“You can’t go on your own,” Cassidy warned. “He’s too powerful, Jayden.”
“I have to. We can’t all leave — everyone here will be left unprotected,” Jayden said.
“You can’t just disappear, Jayden. Phoenix can’t handle that,” John said. Jayden knew John was right, but he couldn’t protect her unless he stopped Vyco. If he could be stopped, the war would end. The humans would have their lives back. She’d never let him leave if he told her the truth about where he was going. She’d beg him to stay and he couldn’t deny her anything she wanted.
“It’s the only way,” Jayden trailed off. Cassidy looked miserable, but she knew she couldn’t stop Jayden from going. John looked determined. He’d go to the ends of the world to protect Phoenix, and Jayden knew it. He’d already sacrificed his soul to keep her safe — he’d sacrifice his eternity too.
“You can’t disappear without a goodbye. She’d never trust anybody again,” John said. Jayden nodded. John was right. He couldn’t sneak off into the night without a word. But it would be the hardest goodbye of his life.
“What if we just leave here? The four of us can go away,” Cassidy said in a last-ditch effort to keep Jayden from leaving.
“You know that can’t happen. For one thing, Phoenix would never leave her family, and that includes Sadie. For another, we can’t leave them all helpless. Plus, Vyco would find us, you know that. There’s no hiding from him,” Jayden said. He pulled Cassidy close for a farewell embrace.
They’d been apart for so much time already, and it had been entirely his fault. He’d been foolish, but he wouldn’t be any longer. He’d make everything right, even if he died trying.
“You have to keep them safe. I promise to do everything in my power to return, but you have to promise to keep them safe,” Jayden said to John. He released Cassidy and put his hand against John’s heart, sealing their promise with an oath.
“You know I will. Nothing will get through me,” John said. He physically wouldn’t be able to handle the pain if anything happened to any of those he loved. He’d changed in so many ways since he’d turned. He felt the power beneath the surface and like Josiah had said, it was difficult to control, especially when he got upset. But his love for his family and for Cassidy kept him firmly planted on the ground.
“Thank you,” Jayden said. “I have to get back to her. I need to hold her — I don’t know how I’m going to say goodbye,” Jayden said. His pain-filled voice cut Cassidy to her very soul. Tears silently fell as John pulled her to his side. Jayden couldn’t stand there any longer. He turned from them and made his way back to Phoenix’s side.
He needed to put a lifetime of love into a few hours. He feared when he left he’d never see her again — never know the joy of holding her in his arms through another night. He couldn’t think about it or he’d never be able to go.
“Jayden,” Phoenix called as he stepped through the door. Her innocent beauty took his breath away.
“I love you,” he whispered and her teary smile lifted.
“I love you too. It was just a nightmare — a very, very bad nightmare, but just a nightmare. I’m sorry for all the worry I caused.”
“You’re worth any amount of worry,” he said, sitting next to her.
“I’ll let you two be together. If you need me, I’ll be here in a heartbeat,” Sadie said. She gave Phoenix one more hug, both of them reassured by the simple touch.
“I love you, Sadie. I’m sorry for waking you,” Phoenix told her, feeling foolish for the midnight drama.
“I would’ve come unglued if I’d had a nightmare about losing you,” Sadie reassured her, then turned and walked out before they started clinging to each other again. Phoenix’s mind flooded with fear again for her best friend as soon as Sadie left the room, but Jayden quickly pulled her close, calming the tide.
Phoenix hadn’t told Sadie exactly what had happened. It was too real, too vivid, and too unthinkable — she didn’t want to scare her friend. She felt a weight lift from her chest as she repeated the nightmare to Jayden, feeling comfort in his strong arms.
She didn’t see his eyes glow with anger. She didn’t notice the determined glint in them. Finally, exhaustion overtook her, but Jayden continued to lie awake, knowing what he must do. He wouldn’t get any rest for a very long time.
