Sapphyre: Rise of an Angel (Sapphyre Saga Book 3) Page 8

  I jerk my hand back. “Sorry.”

  Zach rolls his eyes at me and lifts my hand again. This time I run it down his head to his neck and up onto his shoulder.

  “Come on. It’s not much farther.”

  I keep my hand on his shoulder as we continue to walk through the woods.

  Five minutes later we reach my small peaceful pond. It’s beautiful and full of life.

  I take my seat on the rock by the water and Zach sits down next to me.

  Picking up a small flat rock, I skip it three times across the water. Zach grabs one too and tosses it into the water with a big plunk scaring all the fish.

  I laugh and Zach huffs.

  “A lot has changed hasn’t it?” I ask still looking out over the water. “Zach,” I turn toward him. “I am truly sorry I took off that day. If I hadn’t done that, you wouldn’t be stuck this way. I will never forgive myself for that.” A tear streams down my cheek.

  He looks at me with sadness in his eyes. His nose touches my cheek and brushes away the tear.

  “I don’t know what to do to fix it. It wasn’t meant to be like this.” I wipe away another tear from my cheek as Zach stands there looking at me.

  He looks like he’s thinking. His eyes scrunch as he continues to stare at me.

  “Are you angry with me?” I need an answer, no matter what he says.

  He immediately shakes his head no.

  I have a little relief with his answer. “Do you still… want to be… with me?” I have to look away, I don’t want to see his face.

  I hear him yip in shock. Then he gives me a small bark ordering me to look at him.

  Reluctantly I look and we lock eyes.

  Again I hear that voice I have loved so much. “Forever!” he demanded.

  Just like before, things come undone and I can’t hear him anymore.

  I smile, “Forever…”

  Giving him a hug around his neck, I thank him for the sacrifices he’s made to save my life and for everything he has done. Then continuing, I apologize for all my screw-ups and the things I have done that put him and his parents in danger. He rolls his eyes several times, licked my face when I started crying and yipped in protest many times.

  Through all of this, he has stood by me and continues to love me through it all. I don’t deserve him.

  I wonder if things will ever be the same again, if we will ever be normal again.

  Sitting on the rock I lean against Zach in silence listening to the small water fall. It’s peaceful.

  “I miss this. Just being with you, it makes me feel safe.” I said as he snuggles in closer to me. “I wonder how that works? How can I hear you when we lock eyes like that. I wonder if we did it again if it would work…”

  Zack pulls back from me and looks into my eyes. We stare at one another for the longest time, but nothing happens.

  “It’s not working. I guess we’re trying too hard,” I sigh and Zach huffs. “Guess we will just have to wait…” I mumbled.

  “We should get back. It’s getting late.”

  Zach nods in agreement. He stands and stretches out, then looks at me and motions to his back.

  I laugh. “I think I can walk. The last time I got on your back I got motion sickness!” I grinned.

  He coughs a laugh.

  “Race ya!” I take off at full speed back to the house.

  Bite

  Already August, a month has passed and the Solar Eclipse is only seven weeks away. My stress level increases with each passing day, but so does my strength and knowledge. Each day I have grown, and each day I continue to learn. I have been sparring with everyone and they certainly have not taken it easy on me, especially Donavon.

  Donavon has helped me in learning to protect all of my vulnerable areas and how to break through others defenses. He knew when I had learned all I could from him when I beat him each time when we fought. I had my mouth to his throat each time and it became easier to fight with him during each training. The last time I trained with him yesterday, I had him pinned to the ground in a matter of a minute and had him in the kill position. Our sparring fights only continue to grow in aggression and speed.

  When I have him pinned he smiles up and me and laughs.

  “Maybe I have shown you too much! Now I’m going to have to watch myself around you. But…” He quickly grabs my neck and flings me on my back, pinning me to the ground with his teeth to my neck. “…never let your guard down.” He leans back and grins evilly. “Seems I have more to show you.” He laughs as he helps pull me off the ground.

