Alina's Crossing: Guardians of Terrin (17 page)

Jeb fell back off his knees,
floored. I even heard Jasser and Helix gasp in shock.

I don't know what came over me,
but I ran to her, ran into her arms and cried. She didn't turn me away but held
me while I cried.

“Mother, mother, mother.” I
whispered through my tears, over and over.

She ran her hand over my hair,
smoothing it down in a comforting, motherly gesture. I never knew how much I
missed her until I re-discovered her, because I was made to forget her.

There were so many blanks that
needed to be filled in, so many pieces not fitting together. As if she knew
what was in my head, she spoke again to me. “I know you must have dozens of
questions Alina-,” she said my name with a wistful sigh, “but right now all you
need to know is that Shael must be stopped. And it is you who must do it. You
are the only one left.”

“But how mother? I cannot seem
to channel my magic. The only time I can use it is when I am scared. I am no
defense against the Shadow. Shael is much too powerful.” I said.

“He is powerful, that is why
you can't defeat the Shadow, but you can trap it. Shael is powerful in his own
right. He has magic, but the Shadow feeds off his magic, making it stronger. If
we can trap the Shadow, Shael immediately becomes weaker. Most importantly, he
becomes vulnerable. That is what you must do. Trap the Shadow.” she said.

“How?” I asked.

“With the box.” she said
simply.

“Well, we don't have the box
anymore.” I said softly, remembering our failed attempt to trap the Shadow at
the castle.

“I know.” she said simply.

“You will have to get it back.
I can show you how to use the box to trap the Shadow. And I can teach you to
use your magic. I can teach you how to call on it whenever you need it. You are
powerful my darling, so powerful it will surprise you. Had you never needed to
leave this realm, you would have been instructed in its use over the course of
your life. You would have had time to learn how to use it properly. We had to
get you away from here, to save you. We had no other choice at the time.” she
said sadly.

“Why? Why did you send me away
with my grandmother?” I asked, the little girl inside me wanting to know why
she was rejected.

“It wasn't safe for you here.
We just had to get you safe. You were the last in our magic line. You had to be
protected and you had to survive. When your father was killed-when our family
was threatened and our rule over this land taken over, we had to get you safe.
Shael couldn't crossover, but you could.” she explained.

She was eyeing Jeb warily as
she spoke.

I had missed something.

“Who were the other children in
my vision? The ones I was playing with? Were they my siblings?” I asked.

“Those were your cousins. My
brother's children.” She said.

A boy and a girl.

A boy with dark hair and evil
eyes and a beautiful young girl with blond hair. A blonde princess and her evil
brother. The reality of what my mother had just told hit me like a ton of
bricks and I turned to Jeb for confirmation of my suspicions.

I finally put the pieces
together.

Jeb saw my face, the look of
horror it wore and then his face took on the same look as mine.

“You...you are...she
is...was...he-” Jeb couldn't say the words. He couldn't find his voice. I was
his wife's cousin. His wife's cousin and Shael's cousin.

His daughter's family.

Jeb stood up in a fury and
stormed out of the cottage, Jasser and Helix chasing after him. I sat still as
stone where I was.

I was Royal.

CHAPTER
12

BLOODLINES

Jeb did not come back to the
cottage for the rest of the evening. Jasser and Helix had come back several
hours after they chased Jeb out the door but Jeb wasn’t with them when they
returned. They both promptly fell asleep on the floor by the fireplace after
devouring several bowls of stew and bread my mother had prepared. She had set a
few blankets on the floor by the fire for them to sleep on.

I figured that since the boys
fell asleep, they obviously weren't too concerned about Jeb, so I wasn't going
to worry either. He was obviously in need of some serious alone time.

I couldn't blame him.

 I was too wired to sleep,
choosing instead to stay up and talk with my mother.

My mother.

It felt weird to say that word.

She obviously wasn't what I had
envisioned all those years before, living with my grandmother in the 1st Realm.
I was told my mother had died giving birth to me and that was why I had no
memories of her. I used to fantasize about “her”, this blurry image of a woman,
who would have loved me to distraction.

I used to dream she would read
to me, play dress up with me and let me walk around in her shoes. We would play
at the park and she would lay next to me at night until I fell asleep. I never
saw a picture of her. My grandmother explained that by saying the suitcase she
had brought from Italy containing all her photos was lost and never found.

How funny to realize that the
real reason was because in this time and in this place, there was no such thing
as photography, the concept and technology not yet created or borrowed from the
other realm.

 I never really felt a
true void in my life. My grandmother was the best mother a girl could have. But
there was a part of me that never truly felt whole. All my friends would talk
about their mothers and I would have a twinge of envy but I never showed it.

 Through the conversations
I had with my mother, I found out that what actually occurred the night I made
the crossover into the 1st Realm.