He’d thought nothing would get him to leave Phoenix’s side, but the thought of losing her to eternal darkness was unbearable. He prayed he’d come back to her, but if he died to save her, it was a sacrifice he was more than willing to make.
That was love; that was sacrifice. That had been what Josiah had tried to teach him. He hadn’t known it truly existed until he’d experienced it. He’d do whatever it took, and pray Phoenix would forgive him.
Chapter Thirteen
“Phoenix, I have to leave for a while,” Jayden said as they strolled along a tree-lined path in the dark of night. Phoenix looked at the beautiful, clear night and a ripple of fear permeated her body. She knew the nightmare had been nothing more than a dream, but being surrounded by the trees opened the floodgates of emotion from that dreadful dream.
“What do you mean, you have to leave?” Phoenix asked, stopping to look at him.
“There’s some business I have to take care of,” he told her vaguely.
“How long will you be gone?” she asked, almost in a panic.
“I’m not sure yet. It may be a while, which is why I had to talk to you. I’m leaving today,” he said. Phoenix’s eyes filled with tears. Was he going back to his previous life? Did he no longer want to be with her?
“Okay,” she mumbled, not feeling she had the right to try to stop him.
“Phoenix, this is something I must do. You may need to move on,” he told her. His words ripped her heart in half. She’d always thought he was too good to be true.
Jayden felt as if his very soul was being torn from his body. He didn’t want her hanging onto him while he was gone; if for some reason he couldn’t return to her, he needed her to move on . . . to live a good life. He couldn’t leave her holding on to his memory, never having the chance to find love again. Though the thought of her with another man was unbearable, it was preferable to her spending a lifetime alone, wondering why he’d never returned.
“Don’t go,” she softly whispered. She had no idea how those simple words sent pain coursing through his heart.
“I have to. I can’t explain it right now, but it’s for the best. You’ll be fine. You have John, your parents, Sadie, and so many others who depend on you,” Jayden said. He couldn’t bring himself to be cruel, though in truth it would probably be kinder.
“I love you,” she said, her throat so thick with tears she could barely speak. He lifted her chin, grasping it in his hand as he brought his other hand forward to gently wipe her tears.
“You’ve changed me in ways I can’t even begin to explain. Know that everything I’ve done from the moment I met you has always been in your best interest. I know John will protect you while I’m gone, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to leave your side,” he said, knowing he had to pull away, but struggling fiercely to do so.
“I need you, though. I don’t need you to battle the world,” she said, trying one last time to keep him with her. She looked into his eyes and knew he was going.
Jayden kissed her, starting softly, then quickly clutching her close and devouring her mouth. He wanted to show her every emotion he felt for her through his kiss. He wanted to possess her . . . mind, body, and soul. His hands wove through her long tresses, tilting her mouth, opening it for him to explore. Greedily, she accepted his advances.
He pressed tightly against her, feeling his body stir to life as she clung to him, whimpering her approval of his touch. It would be so easy for him to take her somewhere private and truly make her his, but he knew she’d regret it. He couldn’t do that to her. He slowly pulled back and nearly lost his resolve when she protested.
As he put more distance between them, his body shook from the effort it took to resist her. He smiled, thinking she was more powerful than any being he’d ever encountered. One small mortal was enough to bring him intense joy or excruciating pain.
“Please return to me,” she begged.
He didn’t say anything more. He couldn’t continue to make false promises. He walked her to the cave’s entrance where John waited. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, then disappeared as her eyes briefly closed.
Phoenix gazed into the darkness of the night, partially blinded by tears filling her eyes and freely falling down her cheeks. Her body shook with an intense heartache as she watched for Jayden to come back to her. Pain . . . horrible, unbearable agony coursed through her. She stumbled forward, wanting to find him, needing him to return. He’d promised to never abandon her, and yet he was gone in a flash.
“We need to go in,” John whispered as he placed an arm around her shoulders. She tried to push him away, and realizing she wouldn’t come with him willingly, he quickly swept her up in his arms. She pounded on his chest for a moment before she realized it was useless and slumped against him, defeated.
