Candescent (The Opalescent Collection Book 1) (35 page)

Then my head was filled with flashbacks and I saw Pete. He held me tightly as he did on our last day. He did not suffer from a torturous heart. We were happy, content, and free at last.

* * * * *

I woke, feeling like I’d just slept a day away. I nervously turned my face to the window to find there was a dreary overcast. The clock on my table read eight thirty.

My eyes rolled down to look at my chest. I was holding my charm involuntarily. I thought about my complex dream. At least it ended the way it did. I didn’t feel like it should be questioned any more. Luckily it ended on its own and was probably the last of it.

I thought about Louie, concern flooding over me. I wondered how he was. I wondered if he left like his brother. I grabbed my cell phone, desperate to call him and find out. The other line just rang and rang until finally it was picked up.

“Louie!” I said relieved.

“Oh hi Chenille,” he replied, sounding almost disappointed.

“Have you heard from Monty yet?”

“No, and I don’t expect to.” I heard him sigh. “So what’s up?”

“Oh…nothing.”

“You’re just making sure I’m still home, aren’t you?” He laughed dryly. “Why would you even think I’d leave?”

“It’s just… about last night…I’m really sorry.”

“Chenille, don’t worry about it. Forget it even happened.”

“No…I never wanted to hurt you.”

“I know. I know you were very upset. Everyone was.”

“Are you sure everything is ok?”

“I’m good. I’m positive.”

“How are your parents?”

“They’ve been better. They’re trying to cope with the fact that their baby bird just flew from the nest.”

“I think there’s more to it than that. What if he doesn’t call them and let them know that he’s ok?”

“Trust me. He’ll call. I know he’s fine. This is Monty we’re talking about.”

“If you say so.”

“How about you? Are you feeling any better?”

“I guess so. I really wanted to see you.”

“It’s early now.”

“I know. What about later?”

“Sure. When?”

“Twelve?”

“Ok, that’s fine.”

“I’ll see you later then?”

“Of course. Bye Chenille.”

“Bye Louie, see you later.”

I hung up my phone and remained sitting Indian-style on my bed. It was only going on nine o’clock. I headed downstairs to find my parents were already gone. Zaire was still home though.

“Look who’s up early,” he chimed. “That’s not like you. What’s the matter? You couldn’t sleep last night?”

He was right. I was never up this early in the summer. If I didn’t sleep in until ten o’ clock, you knew I was either anxious, sick, or had a restless night.

“No, I actually slept well.”

“Oh really?” He looked over his shoulder as I entered the kitchen.

“Yeah, I had a nice dream.” I called, now reaching for the box of cereal on the top shelf of the cupboard. “Typical,” I grumbled. It was empty.

“Oh, right, forgot to tell you that we just ran out of cereal.”

Why does he even bother?
I thought. Now cranky from not eating breakfast by now, I went over and sat by my brother.

“Don’t you have work today?”

“Nope. I thought today I would go to the beach. You wanna come?”

“No, I have plans.”

“
You
? Have
plans
?
Already
? It’s like…nine and you already have plans?”

“Shocking, I know. I called Louie to see how he was. And I wanted to see him.”

Zaire smiled. “So you did listen to me last night. I’m glad
someone
takes me seriously around here.”

“What’s
that
supposed to mean?”

“I’m glad you forgave Louie.”

“I realized that life is too short. I couldn’t stay mad at him forever.”

“I don’t think you were ever mad at him.”

“Yeah…how could I? He’s my friend. Friends forgive each other. That’s exactly what we did.”

Zaire’s smile became more prominent. “You know what I think? I think you really like Louie.” He placed a hand on my shoulder. “And the both of you deserve each other.”

I diverted my gaze away. I never even thought of us like that.

Zaire’s words stayed in the back of my head for the remainder of the morning. It even lingered until the doorbell rang and Louie arrived. Luckily, Zaire made himself busy doing things in the kitchen. He
tidied
up – anything that would allow him to be close enough to hear us talk. I let my friend come inside to find that the first thing he did was smile. He looked so much better than how he looked the previous day. He was miserable and depressed the day before. What more could directly express happiness than a smile?

“Hey Chenille.”

“Hi Louie.”

“You wanted to see me.” He lifted his arms. “Here I am, in the flesh.”

“I wanted to see how you were.”

“I’m ok.”

“You didn’t have me so convinced on the phone.”

“How do I look to you then?”

“Good,” I admitted, “or at least better than yesterday. About that…I’m still really sorry.”

“Stop apologizing,” he said annoyed, but playfully at the same time. “Just accept that I forgive you.
I
should be the one on my knees still begging for forgiveness.” He started to get down on his hands and knees.

“No, stop! You don’t have to.”

“Ok, good.” He quickly returned to his feet.

“There was something I wanted to tell you.”

His face became serious, concerned. “What? Is there something wrong?”

“No, not at all. It’s just…well,” I paused to look up at him. “I love you too.”

I
would not go back to that charm. I would not dig it up again, let it be discovered, or speak of it again. I made myself a promise – one I would keep.

As for my dreams, I still dreamed of Catastrophe. I would see the great planet Catastrophe and wander along the cobblestone streets alone. I could see the many creatures and how they lived and prospered.

Sometimes I would see Amelia and Caspian and with them I would see Silver, the little prince. If I walked far enough I could still see the Frozen Waterfalls, the icy pool, and the hidden cave. There I would find the giant, old, wise snake Taj’ and his beautiful mermaid. Their children aged and left as all children should, but they remained happy together.