My mother cast a little spell
on me, obliterating any memory of her or this place I came from, to save me.
She thought it would allow me some measure of happiness, being torn from my
mother and my home at such a young age.

It was decided, since my
grandmother could crossover and my mother couldn't, that she would take me
there alone and raise me, making sure I was safe and able to one day come back
and fight the evil that had taken over their kingdom.

I was the last person with
magic left in my family, save Shael and his mother, who abused the privilege
and I had to be protected.

Apparently the ability to
crossover skipped a generation in my family. So, if I ever had children one
day, they wouldn't be able to come here or go to the 1st Realm. I would
have to choose a place to stay before they were born.

 The vision my mother had
given me, where I saw her crying and my father dead, was the day I was to leave
her to make the crossover. Things were becoming dire and they decided that was
the time to make a move. My mother was reeling from just losing her husband
then another blow in deciding to send her only child away forever.

“Why was sending Grams and I
into the other realm the only option?” I asked.

“Because I was being forced
out. The castle was my home and my father’s home before him and his fathers
before him. I was the Queen. It was my responsibility to watch over and protect
my people and I failed. The powerful magic I had at my disposal wasn’t enough
to defeat the Shadow. I couldn't protect you or your father or the people of my
kingdom. I had a dream one night and I saw you, my precious daughter, all grown
up and here with me, on our land, walking through the fields of high grass,
happy and content. A dark cloud loomed over us suddenly and you were sucked up
into the winds. I grabbed your hand, but I couldn't hold on to you. I lost my
grip and you were taken away from me. That was the night I knew you had to be
moved somewhere, to keep you safe. I also had a vision, that you would be back
one day, to fight and take back what is rightfully ours, rightfully yours, and
free our people from this terror. It was the most painful day of my life,
losing my mother and my daughter on the day my husband was killed. I ran from
the palace and found my way here. I did a little magic and made this cottage
for myself. Ever since then, I have been doing whatever I could to help my
subjects.”

“How do you help them?” I
asked, intrigued.

“Come.” She said, gingerly
lifting herself out of her rocking chair, leading me over to the awkward table.

We both sat in the chairs with
the candle between us. She waved her hands through the candle flame a few
times, chanting in a whisper.

An image wafted up from the
candle.
 
 

I saw a family inside a home. The
mother was serving a very meager meal. It was heart wrenching to look at
because there were three children and two parents and only three plates were on
the table.

‘The parents wouldn't eat tonight.’
I realized sadly.

My mother did a little wave of
her hand and that brought my attention away from the projected image. When I
looked back, I saw the family running around, excitedly but I couldn't see what
had happened to make them so joyful.

My mother wiggled one finger to
the right, and the image moved a bit.

In the middle of the floor was
two huge cloth bags. There was a barrel full of silderberries, the fruit I had
seen on my first night in Terrin on the blue tree and a few odds and ends in
smaller bags and wooden crates.

“Did you do that? What did you
do?” I whispered in complete awe.

“I gave them food. If they are
careful, they could probably make that last a year.” said my mother.

“And, you do this a lot?” I
asked, humbled.

“As much as I can, yes. These
are still my people. I am responsible for them. I cannot make their pain and
torment go away, but I
can
help them the best way I know how.” She said.

“How do you know who still
needs help?” I asked, intrigued.

“Magic.” my mother said, with a
tired but knowing smile.

“So, am I a witch? Are you a
witch?” I asked.

My mother smiled, not answering
my question.

“Was Grams a witch too?” I
asked again.

“We aren't witches, Alina. We
are just magical creatures. Our ancestor, Bellar Shaye was the first magical
being in this realm. Your grandmother was born with magic, which was gifted to
me when I was born and that same gift was given to you when you were born. If
you have children, your babies will receive the same blessings. It all comes
from Bellar.” She explained.

I was curious to know more
about this magical ancestor but that would have to wait. My mother looked so
tired in the candle light, so worn out. I decided to lay off the questions for
bit.

She wouldn't talk much to me
after she moved back to her rocking chair, occasionally saying a few words in
response to a question I had.

I didn't want to push her.

I never missed her because I
had been made to forget her, but now that I remembered a few things from my
past, the little girl inside of me just wanted her mommy. I wanted to run to
her and throw my arms around her and cry but I was reluctant to do that again.

She was still in many ways a
stranger to me and I, her.

Jeb came back to the cottage
early the next morning. I was still up from the night before.

He said nothing as he came in, planting
himself in front of my mother, his knees pulled up to his chest, his arms
around them.

They were staring at each other
and I wondered amusingly who would win. I was surprised when she spoke first.

“I know you want to ask, so go
ahead Jeb.” she said.

“The island?” Jeb inquired,
looking tense.

“Yes, that was me.” She said.

“The cloaks?” he asked.

“Yes.” she replied.

“So, when I came to you, trying
to get information about a magical way to fight Shael, you knew who I was? You
had already put a spell on the tablet. You knew I was coming.” Jeb said
angrily.