  Katrina hates to watch us fight, but she is also my biggest support. She is my best friend and has taught me patience and how to clear my mind of all my stress and thoughts. We meditate each night before we head to bed to calm down. And that has really helped me.

  Sweet Thomas also helps me in so many ways. He brings my spirits up when I’m upset and feeling down. He will also spar with me as I help him with his ability. He is now able to knock me out within a matter of seconds. He has become a great help and I’m certainly glad he is on our side. But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m uneasy about letting him go into battle.

  Garcia and Thatch help me with other things such as using my wings and using my plant affinity. I’m able to fly circles around Thatch in the sky and out maneuver him. Heights don’t bother me anymore. I know that if I trust myself that I won’t fall. I’ve learned to control my wings in such a way that I can allow them to burst from my back with nothing but a mere thought. I can feel my wings getting stronger each time I use them and allow them to work their muscles. They are not a separate entity, they are a part of me, a part of who I am.

  My plant affinity grows each day. Garcia has taught me so much on how to control the plants around me and how to have them do what I need done. I’ve become so good at it, I no longer need to use my words. I visualize what I want, and they do what I need. I still have to work on the level of energy I put into it, because when I’m done training with Garcia, I’m exhausted. It takes a lot from me.

  My beautiful Zach… He has stood by my side through everything. He will watch as I fight and train with the others and I can see the strain and stress written all over his face. I know it pains him to see me spar with our friends, especially to the extent we have to go, but he knows this will all be real soon enough and I will truly be fighting for my life. It isn’t a game, its life or death. Fight or die…

  Since I’ve first heard Zach’s voice echo in my head, we have tried many times to open that door again and again. But with no avail. A door is closed and as hard as I try to open it, it stays locked tight and sealed.

  I sigh as I get off the couch and head toward the front door. Today is going to be a challenge as I’m going to fight off multiple attackers. There is a high chance I won’t have any back up and will be on my own during the battle. Everyone, except Katrina, is out in the woods somewhere waiting to attack me. I’m not looking forward to this.

  I open the door and step out onto the open porch. Katrina is sitting on the steps waiting for the mock battle to begin. She turns around to face me as she hears the door close.

  She looks tired and defeated all at once. She hates this. She isn’t able to join in with the battles because she doesn’t have the strength or ability everyone around her has. She feels useless sitting on the sidelines all the time. I tell her that I don’t want her to get hurt and that she has done more than enough to help us all out. But that doesn’t help any, she is determined to go to the battle with us, even against Donavon’s deep protest.

  “How are you doing K?” I ask her.

  She sighs, “Useless… but I’ll be fine. You’re the one I’m worried about right now. You haven’t fought against this many before all at once,” she stresses.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll manage one way or another. I just worry about hurting them, especially Thomas. It’s hard fighting with him. He’s like my little brother,” I smile.

  She laughs lightly. “Y
eah, I know the feeling,” she smiles.

  “I know this is hard on you K. But everything will be okay.” I hug her tightly.

  She hugs back. “I certainly hope so.” She steps back and looks out into the yard surrounded by trees. “Good luck, you’re gonna need it,” she gives a dark laugh.

  I sigh. “This will be interesting. I’ve only taken on three at once before, not five.” I shake my head. “You sure you wanna watch this?” I ask sarcastically.

  She laughs. “Who knows, I might learn something.”

  “Alright. I’m off.” I head down the steps into the open yard.

  “Oh, give Donavon a good punch for me would you!?” Katrina hollered.

  I laugh. “Not a problem!” She is still mad at him that he refuses to allow her to go to the battle. He wants her to stay behind. But Katrina is going one way or another.

  Walking to the middle of the yard I open myself to attackers. I don’t know where anyone is hiding or how far off they are from the house. Nor do I know if they will come one at a time or all at once. Thatch thought keeping me in the dark would give them the best observation of what I need to work on.

