Home in Your Arms (10 page)

Ian wobbled on his feet for a moment, fighting the inevitable.
His eyes closed and his chest lifted as he inhaled.

“No!”

The Witches paid her no attention but cackled as Ian fell to
his knees. As if in slow motion, the Witches circled around him and he dropped
to the ground.

“Hank, let me go! I have to save him.”

Hank didn’t slow his pace as he ran to the gates of Sapphire
City.

“Hank!” she shrieked. “Stop!”

Hank pounded on the gate and yelled, “I have the One. Take
me to the king.”

The gates opened, creaking as if it had been a long time
since the hinges had moved and a blinding flash of blue light swept over her.
Lexi covered her eyes and could feel someone ushering Hank through the gates.
Something warm spread through her body and then the sensation was gone a moment
later.

She looked back to the fields and saw the Witches lifting
Ian up. One of the Witches looked at her and glared. The look said everything.
They had gotten what they wanted and now she had nothing.

The gates slammed shut and Lexi was forced to look around.
Hank still held her close as they made their way down a blue stone path. Little
stone houses lined the path and in the distance, she could see a stream with
aquamarine water. It was beautiful and she was in hell.

People stepped from their homes to watch as they passed. She
couldn’t look around anymore, though, and buried her face in Hank’s jacket.

“Lexi!” someone yelled.

She looked up to see Andrew running toward her. Hank let her
down and she ran into his arms, thankful to see him there.

“What happened?” he demanded as he held her close.

“Andrew, we have to go back. They have him. He…he needs me.”
Tears streamed down her face.

“Lexi, who has him?”

Hank cleared his throat and answered, “The Witches have him.
He succumbed to them in the Enchanted Fields.”

Andrew’s entire body tensed up. “What in the fuck were they
doing near the fields?”

A horn sounded nearby and Andrew ran a hand through his
hair. Lexi held onto him for dear life, knowing the king was coming. It was all
too much. She had just lost Ian and no one seemed to care.

Andrew pointed at Hank. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”

Before Hank could say anything, a tall man surrounded by
guards came toward them. Lexi looked him over, realizing that she did look like
him. Their gazes met and she saw her own golden eyes staring back in surprise.
Hints of a memory long lost began to surface but before her mind could
understand what it meant, it was gone.

The king reached them but did not speak to her directly. “What
has happened, Andrew?”

“Ian has been taken by the Witches, Your Highness.”

He nodded. “He’s dead, then.” He turned to Hank, a dark
frown on his face. “I forbade you from stepping foot in Sapphire City. What
makes you think I’ve changed my mind since the last time we spoke?”

Hank flinched. “Your Highness, I brought this woman to you.
My Brian told me—”

“Silence. How dare you mention that traitor’s name in my
presence?” His anger rolled off his body in waves. Lexi realized he hated Hank.

“But—”

The king waved his hand and two guards took Hank by the
arms. “I’ll show pity on you for bringing her here safely but do not think I
forgot what your lover did to my family.”

He nodded and the guards dragged Hank away.

“Brian is alive. He told me you were the only one who could
save him.”

Lexi thought Hank had spoken to the king but she realized he
was talking to her. How could she save Brian? She hadn’t even been able to save
Ian.

The king finally turned to her.

“Lexi, welcome to Sapphire City. I am King Loren. I have
long awaited your arrival. Please, follow me to the palace so that we may get
to know each other better.”

She looked up him incredulously. Was he serious? She counted
to ten and said, “With all due respect, Your Highness, we need to get out there
and find Ian. I know he’s still alive but our time is running out.”

The angry look on his face told Lexi he didn’t like being
told what to do. But there was more. His thoughts sat in the front of his mind
and she could see them all. It was strange that the most powerful man in the
realm was also the easiest to read. Right now he was about to say something
that was going to piss her off.

King Loren frowned and turned to Andrew. “Take her to the
palace and directly to the veiled room. If she struggles, then use force. We’ll
have our answers then.”

He turned and let his guards usher him away to safety.
Andrew bowed and lifted Lexi off her feet.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I have to obey him. He’s my king.”

