A Life Unexpected: Holly Nather Book One (Holly Nather Series) (22 page)

“What’s wrong? You don’t know your name?” She asks while laughing.

“Yes, I know my name. But I’m not sure if I should trust you enough to tell you.” Maybe jumping in the water wasn’t a good idea because now I’m dripping wet, without a change of clothes. Crap.
Way to plan ahead, Holly.

“I can understand that. I am not anyone to fear, I can assure you.” She says with a sweet smile. She seems sincere, but I’m not sure I want to make any friends right now. My whole point for leaving Luke was to figure things out on my own. Emotions that I’m trying to push aside resurface at the thought of Luke.

“So, do you live around here? How did you end up out here?” I ask while scanning my surroundings. I was kind of hoping I had discovered this place, and it was unknown to everyone else. Dang it. A thought also just occurred to me, my protection circle must not be working, because she can clearly see me.

“I come here a lot, to think about things. I thought that no one else knew about this place.” Her eyes travel to the tent I’ve created.

“Yeah, I was kind of hoping the same thing. So, I guess I will be going, since this is kind of your spot and all.” I say while readying myself to attempt to make the tent disappear.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Doing what?”

“Putting your fingers on your temples like that?” She asks while laughing at me.

Moving my fingers from my temples, I say, “I just do. Now if you could please let me concentrate, I will be on my way.” I go to put my fingers up to my temples again and her laughing escalates. Now she is just pissing me off. Forget the tent; I will just leave.

I am about to leave but hesitate when she starts to talk again. “Can I ask you something?”

I place my hands on my hips. “It depends on what you want to ask.”

“Did you plan on staying here? I mean with the tent and all…” I roll my eyes. I just
love
when people state the obvious.

“Yes, but I can go somewhere else.”

“You don’t have to. I really don’t mind. This isn’t claimed territory or anything. I could use a friend.” She says with a small smile.

“I’m not really in the mood for making friends right now.” I turn and start to walk away.

“I think you could use one right now. I can sense that you are hurt.” I stop walking and turn to face her.

“What?”

“I can sense that you are hurting. I don’t have many friends and no family. The Denton’s captured them about two years ago. I’ve been on my own for a long time now.” I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have someone around who hates the Denton’s as much as I do right now. I bet she would crap a brick if she found out that I am a Denton also.

“I am sorry to hear that.” I put on the best poker face I can manage, my expression hopefully one of apathy. I don’t want her to know who I am. The princess of Terre.

She shrugs her shoulders. “It is horrible, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ve tried. I’m not strong enough, and everyone is so scared of them that I can’t get anyone to help me free them. I bet, by now, the Denton’s have stripped them of all of their magic. I don‘t even know that they are still alive.”

“They can do that?” I ask, sounding surprised. I already knew that because Luke had told me, but I want to play dumb. I don’t want anyone suspecting who I am.

“Yeah, you didn’t know that? Everyone knows that.” She looks at me like I’m stupid. Okay, so maybe I over-did it a little. I’ll just have to be more careful.

“No, I didn’t know that. Honestly, I don’t know much about this place.”

“What do you mean? Haven’t you always lived here? I mean there are other worlds out there, but no one can get here because the Denton’s have it locked down so tightly.”

Maybe it was a bad strategy to play dumb. I don’t want her knowing I’m from Earth either. I am really bad at unexpected situations. Oh well, too late now. Might as well figure out what she meant by “worlds.”

“There are other worlds?” I ask, while walking a little closer to her.

“Umm yeah… You really don’t know this already?” She seems a little bewildered and unsure of what to think as she scratches the top of her head.

“No. I really don’t.” I say while looking down at my feet.

“Where are you from?”

“I don’t know you well enough to get personal.”

Nodding her head she says, “Right, I understand. So I guess I’ll just assume you know nothing and tell you everything!”

“Good idea.” We sit down in the grass, and she begins to tell me more information.

“Well, Terre is not the only magical world in the universe. There is one other, and then there is Earth. Earth is not magical.” No crap... I almost say as much. Somehow, I manage to keep a lid on my notorious mouth. She continues on with her explanation.

“The other magical world is Gaia. It is a world of Fae, trolls, and elementals. The trolls are not the cliché little people with erratic hair that you are probably thinking. They look just like me and you but have different powers kind of like our own. Fae are like fairies. They won’t use their magic for evil. They are all for peace, one reason that they hate Terre. Elementals are able to use the elements of Gaia, and that is all they can do. By elements I mean they can use water, air, earth, and fire to perform their magical abilities.”

She looks at me to make sure I’m still listening. Once I give her a half smile and a nod of the head, she continues, “I am sure you also know the plans of the Denton’s. They want to take over Earth and Gaia.” Ummmm no, I didn’t know “the plans.” I knew about Earth, but they want to take over a whole other world too!?

“Yes, I knew that.” I lie. I don’t want to sound completely clueless.

“Yeah, they are a pretty heartless bunch. All they care about is power. Their son supposedly married a girl from Earth, so now there is a gateway between here and Earth. Did you know that too?”

“Yeah, I have heard that….” I’m beginning to feel nauseous. I can’t help but feel guilty and a little ashamed that she is talking to the stupid girl who believed a lie and was now responsible for just that. I totally suck.