  I know Donavon, Zach, Garcia, Thatch and Thomas are all out in the trees somewhere. I know their scents and I know I can pinpoint each one in a heartbeat if I want to. But I want this to be as realistic as possible. I’m not going to know what Malvent’s army will smell like and most likely, their scent will be all around me. I will have to rely on my eyes and hearing the most.

  Instead of using my nose, I scan the area around me looking for anyone that is within my sight. I also open up my hearing, concentrating for any noises that don’t fit the tranquility around me. Everything seems perfectly still, that is until I hear an unnatural rustling of leaves. I’m quickly surrounded by my attackers. They stay within the tree line as they start to circle me.

  I sigh. I hate this, especially with them being my friends, my family. I worry I will hurt someone, but in reality, when the day comes, I will have to actually kill…

  I have to let that thought drop as Thatch is the first one to take after me, breaking the circle. I quickly notice everyone’s faces are in a hard line. I know they hate doing this just as much as I have.

  Just as quickly as Thatch left the circle, Donavon and Garcia come at me from two other directions.

  I feel the need to use my wings to take off, but I promised I would stay on the ground.

  As they charge toward me, my adrenaline kicks in and I start moving quickly to take one of them down. Thatch is the closest and he probably assumes I will go after him first. I catch him off guard when I go for Thomas first. He’s behind Thatch, still in the tree line.

  They are all able to use their abilities against me in any way they want. I know Thomas can knock me out in a matter of seconds and he has to be the first one out before I become tired. Besides, I’ve dreaded fighting him from the beginning. Easiest to get him out of the way first and I’m sure Katrina will appreciate it.

  I also take Thomas by surprise when I grab his hands behind his back making sure he can’t touch me. Just as I’m about to tag him out by putting my teeth to his neck, Zach quickly grabs my shoulder with his teeth and pulls me back. I know he grabbed as gently as he could, but he still drew blood. But it will heal in a matter of minutes. I’m becoming used to these type injuries as they barely hurt anymore. I can see regret on Zach’s face, but I ignore it and roll my eyes at him with a small smile.

  I crouch to attack Zach, but now I’m completely surrounded. Thatch and Donavon each grab my arms while Garcia has thick vines come from the ground and start winding around my feet. I quickly kick at the vines and close my eyes trying to take control of the plants. They do as I ask of them and twist around Thatch and Donavon’s feet, tying them where they stand. Garcia stares at me in amazement as I overtook her own ability. I smile as I pull free jumping into the air. I land behind Thatch and Donavon who struggle to get free. I hear Donavon say “Damn it Lexi.” Under his breath which makes me laugh.

  I know this is no time to play and I have work to do. While Donavon and Thatch are busy, I quickly head for Thomas once more. He stands behind Garcia and I don’t realize Zach stands next to Thomas making it more difficult for me to get to him.

  Thinking quickly, I jump up and land on top of Zach’s back taking him by surprise. I wrap my hands around his neck and quickly kiss him.

  “You’re out,” I grin.

  Zach huffs but lays down where he is and plays dead. It’s a victorious, yet saddening moment, and to even think he might not survive this war… is unimaginable.

  While I’m distracted for just that second, Garcia and Thomas manage to pin me to the ground, while Donavon stands at my head looking down at me with an evil grin. He goes to reach for my head. Before he can touch me I break open my wings to break away from Thomas and Garcia. This is something none of them were expecting. My wings push them away from me and I’m freed from their grasp. As soon as I’m free I reclosed my wings and smile.

  “You said I just couldn’t fly,” I grin.

  “Very smart child,” Garcia approves.

  Thatch catches me off guard as he jumps on my back ready to bite my neck. I reach my hands behind me and get a hold of his head, and with all the force I can muster, I fling him over my head and throw him into the trees.

  Garcia comes at me from the side and I grab her out reached arm and swung her in a circle throwing her to the ground. I get on her back and place my teeth at her neck.

  “Out,” I smiled.

  She whispers, “Good,” with a smile and plays dead.