She didn’t blame Andrew for following orders but she didn’t
have to like it. “He’s not going to try to find Ian, is he?”

Andrew shook his head. “No.” He sighed. “Lexi, for Ian’s
sake, please go along with this. It may be your only chance to save him.”

She nodded. She would do whatever it took to save Ian.

Andrew carried her all the way to the palace, despite her
repeated requests to walk. Ian had been right about the palace. Decorative
sapphires covered every surface, putting most palaces she’d ever seen on the
internet and TV to shame. It stood tall and proud, much like the airs its king
put on.

They went through the main door and she could see guards
standing everywhere, ready to protect their king. They didn’t trust her. It was
a strange realization. Andrew turned and strode down a long hallway. Sapphires
reflected the light from the candles on the walls. It felt very medieval
inside. She noticed there was no one in the hallway.

“What is the veiled room?” she asked.

He would not look her in the eyes as he replied, “I’m not
really sure. Only a few have ever been inside the room. It’s where King Loren
will determine if you are the One or if you were merely an innocent bystander.”

“And if I am the One?”

He sighed. “Lexi, I don’t know what will happen if you are
the One. The prophecy suggests you will come into your powers in the veiled
room and then defeat the Witches. It’s pretty vague for the most part.”

That had to be the vaguest prophecy she had ever heard in
her life.

“You’re not kidding,” she huffed. Then she asked, “And if I
am an innocent bystander?”

“Then we’ll find a way for you to get back to Oklahoma and
this will become nothing more than a dream.”

His words sent a tremor of fear through her body.

“Are you saying I would forget everything that’s happened?
Forget Sinoda? Forget you and Ian?” Her voice broke with the last few words.

He looked at her this time, his green eyes full of sympathy.
“Yes.”

She used her tongue to moisten her dry lips and asked, “And
if I am a Witch?”

Andrew stopped. “I would kill you. Immediately. My only
solace would be that Ian would not have to be the one to do it. He cares for
you too much.”

He was hurting at the loss of his friend and his pain
matched her own. It killed her that everyone was giving up on him when she knew
he was still alive. She also feared for her life. No one had ever said she’s
die. She thought they would just send her back to Oklahoma. She knew the truth
though. She wasn’t a Witch.

She grabbed onto his arm. “We have to try to save him,
Andrew. I can’t leave him out there.”

“I know, Lexi. I love him too. He’s like a brother to me.”

She rubbed her face with her free hand and blurted out, “He
knows you were at the Wooden Brothel.”

She needed him to know this.

“It doesn’t surprise me that he knew. He probably saw the
marks the clamps left behind.” He paused. “Lexi, you can’t tell anyone you were
able to summon me. Others would fear the worst.”

“Ian explained that it was unusual to be able to summon
someone. I didn’t even know I was doing it, to tell you the truth.”

His lips lifted in a slight smile. “I was surprised when it
happened but I was also honored.”

“I doubt it will happen again, Andrew. I love Ian.”

He nodded. “I know, Lexi. I know.”

They reached a large black door. Covered in ornate and
graphic carvings of skeletons killing people in various ways, the door scared
her. Was this to be her fate? There was no turning back. Even the light seemed
to hide from the door, casting shadows.

“I’m half expecting to see a monster behind the door.” She
tried to laugh after the statement but it came out weak. She wasn’t just scared.
She was terrified. Her heart pounded against her ribcage and breathing was
difficult. She would probably die in that room but she owed it to Ian to go in.
Andrew gently put her down.

“This is as far as I am able to go. I’ll wait for you right
here, though. One way or another my face will be the first thing you see when
you’re finished.”

His words didn’t ease the fear that made her want to vomit.
She rolled her shoulders and took in a deep breath.

“Okay, here I go.”

Andrew leaned down and lightly kissed her forehead.

“Good luck, Lex.”

She reached out to open the door but it swung slowly open on
its own. It made a horrible creaking sound. The room ahead was dark but she
could see something in the center of the room glowing a soft blue. With each
step she took, the glow became more intense.

The door closed with a solid thud and a lock turning
indicated she had no way out. She continued moving toward the glowing item. As
she reached it, she was surprised to see it was a large glass bowl filled with
water. The water swirled around, causing the blue glow. She put her hand out
and touched the water but nothing happened.