John said nothing as he carried her to her room. Sadie was waiting and immediately curled up in bed with her. Phoenix’s tears dried as she went into a bit of a daze while Sadie rubbed her back and repeated that everything would be okay. Phoenix didn’t believe her . . . she didn’t believe promises anymore. Finally, exhaustion won out, and blessed oblivion claimed her.
Chapter Fourteen
Phoenix smiled in her sleep while dreaming of walking through a meadow abloom with brilliant colored wildflowers. She was wearing her mother’s wedding gown, the train billowing behind her as the wind sifted through her hair.
Jayden was standing under a trellis covered in vines, smiling as she slowly approached, her arm woven through her father’s. She looked to Jayden’s side, seeing Sadie, her eyes shining with unshed tears. It was a perfect summer morning, a wonderful day to be wed.
As she continued down the dirt path, she heard a rumbling in the woods. She tried to ignore it, but as she neared Jayden, it became deafeningly loud. She looked to him in confusion, but no one else seemed to notice anything was off.
Reaching Jayden, her father released her hand to his. Jayden looked into her eyes when suddenly the trees fell and thousands of soldiers broke through the edge of the forest. None of the refugees noticed them approaching. Their gunfire rang out and then Jayden’s shirt instantly turned scarlet as bullets pierced his chest.
He kept looking at her as if nothing was wrong while he dropped to his knees. Phoenix fell next to him. He tumbled backward with a secret smile on his face. She applied pressure to the open wounds on his chest, trying to stop the bleeding, but it continued to flow through her fingers. She watched as the light left his eyes, nothing but emptiness staring back at her. She screamed in anguish, begging her family and friends to help, but they stood with the same smiling, serene looks on their faces as if nothing was wrong. They were covered with blood as bullets tore into them. One by one, they dropped to the cold, hard ground.
She watched in horror as the earth swallowed each of them, their bodies disappearing into the ground. Jayden slipped from her grasp, disappearing with the rest of them. She clung to him, but the earth was greedy in its need for every last victim. She clung tight, but soon realized she was holding nothing but air. She screamed again . . .
Phoenix shot up in bed, drenched in sweat. Her chest was heaving as she struggled to get air into her lungs. She didn’t try to stop the tears that fell, dripping off her chin. How would she manage without him?
Jayden had been gone for a month. Thirty days had never seemed so long, but it felt as if it had been years since she’d last touched his beautiful face, felt his lips caress her own, and fallen asleep in the comfort of his arms. Her heart ached for him and her loss was as overwhelming as the day he’d left.
Phoenix refused to stay in her room overshadowed with depressing thoughts, even though it was too early for anyone else to be up. She quickly threw on the first clothes she could find, opened her door, and made a beeline for Sadie. She walked into Sadie’s room, climbed in her bed, and shook her until she reluctantly woke up.
“What’s wrong?” Sadie asked, immediately sitting up.
“Just a bad night,” Phoenix said. Sadie kept silent as she waited for Phoenix to talk, sleep, or just gather her thoughts. They’d been together for so long and knew each other so well that communication came in a variety of forms.
Neither of them spoke for about fifteen minutes. Phoenix felt her worries fading as she listened to the comforting sound of Sadie breathing. Sadie placed her hand on Phoenix’s, showing her she was there when she was ready to talk.
“Do you think he’ll come back? It’s been a month, already. I miss him every waking moment — even in my dreams,” Phoenix softly whispered.
“He loves you, Phoenix. He’ll be back; I’d bet everything on it,” Sadie replied. Sadie knew she needed to get Phoenix’s mind off of Jayden. He’d been gone much longer than any of them had anticipated, and even Sadie was feeling anxious. She had to get a plan in motion before Phoenix spiraled into deep depression. She’d been amazed at how well Phoenix had handled the separation, especially not knowing if he’d come back.
“I think Dad’s making a big announcement today,” Phoenix murmured. “I’m not ready for this. I don’t know how we’re supposed to go out there so unprepared. The enemy has better weapons, trained soldiers, and so many more men on their side.”
