Page 84 of Shattered Heir
Chapter Forty
She was so beautiful. I wondered if she understood just how beautiful she was. I could have stood there all morning and just watched her, but I decided that I really didn’t want her to think that I was a creep. I moved from my spot across the hall and walked over to her. I still couldn’t believe that it was my real life, that she was a part of my life. How many years had I seen visions, glimpses of her? How many years did I ache to know her, to hold her in my arms? How long had I waited to be able to tell her how much I loved her? Instead, I had to wait. Things were done differently on Earth. Friendship was close to romance in my opinion, so I was happy that our relationship was progressing, that we were friends. It was only a matter of time before we would be able to go back to Terra together. I thought about my journey to Earth. The memories I had of that lady in the Dungeons of the Mist were so clear in my mind. She granted me my greatest desire from the Ancients. I would be with my song. It was easy to find joy in my travels to Earth, even when Ryker was flustered. I took in my surroundings, understanding that the cave in Oregon was the passageway toreturn home with Emma. It was a small grouping of caverns directly off of the coast. I could even recall how the salty air tasted.
“Hello, Emma,” I said as she played with her locker. She looked at me, and her melody rang out to mine, connecting within a few seconds. I knew she didn’t mean to do it, and it surprised me every single time. It wasn’t usual to elicit that type of reaction, or to respond in that way, but I knew Emma had no training. I was pretty sure that the Ancients had planted an earthling as my song, just to keep her safe.
“Hey,” she said, fumbling with her lock.
“Counter-clockwise,” I said in her ear and enjoyed the way her melody soared again and drove right into me. I watched as she nodded and finally got it right. She swung the door open, and there was the yellow flower that I had placed inside of it. I had memorized her combination by watching her open her locker before. She looked at the rose, and joy overcame her soul. I was happy as I watched. She moved the tag to see the word, “friendship,” and her melody grew sad. Did she not like the idea of being my friend? I found ‘friendship’ to be the most important quality in a relationship. Ours was new, and being able to confide in each other was a start; friendship was the natural start. I wanted to be her best friend, her boyfriend as they called it there at school, and I thought the note would convey that; however, it seemed I had gotten it wrong.
Chapter Forty-One
“If there is even one shred of good inside of you, please let me say goodbye to Shad; he is dying,” I mumbled as Cade again stood over me, and I was too weak to even move my head to see what he was doing.
“Sweet, dearest Emma. My brother is a pathetic excuse for a prince. He would make a terrible king. I am doing you a favor. In a few years, once we figure out how, you and I will bond into our own soul song; you and I will be inseparable. You will see; I can be patient. I can wait, but I have plans for Embra—and for you, big plans.”
“I won’t watch you as you destroy a world. What is your plan? To make everyone soulless?” I spat at him. I had awakened from my dream of Shad, a memory I cringed at because I had disappointed him with my reaction. I didn't realize that he loved me then. If I had known, the yellow rose would have brought me more joy than confusion and sadness.
“Of course not,” he smiled and folded his arms. “Soulless are not helpful on Terra, not in the slightest.
“But they are here? Why are you making soulless here, then?”
“Ah, I wished to tell you everything, and then you chose to deceive me, Emma. The time for spilling truths and secrets is over. I have my soul and I have you, my song, and soon we will reach Terra; that is what I will tell you.”
“How can you say it is yours?” I snapped.
“I have preparations to make, sweetheart, as much as I love this chat—” He walked closer to me, and I moved across the bed, pushing my back against the wall. I realized that I had more strength than I had previously thought, and I knew what he wanted from me. He wanted the one note of Shad’s, the one note that Shad had put inside of me, that he was missing. I shook my head. He chuckled. “It's funny how you think you have a say in any of this.”
“No! You can’t have it,” I cried, and I tried to hit him, but his hands held mine down. I was his prisoner. He was corrupt. I paid attention to his melody as it tried to connect with mine, and as his gaze locked onto mine. I listened as I felt and heard his need for the one note that Shad had left inside of me. He wanted that one note; then he wanted to mark me. I would not let him. That note was all I had left of Shad. He wasn't in love with me—he wanted to use me.
“That hurts, love,” he said, pulling away from me, touching my hair and my neck with his hands. “I care for you very much.” He kissed my jaw, and I stiffened.
“Leave me alone, Cade.”
He pulled away, just for a moment.
“I know you see me as the bad guy. Is it my fault—” He stopped talking, and I could hear his melody complete the words he wouldn't say out loud.Is it my fault I was beaten as a child by my Father, in an attempt to force a melody out of me?No, Emma, it is not.”
“Those things may not have been your fault—but what you have done to your brother, to me—those acts,areyourfault. No matter your past, you always have a choice.”
He laughed, pulling away even further.
“A choice, you say? Well, sure, yes, I chose to take the beatings; I chose to let the two of them manipulate me over and over again. But, not anymore. I won't let them manipulate me again.”
I saw the little boy who he had been, along with two men, sitting in a darkened room. I saw the blood splatters on the floor and the voices shouting, ‘Where is your melody!’Then another smack ‘Restore it now!’a second voice said. The scene was gone, and I looked at him.
“Cade, I am so sorry that happened to you—those were evil men; they never should have done that to you.”
He turned his back on me.
“Evil? Yes, corrupt—I didn't know what that was at first—I didn't understand that I wasn't a child of the corruptor, myself.”
“You are an heir, Cade—there is more good than bad.”
“Maybe once, but this is all I have.” He turned to face me and clutched the crystal in his hands at the nape of his neck. “I care for you, Emma, and I don't want to hurt you—and I do believe that if you giveusa chance, we could be incredible—unstoppable, together.”
“No,” I said softly
“No? Just like that?”
