Chapter 8, part 5

I felt the wind push away from her the instant she stated walking away from the others. It must be a star thing. The strangest part of all of this is, the wind sang to me as it followed her.  Not really a song with words, but a melody with lavender  twinkles and sparkes, as if the wind is kissing Brooke with her very own  melody. Her melody to let me know exactly where she is, and how close she's getting. She shifts into tree vines, moving in and out of treetops. But still the melody plays with each shift. I wish Jayden had a melody.

"That was fun." She gushes at me, as she sits down and leans back on her hand. She's sucking up the sun as if it's the last time she'll see it. I on the other hand, didn't even notice the sunshine until now.

For a moment, my eyebrows shoot up in surprises at her words. Realizing the first impression I have  of her is, she couldn't hurt a fly. I have no idea why she was sent the East star. The star to protect and guard, then again I don't know why I have the North either.

"Do you think he'll come back?" She wonders out load.
I finely look at her. The expression on her face is full of a delightful wonder. Her eyes are fixed on the mountains ahead of us as she crosses her legs.

I'm almost afraid of the answer. But curiosity begs me to ask. "What did you?"

She beams. "Nothing. I just... showed Mitch the way out."

"Oooohhh" Drawing out the word to get the full meaning. "so thats what that was."  There's a tug on my lips to curl upword. First impressions are already changing.

Feeling sheepish, I turn back to the mountains unable to keep my eyes off of them for too long. I'm nervous and I can't help it. I acted like a child running away from her problems. I should have stood my ground. I should have asked questions, should have thanked Mitch for saving my life. I should have done a lot of things. But I just ran, and now I can't look Brooke in the eyes.

We stay like that for a long time. Me holding my legs as tightly as I can, Brooke practically laying down. Both studying the mountains ahead of us. I'm not sure if the quietness is due to the fact that we have nothing to say, or everything to say. But I'm glad she's here, despite my foolishness. Without her, I'd be completely lost and alone.

The wind gently glides over my arms giving me soft kisses, sending my body small spells of bravery. Until finely Brooke lets out a breath to say. "Where are we going now?"

The shock that runs through my bones, can't be compared to anything. How on earth or whatever we are, would I know where to go?  My eyes fail me as they drift back to Brooke, with I'm sure a dumbfounded expression across my face.

"How would I know?"

"You are the North star." She says planlly. "That means you'll find the others."

"Or.. that means I'll guide us right into traps. Have you forgotten what just happened?"

"That wasn't your fault."

"And who am I supposed to be finding?"   Please say Jayden. Please say Jayden. My blood starts to squirm inside of me. The windstorm is twisting in anticipation. I don't think I can find away back without her.

"The other Stars." She smiles. "We have to find the others, or Zailor will find them and kill them."

I take a breath, close my eyes and wonder for just one moment, if this is a dream... could I kill her now? The answer to that question pushes against my mind in a flash.
• Brooke is a nemph.
• Nemph's die by fire.
• Trap them away from their ever life river. • Away from earth that could help them, and they will fall.

I shack my head, squint my eyes. How do I know this? Why do I know this?  My hands fly to my head as I try to wiggle out of my own thoughts.

"It's ok." Brooke says in the background. "Use your star. It will tell you where they are."

"I don't know how to use this star, it wasn't sent to me Brooke. It was given to me."  I stand up with frustration. I want to wrip the star off my neck and throw it at her. But, I don't dare touch it.

She only sits forward, still with that ridiculous smile access her face. Making me want to wrip that off as well, and I wonder, when did my anger take over?

My fists flex in and out as I stand there waiting for her to push me over the edge. But she waits for me to breathe, until she finally says. "You have it now and it clearly belongs to you." She nods her head to star.

When my eyes shift to the star, it's glowing with tiny sparkles of blue. Swirling around and around, waiting for me to command it. I grip it tightly, feeling the heartbeat burn inside my palm. The beat rushes up my arm, to my head to my heart. "The mountains." It whispers.

Chapter 8 part 4

Mitch takes a moments to consider my questions. Then he answers Naomi. "She's not Ray. Raynee would know where to find Jayden." I'm suddenly envious of Raynee and the idea that she would know where he is and how to fund him... Makes me hate her already.  He turns his head back to me. "But you do look like her. Maybe you can tell me where to find Raynee?" 