I would wander in the dark woods, speculated by our great moon at night, without fear of being harmed. The small woodland creatures would not notice me and simply scurry by. And once out of the woods, once far away from the great City, I went toward the sea.

Perhaps it was the salty sprays or the chill of the thundering ocean waves. Maybe it was the sight of the sun melting over the dark waters, or the sea dragons. Whatever it was compelled me to travel there. I got on a boat, one that Raven sailed, and I could see the other side of Catastrophe.

I went to the North, Alfur, and I saw the wealthy immortals. I saw their hefty dragons, their crowns, jewels, and
opulence.
I felt power and luxury fill me again. Then I went to Eastern and Western Alfur, where I saw Rasha and Rallen. They were together whenever I went there and I saw their happiness.  I went over to the other continents, sometimes seeing the other Allies. Then I returned to Inesious.

Back at my home continent, I strayed along the coast. I admired the gorgeous beaches. But once the salty air was too much, I went to the Arii Desert. Now in the most desolate place of Catastrophe, I trudged along. I stopped by an oasis, marveled at its secrecy, its ever-growing green in the desert heat. I went straight through, longing for the sea, the water that was by now too far away. And nearly defeated by the heat, I would see the lights of my glorious City again. But I would not stop there.

Instead, I would take another path that would guide me far away from the City of Lights. I would go to the Ticktay Mountains, the large mountain range made from dark stone and dragon scales. At their summits was always a blizzard and at their base was a fresh, cool scent from the spruce, pine, and evergreen trees. There were the cool creaks that wound themselves into deep valleys and aged like rivers. Through this beautiful, serine place, you would want to stay, but there came a time when the gray stone faded to white and the lush trees came to a clearing.

It was here that you would find the poor, rundown little town called Nalani. Now from your long journey through the Ticktay Mountains, you would be faced with old excuses for fruit stands, broken carts, and rotten food. Here, you would imagine was where rejected or
released
creatures all seemed to gather. Here these creatures were thirsty, not for water – maybe blood, but they craved money.

It was their malnourishment, their lack of shelter and well-being that drove them insane. They would strip animals of their fur or scales. And sometimes they would be graced with a precious jewel - a unicorn. No, the unicorn itself was useless to these savage beasts. The unicorn’s horn was most valuable. And if it meant death for the beautiful beast, then it would be so. You would not believe this if not seen by your own two eyes as I did. At first, no one believed me when I said I saw the exquisite Lazuli with her horn cut from her head. No more than a puny stubble of growth remained. That old thought alone made me rush through Nalani. I eventually made my way to the Star Pool.

Once guarded by a giant phoenix Obsidian, the invisible pool still reflected the billons of starts shared by the two worlds. It still had unexplainable powers. It still held its mystery. I was not the one to explore its depths, so I moved on.

You would think that I would be awake by now. But no, I was not going to stop yet. I had one more place to go – the Bridge. Gazing over it, you would notice its orange fragments that were pieces of Clesta. Still at its edges were white fragments, old remains of our Bridge of Secrecy.

Our beautiful Bridge of Secrecy was destroyed from our friend, Obsidian, the last phoenix who was poisoned. So left with Clesta’s remains, our new bridge was built. It unified the worlds, connected the immortals and the mortals. Knowledge was exchanged and so a rivalry started, that, would in time end, at least for a little while.

Countless times while visiting Catastrophe I would lean against the high walls of the Bridge. I would gaze up silently at the stars and the two moons. The eclipses ended years ago.

Verneil was particularly beautiful tonight, full and brighter than any celestial being, at night that is. There was a wonder about this place that brought me back each time. Even though I could not interact with any of the creatures anymore, I could still find comfort and peace in this place. Somehow it was like a sanctuary. It monopolized my dreams, for if I didn’t dream of Catastrophe, I didn’t dream at all. Whenever I woke from my dreams, I would recall everything I saw and then I would cross the Bridge onto Earth – into reality.

I always questioned if the charm had brought me to such a place. I once questioned if I was crazy – dreaming of the same place and seeing the same things each night or
nothing at all
.  I learned not to question my dreams anymore. My time was too precious for
a dream
.

Louie knew about my dreams. He sometimes asked me about them. I would usually reply the same thing – I just wandered. I realized that’s what I’d done before I dreamed about Catastrophe. I wandered on Earth. I wandered aimlessly – went through the motions until it hit me. My reality was not a dream, nor would it ever become one, but I acted as though it was. I took it for granted. I didn’t live in the moment. I
dreamed
about it.

Now, back to Catastrophe. It was a beautiful place filled with strange, exotic creatures and a vast, profound landscape.
Only in my dreams
, as one would say. And it would stay that way. Never would I let my reality become an obscure dream. I would never let it become
a catastrophe
.

With that said, I would continue to dream. Yes, I would enjoy my strange little world even if I couldn’t speak in it. Maybe one day I would
return.
 

The moon started to fade from my view and I knew I must be waking up. I tried to hold my thoughts while my world started to fade away. I knew I would dream of Catastrophe again soon, but one thing was certain. Nothing is better than living in the present. However, sometimes not even that is enough to keep the peace between the two planets. Now without a King or Queen, Catastrophe’s past may be the key, its only hope, to save it from its condemned future.