“Shit. What am I supposed to do?” she asked.

A door opened from the other side of the room and she could
see a man coming toward her.

“King Loren,” she acknowledged with a bow of her head.

“This is the veiled room as I am sure you have figured out.
Only a few have ever entered and even fewer have left alive. There are no
secrets in this room. I cannot lie to you and you cannot lie to me.” He paused
and looked into the bowl of water. “I fear you are not the woman we are looking
for but it is not for me to decide.”

His thoughts mirrored his voice. There were so many things
she wanted to ask him while he couldn’t lie but she knew her time was precious.

“Why am I here then?” she wanted to know. “Why aren’t we out
there, looking for Ian? I know he’s alive, Your Highness. I can feel—”

He held up his hand to silence her.

The king sighed. “We must find out who you truly are. If you
are the One, your powers will begin to flow through your veins right away. You
will then face the Witches and destroy them once and for all.”

She could see his thoughts—he really believed the prophecy
even if though he didn’t think it was about her. She also saw the fear that
kept him awake at night. The Witches were almost strong enough to take over
Sapphire City and without Ian, there was no chance in stopping them. Her heart
ached. Ian, her sweet Ian.

“And if I am here by mistake?”

“Then I must send you home. If you are here by accident then
each moment you are out of your realm, your body grows weaker. Soon, you will
die here and your soul would be lost forever. You would spend an eternity stuck
between where you want to be and where you are and never feel the relief that
comes with death, as a mortal should.”

She shivered as an image of her trapped between the two
realms crossed her mind. She would be a ghost to both sides and never know true
rest. A sob rose in her throat but she swallowed it down. Now wasn’t the time to
think about herself.

“And if I am a Witch, then Andrew will kill me.” It wasn’t a
question.

“Yes.” He answered without hesitation. “But I promise you
one thing, Lexi. If you believe Ian is alive then I will send out my best team
to retrieve him. I just pray it won’t be too late, though I fear it is.”

She took in a slow breath. “Then that’s all I can ask for.
What do I need to do?”

King Loren stood on the other side of the bowl.

“There is a great power that lies in this bowl of water. It
is the same power that the Witches seek and that I vowed to protect. You must
submerge your head under the water. I warn you, you will not be able to lift
your head until the time is right.”

“So I could drown?”

The king shrugged a shoulder as if it didn’t matter to him. “It
is a risk you have no choice but to take.”

His voice was cold and uncaring. He truly didn’t think she
was the One nor did he care if she died. Her stomach clenched as panic swept
through her body.

She finally nodded and said, “I hold you to your promise, Your
Highness. Find Ian and bring him back safely.”

She owed the king no loyalties but she owed Ian her life.
She took in a deep breath, filling her lungs with oxygen. She held onto the
handles on each side of the bowl and slowly lowered her head until it was
completely under water.

The water was cold against her face and she gasped, water
filling her mouth. She coughed letting precious air escape in the form of
bubbles. She raised her head on instinct and found herself being pushed farther
down. More air left her lungs and everything began to blur.

She blinked and found that her eyes would not close. She
looked around the bowl and suddenly realized it had been an illusion. It was so
much more than just a bowl. It was everything. Flashes of people she knew and
places she had been surrounded her. At the very end of it all, she saw her home
and she ran to it.

She reached out to touch the front door. Funny, she didn’t
remember putting her hand in the water. She pushed the thought away and opened
the door. The scent of her mom’s apple pie welcomed her and she grinned.

“Mom!” she called out. “Where are you?”

“I’m in the kitchen, darling girl. There is someone you must
meet.”

Lexi threw her cape over one of the chairs and went to the
kitchen where her mom and another woman sat, drinking tea.

“Oh Mom, I’ve missed you,” she whispered as she hugged her
mother. “There is so much I need to tell you.”

Her mom took her by the shoulders. “Lex, we don’t have time
for everything. Please sit and let me introduce you to my friend.”

She sat next to her mom and looked at the woman who sat
across from her. Her stomach clenched as she looked the woman over.