“Yes, Jeb. I knew. I just
thought it was better if you didn't know everything, just in case.” She said.

I knew she meant just in case
he was caught by the Shadow. It was a precaution Jeb had taken with me. A
thought occurred to me.

“Mother, you put a spell on the
tablet and sent it to the other side?” I asked.

“Yes.”

I was counting in my head. I
was twenty but Dr. Campbell told me during my interview it was found in Ohio
over fifty years ago.

“How old was I when I made the
crossing with Grams?” I asked.

“Six.” She said.

“So, that- it doesn't make
sense!” I said frustrated. “How did you know fifty years before my birth to
enchant the tablet?”

“I didn't do it fifty years ago
Alina. I sent the tablet through a few years before Jeb entered the portal.
Time is slower on this side by many, many years.” she explained.

It all made sense.

The day we went to my
grandmother’s grave everything seemed different but I couldn't put my finger on
exactly
what
was different.

“So, I've been gone....” I
couldn't finish.

The reality of my situation was
that all I knew was gone and there was absolutely nothing left for me there was
finite.

How would I possibly explain my
disappearance and not aging at
all
?

I could never go back to the
1st Realm and try to resume my life there.

“Yes, a very long time.” She
said.

“Are we immortal?” I asked.

“No, we aren't immortal, but we
do live equivalent to maybe 700-900 years on the other side.” She said.

“Ok, this is all fascinating
but can we get back to me for a second?” Jeb asked, frustrated.

“Sorry Jeb.” I said quickly.

“Why? Why the island? Why me?”
asked Jeb to my mother.

“When I found out you married
Rori and that you were fighting Shael, I decided to use the last of my magic to
offer my aid. I loved my niece and if you were fighting Shael, I was going to
do whatever I could to help you. I just couldn't have you know it was me,
because if you were caught and the Shadow infected you, I didn’t' want Shael to
be able to read your thoughts and let him know I was still alive.” She
explained.

“But he has confronted you
before. Did he not recognize you?” asked Jeb.

My mother shook her head. “Not
yet, I have been able to disguise myself when I need to. He has no idea I am
alive to my knowledge.”

“Mother,” I started.

It was my turn for a question.
“What did you mean that you were using the last of your magic?”

“Alina, it takes a lot of magic
to protect that island. It drains me. I won't be able to hold it together much
longer, which is why you must defeat Shael and trap the Shadow as soon as you
are able, but I will hold out as long as I can.” She said.

“So, what? You are dying?” I
asked with a scared voice.

I couldn't lose her yet. I just
found her and there was so much more I needed to know.

“In a sense I guess. The magic
drain is very tiring and I can never get my energy back up. But I will continue
to do this, to protect all of you, until Alina is ready. Your children Jeb,
have my blood, and Alina's blood and they will be protected.” She said.

“Do my girls have magic?” asked
Jeb.

“I think if they did, they
would have made it known by now, but they may not know how to trigger it
either. It could also be simply latent. Alina had magic from the moment of her
birth. She would make her toys float and fly across the room, conjure things,
be sent to her room and decide she wanted to be somewhere else and just pop
over there. It was very trying, raising a magical toddler.” she said the last
part with a little smile and breathy laugh.

“What happened to my father?” I
asked quietly.

I knew it wasn't going to be an
answer I would enjoy, but I simply needed to know.

“Shael.” my mother said simply.

“Shael killed him?” I asked,
stunned.

“No, Shael's father killed him,
after he confronted him about what Shael did to you that day on the lawn. You
see dear, I was the Queen, my brother, younger than me, just a prince. He had
never wanted to be King, so he was perfectly content with me being the Queen.
His wife Mirra, however, was not happy with that. It caused conflict within our
family because I knew Mirra was evil from the moment I met her but my brother
just wanted to study and learn. He married Mirra out of necessity. I don't even
think he really loved her, but regardless, he wouldn't listen to what I had to
say. My brother and your father got into an argument about Shael and the
darkness that lived within the child and it got out of hand. I believe Mirra
used the argument to her advantage and already possessed the Shadow. I think my
brother was infected when he killed your father. Once my husband died, my
brother, who had powerful magic as well, but had never once shown any interest
in pursuing his gifts, all at once decided that it was time to be king and raised
an army to fight my own. His evil magic became unstoppable. Mirra took the Shadow
out of my brother and installed him as King, all the while, waiting for Shael
to come of age. My brother was told a story about what happened to me and to
all of us and he accepted it, returning to his studies and inventions, Mirra
running the kingdom in his place. Once there was no use for him, she killed him
too and Shael became the king. I couldn't fight him, even though I was Queen.
We had to regroup and let you grow up. I knew how powerful you were and how
powerful you would yet become, we just had to wait. So, now, I watch my kingdom
from the sidelines, helping out where I can, and waited. Waited for you.”