  Thatch still hasn’t come out of the tree line, so I place my attention on Donavon and Thomas who are coming at me from two directions.

  Quickly closing the distance between Thomas and I, I kick his legs out from under him causing him to lose his balance. I take that second to grab his throat from behind. He tries to touch me with his hand, but I have already grabbed it. I finally get close enough to bite his neck.

  “Another out,” I said.

  Thomas shakes his head sadly as he lays on the ground.

  Donavon gets a hold of me around my waist. I’m able to fling myself backwards loosening his grip and spin in his hands now facing him. Pulling my fist back, I hit him hard in the stomach. I don’t feel too bad in hurting Donavon like I did all the others. He can take it.

  I grin, “That was for Katrina.”

  I hear a faint “Thank you,” come from the house which causes me to laugh.

  That distracts Donavon for the second I need. Grabbing his head between my hands, I push it back and give a bite to his neck.

  “Out!” I grinned.

  His face sours. “Yeah, taught you too much,” he mumbled sitting on the ground.

  I smile as I turn to look for Thatch. I don’t see him and hope he isn’t hurt from the throw.

  Soon enough I hear a gust of wind from above, Thatch is about to swoop down and grab me. I don’t have time to do anything before he digs his claws into my shoulders and takes up into the sky carrying me.

  He takes me higher and higher. Then… he lets me go.

  I’m falling to the ground at a high rate of speed. The tree tops close in. I know I’m not supposed to use my wings to fly. So I resist the urge to open them, as badly as I want to.

  I have a plan and I’m sure it will draw Thatch to me. As soon as I’m under the canopy of the trees, I open my wings to keep me from crashing into the ground. I stop just short of hitting. I want to let him think I crash landed and I lay on the ground in an uncomfortable position.

  It’s only a matter of seconds when I hear Thatch land close by and come running over in human form. I know this is not a nice thing to do, but I have to finish this.

  Thatch quickly rolls me on my back with horror on his face. Before he realizes I’m fine, I grab him, pulling him down to me and fake bite his neck.

  “Out!” I yell so everyone can hear me.

  Thatch has to catch h
is breath. “You scared the hell out of me child. But nice job,” he smiles in approval.

  Bree

  “Good job Lexi,” Katrina smiles as everyone heads back to the deck.

  “Thanks,” I smile.

  I know I got them all, but they also took it easy on me. I know I can’t handle five at once, it’s too much. And I know I still have improvements to do.

  Garcia sees me lost in thought. “What is it child?”

  “I know I can’t handle more than three at once. You all took it easy on me, I know that. But if you weren’t my friends and were truly out to kill me, you could have done that easily.” I shake my head. “I also don’t want to hurt any of you, so it makes it hard to represent my real abilities.”

  “We know child. We just wanted to see where you were at with some of your abilities. I must say you surprised me. Taking over the control I had on the vines… was astonishing. You have become stronger. That is all that matters.” She smiled.

  I return her smile.

  “How is your strength? Do you feel drained at all?” Thatch asked me. He knows controlling the plants weakens me.

  I assess myself. “I feel okay. A little drained from using the vines, but overall, I could keep going for a while.” I smile.

  Thatch nods his head.

  A sound in the trees catch all of our attention. I look up and see Bree stumbling through the trees, holding on to them to stabilize herself. She’s covered in blood and has several deep wounds on her face.

  “Bree!?” I yell running over to her as she falls to her knees.

  I place my hands on her face and have her look at me. Her eyes are glassy and dull. She looks like she’s fighting to stay conscious.

  “Get her inside on the table!” Garcia yelled.

  Donavon quickly picks her up as she screams in agony. He brings her in the house placing her on the dining table. She gasps in pain, and blood starts coming out of her mouth.

  She looks incredibly pale as she stares at me with anger and relief in her eyes. But she is on her way out. She takes a deep breath and grimaces in pain. “Oranda.” She takes another small breath, choking. “She knew…” is all she can say before she goes unconscious and her body falls limp.