Page 18 of Shattered Heir
Shad groaned and leaned his head against the headrest.
His emotions and feelings and thoughts flooded into me again as if I were him in his memory and as if it were happening to me:
It was easy for Keil to say, easy for anyone to tell me that ‘all will be well,’ but I had been dreaming about that moment for most of my life. I had wanted to meet her for so long, and on that day, I would meet her. I worried that I would mess everything up. What if she hated me? Wanted nothing to do with me? Not only do I want her to like me, to be honest, I want us to have a real future together, saving Terra and being happy, but I want something to finally go right. I pictured my mother and remembered all of the advice she had given me before any large get-together, ball, or party, and I realized thatI had always let her calm my nerves. My melody swarmed around me, and I pulled it back, ordering it to calm down, insisting that all would be well.
“Here is the house,” Keil said as he pulled up to a home. The property was pleasing to the eye, but I couldn’t focus on the minor details. Homes in this realm still took me by surprise sometimes. I heard her melody then; it was louder than ever before–so loud, strong and beautiful, and I wanted to run to her and hold her in my arms, but that would certainly frighten her. As I climbed out of the car, I closed my eyes and listened to her beautiful melody, creating a perfect harmony with mine. I turned around and looked at the house directly across the street and saw movement in the highest window. I stared for a few moments, feeling her panic within me.
‘Great, Emma, be a stupid stalker.’
The words floated to me so effortlessly that I knew she didn’t know how to keep her thoughts to herself. I smiled. She can stalk me anytime she wants to.
“What’s that look for?” Keil asked as we moved around to the side of the van.
“I heard her thoughts; I heard her soul, Keil; it is exquisite. There is no way that she can be meant for me. I think the Ancients have it wrong.”
“Sire, I know you, and, indeed, they have it right. I could not think of a more deserving person than yourself. The Ancients blessed you with this gift for a reason.”
I wanted to believe him, but it seemed too wonderful to be true. I thought back to that day, the day I would never forget—to the lady from the Dungeons of the Mist. She had told me that I would find her, that she would be on Earth. It all seemed too good to be true, but she was real, alive, and she was so close. I wanted to run to her, to hold her, and to learn everything about her. I wanted to kiss her and to never let her go, to makeher mine for always. I shook my head and looked down at my hands. I calmed down my melody. I needed to control myself. I knew it would be hard to control myself around her, but the last thing I wanted to do was to make her afraid. I needed to get to know her, and I needed to go slow. I smiled; that would be enough. She would always be enough, and no matter how long it took, I would be patient.
I awoke with a gasp and sat up. Breathing heavy, I tried to keep the thoughts and the feelings alive that still resonated within me. I was in awe; I was shocked. Was that real? Had I just dreamed all that? Or was that one of the memories that Shad had left for me?
“Em?” I looked to the side of my bed and saw Ryker there. He was rubbing his eyes, and it was only then that I realized it was still dark outside. I wondered how long I had been sleeping.
“Ry? What time is it?” I asked, trying to see my digital alarm clock.
“Three in the morning,” he said, sitting up. “Are you okay?”
“I think I just accessed one of Shad’s memories.”
“Shad’s memories? Em, what are you talking about?”
“Shad gave me a note from his melody when he was in the cave. Did no one tell you? Shad told me that it would show me how to save him. ‘It holds memories,’ he said.”
“I didn't hear about that, no. Does it show you how to bring back a soulless?” He sat up quickly, waiting for my answer.
“No, it was only a memory of him moving in next door—”and so much more.I didn’t understand it all. He’d known about me before coming here? He wanted to meet me? What had I just experienced? And why did he want me to know this?
“Why would he give you that memory?” he scoffed.
As Ryker fell back to sleep mere moments later, I could not help but smile because I thought that I knew exactly why Shad had left such a memory within me. He wanted to show me his feelings; he wanted to remind me that he loved me, and Iwasreminded, and I was in awe of him. I didn't think that I could love him any more than I already did, but at that moment, I loved him so much more than I ever thought possible. I wanted to dive into his arms and hold him, but I knew that I had work to do before I could be with my Shad again, and I would do anything and everything in my power to bring him back to me.
Chapter Eleven
“Okay, this lesson will be less demanding,” Keil said as I walked into his office. We were at Shad’s company’s building. I still didn’t know what went on there. There was a large conference room with wood paneling on the walls and small gray cubicles throughout the main space with about ten people busy typing or talking on the phone. When we entered the long, carpeted hallway, everyone looked up from their desks and watched us. Keil held up a hand to wave, and then we were alone. Keil was worried about my protection when I practiced without the crystal. He wanted me to change locations every once in a while, so that if I was being tracked, it would be more difficult to target where I was.
“You did well with being present.”
“I lasted like five seconds, Keil,” I said, slouching in his armchair beside a bookshelf.
“I am proud of you. But we need you to focus on other things. Shad left a note inside of you, and I have no doubt that we can access it soon if you can learn more of the skills needed to protect yourself.”
“I had a weird dream last night, possibly a memory. I don’t know.”
“Tell me everything,” Keil said, moving from behind his desk to sit on top of it. There was a knock at the door, and a lady walked in.
“Hello. Sorry sir, but we have news of movement.” She did a curtsy and handed Keil a piece of paper.
“Thank you, Courtney.”
