Forbidden: Book One of Wild Sky Saga (11 page)

Everything in his home was immaculate. There were old paintings and small sculptures, the furniture was beautiful, and there was an old desk with papers, a pair of reading glasses, and a small lamp in the living room. For some reason it seemed unusually quiet to
Israel.

“Ready?” he asked, still holding onto her
hand.

She nodded nervously as Israel led her through the kitchen and out to the large back deck. The railing was only half built where the steps led down to the
backyard.

Israel was stunned and he started to squeeze Aira’s hand a
bit.

“Hi sweety,” Israel’s mom said, smiling and standing up at a large wooden table beside his father. She had invited some of Israel’s family to the
barbecue.

“Israel!” said a young man running up to him. He was about the same age as Israel, maybe a year older, around the same height, but had a thicker build. He had sandy blonde hair and brown eyes. He picked up Israel, squeezed him, and put him down. “Israel, who is this beautiful creature?” He seemed
delighted.

“Aira,” Israel answered, a little put off. “Mom… what is
this?”

“Well, we haven’t been able to get together for a while, and I thought it was perfect timing.” She smiled and walked over to
Aira.

“I’m Abby, Israel’s mom. We’re so happy you decided to join us.” Abby excitedly took Aira’s hand, and she walked Aira towards everyone to introduce them. She stood beside Israel’s father, and put her hand on his shoulder. “This charming man is Israel’s father Nehemiah. Over there is his sister Olivia, and his other sister Naomi. You have already met Amos, Israel’s closest thing to a brother and best friend. He’s been away at college. This is Israel’s Uncle Sam and his wife Isabelle, and over there, running around, are their two beautiful twins, Sarah and
Zachariah.”

The twins were six years old. Samuel, Israel’s uncle, was extremely handsome. Mid forties, brown hair, dark blue eyes. He was Nehemiah’s younger brother, and loved Israel like his own son. Israel, being the first born grandson, was cherished very
much.

Aira smiled and looked over to the end of the table to the right. There sat a girl who was quite postured. She was smiling at Abby, waiting for Abby to introduce her to Aira. Israel noticed her right away, and that was why he had started to squeeze Aira’s hand when they had first walked
out.

Abby looked at her, and then looked back at Aira trying to smile like she wasn’t
nervous.

“Lie,” Cleo spoke into Abby’s
thoughts.

Abby looked back at Cleo. “And last… this is Cleo.” It was easy to tell everyone was uncomfortable. Cleo was very pretty. She had dark black hair and piercing green eyes. Israel wouldn’t even look at her. Abby looked back at Cleo who had a very small, telling smirk. She wanted Abby to lie better than that. Abby continued, “Cleo has stayed pretty close to our family. She was quite heartbroken when we decided to move, and when she found out we were having a get together, she was adamant about coming.” Abby smiled nervously, and quickly changed the subject. “Aira, we are so pleased you’re here, please sit
down.”

Israel smiled at Aira and pulled out a chair for her. They sat around asking Aira questions about herself while the food was
cooking.

Cleo watched intensely at Israel enjoying Aira, her emotions inside quickly grew hotter and hotter, until finally the glass Aira was about to drink from exploded and fell all over
her.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” Aira said, confused about what had happened, but secretly the others knew. Aira could feel the
tension.

Israel quickly grabbed some napkins to try and dry her off, picking pieces of glass off of her
lap.

“Come with me,” he said as he gave a quick glare to Cleo and took Aira
inside.

The family all looked at
Cleo.

“I think it’s time for you to leave,” Nehemiah spoke calm and seriously to
her.

“Cleo… it’s not what you think. You need to let this go,” Abby
said.