“They may outnumber us, but we have a lot going for us. This is our land and we’re going to take it back,” Sadie said with conviction. Her enthusiasm was hard to resist. Phoenix embraced Sadie warmly, thankful she’d come to the one person who could always make it better.
“I think I’m actually hungry. Let’s go to the kitchen and get first pickings,” Phoenix said. She’d lost some weight at the stress of having Jayden gone and was relieved to feel her stomach complaining to be fed for a change.
“You read my mind. I need nourishment if my best friend is going to keep waking me up in the middle of the night,” Sadie said with a laugh. Phoenix knew she could wake Sadie every single night if she had to and she’d be okay with it.
The two girls walked to the kitchen and were the first to enter the room. They ate their meal and visited until the rest of the people filtered into the room.
“I hear there’s an important meeting tonight,” Devon said as he sat next to Phoenix. He’d taken Jayden’s place at the table a few days after he left. Phoenix enjoyed Devon’s company. He had so many stories of the early days of the war. He’d been nearly captured a couple of dozen times, and every time he told her about one of the situations, her heart thundered, even though she knew he was safe. It was better than having a television.
“I’m afraid to hear what they want to announce,” Phoenix admitted through a mouthful of food, which caused several people to laugh. She chewed and spoke again, much more clearly — her cheeks flaming with embarrassment.
“It’s okay, Phoenix. You’re adorable, no matter what you do,” Devon said, causing more laughter at the table and Phoenix’s blush to deepen even more.
“Does anyone have any early information?” Phoenix asked, quickly trying to get attention off her. Her parents were unusually tight-lipped and she was quite pouty about it.
“Does the all-knowing Phoenix not know something that’s going on?” Jessica popped into the conversation, looming over the suddenly silent group. Phoenix looked into the hateful eyes of Jessica as she prowled around their table, circling them, touching each person’s shoulder as she passed. A shudder went through Sadie, and Brian scooted a bit closer, placing his arm around her.
“Ah, how sweet the two of you are. Does she know about the late nights in my room, Brian?” Jessica asked with a mocking laugh.
“Nothing ever went on in your room, Jessi
ca. Quit trying to cause trouble,” Brian snapped, glaring daggers at the girl.
“How quickly you forget,” Jessica cooed, bending over Brian’s shoulder and breathing on his neck. She was wearing a low-cut shirt and the entire table saw far more of her than they wanted. Sadie saw red as the tramp flirted with her boyfriend. She tried jumping from the table, ready to slug her, but Brian clamped his arm down tightly. Before she could say anything else, Devon jumped in.
“What do you want?” Devon asked irritably, not afraid to call Jessica on her behavior. Jessica’s head whipped around, her entire focus on Devon as she slithered her way over to him.
“I was just trying to be social. If you want to have some real fun, sugar, ditch this bunch and come play with me,” she said. To everyone’s shock, she flicked her tongue out and ran it up his neck. Phoenix knew her mouth was hanging open in shock but she couldn’t seem to get it to shut.
Devon flicked her hand off his shoulder and rose from the table, towering over her petite figure. Her eyes darkened in pleasure as she looked over his body.
“I want nothing to do with you, Jessica. You’ve been horribly rude to my friends from the moment we got here. I don’t know what your problem is, but you need to take it somewhere else,” he commanded. Jessica’s eyes narrowed at his rejection before she managed to pull herself back together.
“You’ll change your mind. I can tell by looking at you that you like a girl who can take charge. I’m definitely that girl, Devon,” she said. She ran her finger up his chest and over his pursed lips. He again pushed her hand away.
“I’m not playing your games,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Have it your way. You have no idea what you’re missing,” Jessica purred, then turned and slowly sashayed from the room, making sure her hips were swaying in the obscenely short shorts she wore. Phoenix disliked her before, but she really loathed her at that moment. She seemed to get worse every day. Phoenix was glad Jessica wasn’t around as much, preferring to hang alone in her room.