“Mom, what’s going on?”

“I told you she wouldn’t understand, Myra.” The woman said, exasperation
tinging her voice. “I bet she doesn’t even see it.”

“See what?” Lexi asked slowly. “Mom, what is she talking
about?”

Her mom sighed. “Grace, don’t rush her.” She looked at Lexi.
“Lexi, surely you can see? Look at my friend, Grace. Really look at her.”

Lexi did as she was told and looked the woman over. Again,
her stomach clenched. It just couldn’t be.

“Is she…is she my twin?”

Grace laughed. “No, dear, I’m not your twin but we are
related.”

“I don’t understand what’s going on here. Please tell me. I
need to get back and save Ian.”

Grace’s face softened. “I agree, you must save Ian. When you
met as children, I knew that he was your other half. You two couldn’t be
separated then so I can only imagine what it feels like now.”

An echo of the past crossed Lexi’s mind. She was too young
for it to be a memory and yet the thought was there. A toddler boy sat next to
a crib holding onto the hand of a younger girl. The room swirled with love. She
blinked back tears as the thought drifted away.

Grace smiled. “Yes. That’s when you first met. He’s been
through so much while he’s waited for you to return. Saving him won’t be easy,
though.
They’ve
waited a long time for him.” She turned to Lexi’s mom
and said, “Myra, you need to tell her. She won’t believe it until you tell her.”

Her mom looked down at the table and said, “Lexi, you know I’m
not your real mother.”

“Yeah, you and Dad found me in a field. I’ve heard this
story a million times.”

Her mom shook her head. “No, darling, I didn’t find you. I
was told where you would be left. It was planned out from the moment you
entered the other realm to when I would see you in the field. You were brought
to me to be kept safe until the time was right.”

Lexi stared at her mom silently. It couldn’t be true. Her
mom loved her and would have never kept something like this a secret.

“I do love you, Lex. You know I do. But what would you have
said if I had told you this when you were young? You would have resented me and
tried to find your true parents.” She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Child,
I remember your teen years. You were such a handful. You would have run away at
every chance. Plus, I swore I would do everything in my power to keep you safe.”

“And you did,” Grace said as she reached across the table. “I
can never thank you enough, either. You paid the ultimate price too.”

Suddenly the truth hit Lexi in the face.

“I can’t believe I didn’t see it before,” she said weakly.
She turned to Grace. “You’re my real mom, aren’t you?”

Grace nodded. “I am and I have waited so long to be able to
finally tell you.”

“Does this mean I am the One?”

A shadow crossed both Grace and Myra’s faces.

“I see that dear Loren is still hell bent on finding ‘the
One’,” Grace said using air quotes. “That man never knew when to give something
up. ‘The One’ is nothing more than a childhood story, used to scare children
into being good.”

Lexi could see that her mom…that Myra agreed. It was strange
to think that both of her mothers were sitting before her.

“If there’s no such thing as the One then does that mean I’m
a Witch?” She had to know.

Myra jumped to her feet. “No, of course not. How could you
think such a thing?”

Lexi bit her lip. “I don’t know what to think anymore. I was
told three categories that I might fit into here in Sinoda. One, I’m the One
and will save everyone, which I now know is not true. Two, I’m a Witch and will
die soon. Three, I’m here by mistake and will be sent back to Oklahoma with no
memories of Sinoda.”

Grace took Lexi’s hand into her cold one. “Daughter of mine,
you are not a Witch. You are not ‘the One’, either. You are something so much
more.”

Lexi looked into Grace’s eyes and saw something deep inside.
That something was truth.

“Then what am I?” she whispered.

“You are my daughter,” Grace replied.

Myra put her hand on her shoulder and added, “And you are my
daughter as well.”

Lexi took Myra’s hand into her own and held onto both their hands.
She was there with the woman who gave birth to her and the woman who raised
her. And she knew what she had to do.

Suddenly she was pulled from the kitchen. Myra and Grace
both called her name as she left. Hands reached out and strange voices cried
out to her but she couldn’t answer. She saw a light ahead and knew she had to
go to it. Just as she was about to touch it, a strong hand reached out and
grabbed her.