“Those poor people on Earth have no idea what they are in for. I don’t know why Prince Luke couldn’t have just found someone in Terre and have married her. If only he and his family could just be content with the power that they have here. He was supposed to marry Lana, but my guess is that it was just a cover-up. I wish I could live somewhere else… Like Gaia. Their world is nothing but peaceful, from what I‘ve heard.”

“I know about the whole Earth thing, but I don’t know much about Gaia. How do they plan on taking it over?” When I ask that, she just looks away. The answer must not be good.

“War. Like bad war. All of us will be required to fight. It’s going to be a blood bath, so many will die. Gaia has more power than Terre. I don’t even know why they would want to risk their own lives for it. It won’t be good; that’s all I know.” I really hope Luke is telling me the truth and wants to change his parents mind and put a stop to all of this.

Suddenly, I feel like I have a huge responsibility here. I am Princess of Terre, after all. What if Luke is lying to me, and he is really on his parents’ side… I don’t know if I could kill him. No, I know I couldn’t kill him.

I don’t know what it is about
this
moment between me and my inner thoughts, but I realize I do love Luke. Even if he turns out be horrible, I can’t change the fact that I love him. I have come to the realization that my intellect is confused, but my emotions will never lie. I love him and hope he is telling me the truth. Whoa, I just sounded really smart. I have made a rational consensus on the situation. Go me!

Pushing the Luke and Holly saga from my mind, I say to Mallory, “So, let’s do something about it.” When I say that, her eyebrows look like they are going to leap off her head. “I’m serious! Why sit back and do nothing?”

“I….I don’t know. I’ve never thought about it. All I have thought about is freeing my parents, and I’ve failed at that. I could never help other worlds.”

“You have magic just like everyone else here. I am sure there is a lot you can do. You just need help and a good plan!” Inspired, I stand up, feeling energized and ready for action. She stands up and looks around. Even if she says no, my mind is made up. I’m going to do what I can to save Gaia and Earth. No matter the cost.

MALLORY LOOKS CONFUSED
and nervous. She sighs. “I don’t know…I mean, I don’t think there is much the two of us can do against the Poyen and the Denton’s. They are powerful and well-trained.”

She is right. I have no idea how to use my magic. I made that very clear at breakfast this morning. “Well let’s train each other then.” By the look on her face, she doubts my idea, or perhaps my sanity.

“You know, you haven’t even told me your name yet.” Did she have to bring that up?

“Chloe.” That is a name of one of my cousins back on Earth and the first name that came to mind.

“Okay, well Chloe, we need help. Even with training, we can’t do this on our own. I know a guy that we can trust. We used to date, but things got complicated so we haven’t talked in a while. Things didn’t exactly end on the best accord, but he hates the Denton’s as bad as we do, and I know he would be willing to help. He actually helped train Prince Luke! He doesn’t work for them anymore, but he knows a lot that could probably help us.”

“You are positive we can trust him?” All I want to do is go get Luke so we can all come up with a plan. I can’t do that though. I don’t know if I can trust him. It doesn’t matter if I truly love him. Just because you love someone doesn’t mean it is a good idea to be with them.

“Without a doubt. I can read people… It’s one of my abilities. I can tell if people are lying to me. I also know your name is not really Chloe, and you are keeping something from me. But more importantly, I know you want the Denton’s dead so I’m okay with you lying to me about other things.” I don’t want
all
of them dead.

“Oh… Well I can’t tell you my real name… I’m sorry.” It really kind of sucks that she can tell if I’m lying or not. I’m going to be doing a lot of lying.

“I know and it’s okay. Anyway, I will go get Arlo and be back soon.” Arlo is an odd name. I can’t help but laugh.

“What is funny?”

“Nothing.” I don’t know why I’m lying because she knows I am. Oh well…

“Be back in a little while.” She doesn’t wait for a response. As soon as she says it, she is gone.

After what feels like forever and it’s starting to get dark, I hear Mallory walking and talking to someone I assume is Arlo. When they come close enough that I can see them, I notice them being all flirty with each other. This sucks, now I’m going to have two love birds on this journey. Grrreeeaaattt…..

“Chloe, this is Arlo. Arlo, this is Chloe.” At least she is playing along that my name is Chloe.

“Hey.” Arlo says and smiles. He isn’t very tall, but is still taller than me. He has brown hair and brown eyes. He is wearing a pair of dark jeans and a black fitted t-shirt. He is kind of good-looking, but no one compares to Luke. I think it will be hard for me to ever find someone who ever compares to Luke. Okay, I really need to get Luke out of my head… Back to mission kill-the-king—and-queen. I am making a rule for myself: no more thinking about Luke until I know if he is telling me the truth or not. Who am I kidding…? I can’t stop thinking about him!

Trying to change the subject in my mind, I say to Arlo, “Hey. I really appreciate you helping us.”

“I would do anything for Mallory. Besides I don‘t care for the Denton’s.” He says and lovingly drapes his right arm around her. Mallory moves his arm off of her shoulder and blushes.

“Look, I don’t want to sound rude, but I really don’t want to be dealing with you guys fighting feelings for each other. Either you’re together or you’re not. We need to keep focused on what we are trying to accomplish. Okay?” Wow that sounded really rude. Oh well, I’m right.

They both look like they want to slap me for saying that and embarrassing them both. I don’t care. I don’t have time for drama right now. I have enough of my own to deal with.

“Arlo is the best trainer I know. He can train us and tell us inside secrets.” Mallory states simply.