Cleo was angered. She felt that Abby was insulting her intelligence. She tried to compose herself as she stood up and straightened her black dress. She looked around at all of them. It was dead silent. Cleo put her hands on the table, leaned in a bit, and very calmly
said,

“Oh, but it is,” Cleo smiled. “He belongs with us… and if you think you, or even she, will ever change that, you had better think again. When he opens, and he will… I will be there, and I will be the one, and there’s nothing you will be able to do about it.” As she spoke her face became covered with a black vine down to her neck and her eyes turned pure black. The vines continued to wrap down her body until they reached off the deck and onto the ground. They stretched out behind her, making their way into the forest and, with that they pulled her. In an instant, she was
gone.

Nehemiah closed his eyes, and with a breath of relief, opened them. Everyone was looking at
him.

“Nehemiah… they found us,” Abby spoke, shaking her head, obviously
worried.

Nehemiah, with his one hand and his elbow on the table, rubbed his forehead. He moved his hand down over his mouth to his chin. He couldn’t even
speak.

Aira and Israel were in his room. As Israel looked for clothes for her to change into, she looked around his room, then made her way to sit on his
bed.

“Israel,” Aira paused for a second, “is there something I need to know?” She couldn’t hold it in anymore. She couldn’t pass these strange occurrences off as nothing anymore. She wanted to know if he would say anything to help make sense of everything that was
happening.

Israel stopped. He looked up to his wall for a second and then started to look for clothes
again.

“We all know what we’re supposed to know at the time we’re supposed to know it.” He turned around, smiled at her and handed her one of his shirts and some
sweatpants.

“Thanks,” she smiled at him hoping he would say more, but he didn’t. Not thinking anything of it, she started to unbutton her
shirt.

Israel didn’t know what to do, so he turned
around.

Aira looked up. She smiled feeling awkward, and then let out a small
laugh.

Israel smiled to himself and shook his head, feeling just as
awkward.

She looked over at him standing with his back turned towards her, rubbing the back of his
head.

A little hesitant, she got up off the bed, and walked towards him. She waited for a second, then moved her hands around his rib cage until she was hugging him from
behind.

Israel closed his eyes, then opened them and slowly turned
around.

She was looking down, and he lifted her face up towards him putting his hand onto her
cheek.

Aira looked up at him. There was nothing but love in her
eyes.

Israel moved forward, bringing his mouth to hers and he kissed her. Pure connection, and a pull so strong was all it took. In an instant he lifted her off the ground and he walked over to his bed. Laying her down, he gently crawled over top of
her.

Israel took his face and brushed it underneath her chin, along her jaw line, and moved down to her collar bone. Aira closed her eyes, it felt like every part of him that touched her was falling into
her.

Israel moved up and he brushed his lips against hers, and just as he was about to kiss her again
—

“Hey, Israel!” Amos ran into the room and they jumped up. “Aw man,” Amos said nervously, “I’m sorry,” he said, as he looked down and rubbed his forehead. “Your parents sent me to get
you.”

Israel smiled at
Aira.

“Tell them we’re
coming.”

“Ya dude, I’m starving and they won’t let anyone eat.” Israel laughed and Amos walked
out.

“I’ll change, you
go.”

“Okay,” Israel smiled and he got up off the
bed.

He walked to the door and stopped. He took his hand and moved it down the side of the door frame, then continued walking
out.

Aira smiled to herself and finished unbuttoning her
shirt.

Israel walked out to the back deck. He stood there for a second, then walked over to his father. He put his hand on his father’s shoulder, and leaned over to his mother kissing the top of her head. Israel walked over to his seat, sat down and there was a heavy
silence.

“Israel,” his mother spoke
lightly.

“I know, I just…” he answered, fidgeting with his hands. He shook his head lightly, rubbed his forehead, and looked at his family staring back at
him.

“Son, this is the reason we left. You can see how imperative it is that we go now.” His father spoke calmly, clearly, and very straight
forward.

Israel quickly looked up as Aira walked out. Israel smiled, stood up and pulled out her chair for
her.

Aira noticed that Cleo was gone, but the tension still somehow
lingered.

