Forbidden Choices by Jen Weddle
Chapter 26
Someone puts cold hands over my eyes. I scream panicked and whirl around to see who would wake me from my nap. Blair stares at me wide-eyed and innocent, her hair bouncing wildly in the wind. She hands me a pair of shorts sheepishly grinning.
“Blair. How did you find me?” I gasp. “I thought I was going to be stranded and Mathew was going to find me.”
“I—I tracked you.” She stutters. She puts her hands on her sides, looking at me with a confused expression on her face. “Everyone at the palace is calling you a traitor; they found out that Mathew is your father.”
“They think I’m a traitor?” I shout angrily, kicking at the dirt and leaves around us. “I’m not a traitor, I barely escaped my father. He used some sort of spell that almost killed me. I almost drowned.”
Blair stares at me silently. Her lips pressed together, she looks at me with a look that I’ve never seen cross her beautiful face—full of passion and concern.
“I’m glad you’re okay.” She whispers into my ear, barely audible. It tickles but feels soothing. We stare at each other silently, sitting across from each other on the bench. The wind starts to pick up again, and I pull on my clothes. They’re still a little damp but the sun has dried them off considerably.
“How did you find me anyways?” I ask.
It hadn’t even occurred to me that she would have to use a teleportation device to reach the human world, and then she’d have to locate me even if she was able to use it.
“I’ve been training as a Tracker for the Kingdom. I’m getting really good at it.” She replies with a certain note of sarcasm. “Although, I wasn’t ever good enough to be able to Track the Princess like you did.”
She takes my hand into hers and gently rubs circles into it, massaging it and staring aimlessly out in front of her.
“We need to go. I sense a presence nearby.”
As soon as the words escape her lips, we hear the sound of snapping twigs a few feet behind us. She clutches my hand tightly and we’re being transported somewhere far away, but before the mist settles around I see a dark shadow reaching up in the air for us. He almost catches my foot but narrowly misses. I shut my eyes tightly.
We land on a secluded beach with only the sounds of waves and the gentle squawks of seagulls lingering around us. She’s taken us somewhere in the mortal world. Elves seldom visit the human world but if they do come—they always come for the ocean.
Our world only has one ocean: The Dark Sea. And it doesn’t compare to the beauty that the humans get to experience at their oceans. We don’t get sunsets or white sands or playful sea creatures. The Dark Sea is murky and full of horrible, ancient creatures.
Blair looks into my eyes and smiles up at me. The sun setting is the most beautiful backdrop that could be set before us.
“I’ve never been to the ocean.” She whispers, “I thought it would be a nice place to visit with someone as special as you.”
It’s silent for a long while; we sit there holding hands in the grainy white sand. I hold her in my arms and rest my chin on her head, inhaling the fresh, salty air. I’ve never been so close to the ocean before, even though I’ve been to the mortal world often searching for Alison.
I stare at the vastness before us and think about how it’s like my relationship with Ali. She’s so close to being mine, but she’s so far away. I can feel her getting farther away from me every day. I remember who I’m holding in my arms at the moment and it makes the situation more complicated.
“THEO!” I scream into the empty air. I start to cry; he’s so far away. I need him here with me, holding me and protecting me. Riley pops his head up from the pillow.
“Alison?” He groans. “Are you okay?”
“No!” I yell. “I’m not okay.”
I start to sob and shove Riley away from me.
“You lied to me Riley.” I say looking at him as his eyes widen in surprise.
“You said that Mathew was going to kill him. That’s not true, I just had a vision and Theo is perfectly fine. He’s cuddling with Blair at the ocean, but he’s fine otherwise.” I say whimpering.
“A vision?” Riley demands. “You mean a dream.”
“No.” I reply. “I mean I’m a Seer now; I can have visions.”
“Since when?!” He exclaims.
“Yesterday.” I reply heatedly. I stand up, infuriated.
“Riley, I have to go. I have to go now.” I say sounding braver then I actually feel. I try to get a head start, but even in his sleepy state, Riley is still much faster. He grabs me by the arm and turns me toward him.
“Why can’t it ever be easy with you?” He demands. “Why can’t you be doe-eyed like all the other girls and just listen to me?”
“Because if you haven’t noticed I’m not like other girls, I’m not going to drool all over you just because you’re a little bit handsome and charming.” I reply smugly. “We shouldn’t wait another minute if Theo really is in trouble. Blair could be tricking him.”
Riley lets go of my arm and we stare at each other for a moment.
“I don’t know what to do. I can’t miss my sister’s wedding, but I can’t let you go alone. It’s too dangerous. I wish you weren’t so stubborn.”
“Well, I wish you weren’t so stupid.” I reply snidely. He surprises me with a long, passionate kiss. It silences me. It also confuses me, but I remain quiet for a little while.
“Don’t you feel anything when I kiss you like that?” He asks. “I know you were there when our souls connected together finally.”
I fold my arms across my chest and try to look serious. My stomach is turning, and my heart is fluttering around. I want to scream at him, but I also want to kiss him again. How am I supposed to feel?
“Even though our souls connected; I don’t feel complete.” I reply sighing.
“I won’t kiss you anymore.” He says hopelessly. “If you don’t feel complete, then we’re obviously not connected.”
He looks miserable as he plops down on the bed sulking.