They didn’t end the barbecue, they actually acted like nothing had happened. For the rest of the evening they laughed, ate, asked Aira more questions about herself, and told stories of Israel when he was little. Samuel always had the best stories. Israel’s father was the only one who seemed to stay quite serious, which made Israel
uncomfortable.

Aira noticed that all of their eyes, even though they were different colors, looked the same. Surprisingly, it was really comforting to her. They were just different. The way they did things was beyond graceful. She watched every movement, unable to pull her eyes
away.

Israel tried sitting through it, but he couldn’t. He was too upset. He finally moved his chair back and stood up taking Aira’s
hand.

Aira looked at him almost confused, and slowly stood
up.

“I should probably take you
home.”

“Okay…” Aira replied quietly to
him.

“I’m gonna take Aira home now, it’s getting
late.”

“Thank you for such an amazing time, it was really nice meeting all of you. Abby, your food was
amazing.”

“Thank you, Aira.” Abby got up, walked over and gave her a hug, then spoke quietly just to her. “I told you we’d come back.” She moved away, smiled and moved the hair out of Aira’s
face.

Aira, in that moment had a quick flash of when she was a little girl. She started to remember the little boy that was helping her dig to China, and his mother, and how their eyes were like the stars. Aira looked over at Israel standing by the sliding door. She couldn’t believe it. Words couldn’t describe what she felt. She could almost feel the closeness she had with her grandparents. It was the same feeling. The warmth, she felt safe, like herself. Something she hadn’t felt in many years. Love came into her like a tidal
wave.

Everyone said their goodbyes. Nehemiah gave Israel a quick nod, then Israel walked her out to his
car.

“He’s not going anywhere.” Samuel spoke in seriousness to his
brother.

Nehemiah rubbed his forehead, then put his hand over his chin and looked at
Samuel.

“You’re gonna have to call him,” Samuel spoke again. Nehemiah gently shook his
head.

“Nehemiah, you know he already knows,” Abby spoke up. “He’s the only one Israel will listen
to.

As Aira and Israel walked around the house and out to the front, the stars seemed brighter to her than any other
night.

“Your family is really beautiful.” Aira felt like she had just walked out of a
dream.

Israel stopped walking and gently took her left hand. He felt it for a moment, deep in thought. His eyes moved from looking at her hand to her eyes, then he placed her hand on his shoulder. He then took her other hand, held onto it and put his left hand on her waist. He was trying to figure out if his placings were
right.

She didn’t really know what he was
doing.

He let out a small laugh. When he finally figured it out, he had a nervous look on his
face.

“Um…” he smirked. Aira smiled and shook her
head.

“I think the stars want us to dance, if you wouldn’t
mind.”

Aira looked up for a second, then looked back at Israel. His eyes became deep, and he started to dance with
her.

Above them, stars, one after another, started to trace across the
sky.

Israel closed his eyes. He was feeling and taking everything in. He looked fine on the outside, but inside, he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving. It pained him, he felt torn. Slowly, Israel pulled away and looked at her, “You have all of
me.”

Aira felt completely taken by
him.

Israel put his head down. She couldn’t find any words. He took her hand and walked to his car. He opened the car door for her and she got in. When he closed the door, he looked up for a brief moment, then got into the car and pulled out of his
driveway.

Driving back Aira could tell he wanted to say something, but he didn’t, so she didn’t. She rolled down the window to feel the air and Israel looked over at
her.

“What does that feel like?” he asked. Aira looked at him as she moved her hand around outside the
window.

“What… the air?” she asked with a confused smile. He shook his head because he thought that must have sounded ridiculous to her. Aira was puzzled — he was so confusing
sometimes.

They finally pulled up to her house and got out of the car. They stood still, not wanting to say
goodnight.

Barry turned on the porch light from inside, and Israel began to laugh. Aira smiled and shook her
head.

“Ya… I should go in.” She hugged
Israel.

“I’ll be here,” he
said.

Aira ran up to her porch, watched him get into his car and drive away, then she went
inside.

Israel drove for a bit. A car behind him drove really close, flashing its high
beams.

Then three cars, one after another, pulled around his car from behind and in front of him to get him to
stop.

Israel pulled over, put his car in park and he watched the car doors open. He opened his door, got out, and stood
there.

There was at least seven people, one being Jaidas. Some Israel recognized from school, and some he didn’t. Harlem, Jessie and Logan were
there.

“Seraphim,” Jaidas spoke as he shook his head, “you think you and your family would have learnt by now.” He paused for a second, smiled, and then his eyes began to change into what looked reptilian. He blinked and they went back to normal. “You and Aira will never happen. I will break everything that’s made you,” Jaidas smirked. “I’m smart… you know how smart we are.” Jaidas walked back over to his own
car.

Israel carefully watched him, but didn’t say a
word.

“I’m as wise as a serpent,” Jaidas sat down inside his car, and calmly said, “and as gentle as a dove.” He winked at Israel and closed his door. The rest got into their cars, and they drove
away.

Israel looked up at the sky for a moment, got back into his car, and sat with a blank look on his face. Eventually he drove
home.

He walked in his front door and then to his room. He grabbed a lighter and a throw blanket and
walked outside to his place behind his house. He lit some candles, then a fire, and took his kettle and placed it over the fire to boil. He wrapped his blanket around himself, grabbed a book, a pen, and some paper, sat down, and started to write. He wrote, and wrote, and wrote until the sun was about to rise. When the sun had fully risen, Israel was asleep on the ground by the fire, which still smoked a
bit.

An hour later his father walked out to find
him.

His father knelt down beside him and he placed his hand on his son’s back. “Israel?” Vision after vision of what had happened went into his father. Nehemiah stood up and walked back to the
house.

“How is he?” Abby asked, starting to make
breakfast.

“Let him sleep,” Nehemiah answered, “I have some calls to make.” He walked into his room, and closed the
door.

Abby looked out the window into the back yard, then let out a very small smile and continued to make
breakfast.

Aira was talking with Avery on speaker phone, getting ready for
school.

“So how was meeting the Fam?” Avery asked, curious and
giddy.

“They… were amazing. It was
amazing.”

“What about Barry and your mom? Did they get to meet
him?”

“Ya, they were fine, you know Mom was being Mom and Barry being… Barry,” Aira let out a small laugh, gently shaking her
head.

“Aira, you are soooooo in love,” Avery said, playfully bugging
her.

“Yes,” Aira answered almost
immediately.

Avery went silent. She hadn’t expected Aira to say
that.

“Really? I mean… you’re actually in love? Like you actually love someone, in that kind of way that people love each
other?”

Aira shook her head and
smiled.

Avery continued to talk as Aira walked over to her window. Israel wasn’t there
yet.

“Hey, Avery, I’ve got to go. I’ll see you at school,
okay?”

Aira hung up the phone, grabbed her bag and went
downstairs.

Barry and Maddy were sitting in the
kitchen.

“Hi honey, how was your
sleep?”

“It was really good. Hey Mom, can you give me a ride to school?” Barry had taken Aira’s truck in to get new tires and a tune
up.

“Where’s Israel?” her mother
asked.

“He probably just had something to do. I’m not sure. It’s
fine.”

Barry looked at Maddy, Maddy gave him a look as if saying ‘oh stop it’, grabbed her keys, and drove her to
school.

As they pulled into the school parking lot, Aira didn’t see Israel’s car. She had seen Avery and Joshua waving, and Kaitlyn trying to talk to Jaidas, but you could tell he wasn’t interested. He kept moving Jessie in between them, trying to see what Aira was
doing.

“Is that Jaidas?” Maddy
asked.

“Ya,” Aira
replied.

“Jerk,” Maddy said with disgust. “Did Avery get a new
boyfriend?”

“Ya, she’s loved him like since
elementary.”

“Good for her.” Maddy smiled, waved at Avery, and pulled up beside them. Aira got
out.

“I’ll see you later, okay?” Aira opened the car door and got
out.