The urge to suddenly punch him is far greater than any urge to keep calm. The wind curls around us, making Mitch look a little nervous, I smile at him, as he takes a step backwards. Brooke steps in between us, probably on instinct, but she's guarding Mitch as if I could hurt him, not the other way around. He must have at least fifty pounds of muscle on me, and some how, my twig-like body is going to hurt him? I roll my eyes.

"You should go Mitch." Brooke adds over her shoulder. Her eyes frown, but I can't tell if it's at me or him.

"I'll tell you what." I say with a coy voice, wanting to sound like a brat.  "You tell me how to get back and I just might tell you where Raynee is."

Of course, I have no intention on telling him anything even if I did know where Raynee is. But I keep my poker face on, as I focus on Brooke. "You don't have to protect him, he knows exactly, what I can do."

Mitch's eyes squint for a moment,  then he brings back he's crooked smirk. "Maybe you are the precious Raynee."

Being called precious Raynee, doses something to me. Rage pumps through my veins as if it was acid, a charging force that is to be wrecking with. Unable to stop myself, I almost trip on my own feet as I charge after him. I am so sick this. I'm a star, I'm Raynee, I'm light, I'm dark. Who the hell cares what I am? It's none of their business. Brooke catches me just before I reach Mitch and it takes all of me to not unleash my rath on her. I could tear him apart right now.  The only thing that's stopping me, is I'm not exactly sure why. Oh, and Brooke.

Mitch throws up his hands in surrender as his smile becoming wider. He's having fun with this. He likes pissing me off. My teeth grinds together as I push agents Brooke.

"I don't know how got here sweetheart." Mitch finely says. He tilts his head towards me. "You're the jumper. Remember that?" Then he waves his fingers. "The colors and all that."

"Mitch go home!" Brooke demands.

I shove off of Brooke, and take three steps backwards as I keep my eyes on Mitch. "I didn't jump. I was sent here."

Mitch lets his hands fall, and with a very dramatic expression says. "And who would do a thing like that?" His lower lip pouts out ever so slightly at the end. -He'd fit in perfect with all of the drama kids back in Kennewick and if I wasn't ready to pop, I'd probably laugh at him.

"Grant." I mutter.

All three pixies swing up at Grant's name. Grace gasps. "You mean... Queen Ada's Sir. Grant ?"

They all stare at me waiting for my reply with careful eyes. I pause, wondering if I've said something wrong.

"Yeah.... he told me." I pause as the rush of waves to run washes over me. I need  to get out of here.  "He told me to find the East star.  And now here I am. Standing in front of it." I gesture to Brooke.

"Right." Mitch says quietly.

"Mitch." Brooke warns again.

I smile at Mitch as if he's the little brother I've never had. "Go home Mitch." I sweetly say. "You're not welcome here."

As soon as the words leave my lips. I regret it instantly. The expression on Mitch's faces is a mix of pain and bewilderment. I've seen that expression before. But on a much younger Mitch. He's a child, 8 maybe 9, and that braty line 'go home Mitchell, you're not welcome here.' Spits out of someone else mouth. A boy. I rack my brain for more details, but all I can remember is he's older than Mitch, he's the age I am now, maybe a year or two older and my legs are draped over his.

My mind boggles at the idea. -The images don't fit with the current situation. Mitch is in his early twenties and god help him, drop dead gorgeous. How is it that I have a memory of when he was a child? And why am I not overcome by his obvious beauty?

My expression matches Mitch's. Brooke is glances back and forth between us and the desire to get out of here overwhelms me. I turn on my heels, forcing my way through the bushes, shrubberies, through the trees branches, the roots, the scampering animals in front of me. I don't care where I'm going as long as I'm not here.

The vibes of invisible strings to protect the others binds to me with each step, they're pulling and tugging me back to keep me there. But, like strings on a puppet, I visualize cutting them. They snap back easily, letting me pick up speed. I'm running before I even notice I'm alone.

In the distance, Brooke is letting her anger go. The trees shake around me, but I don't stop to hear the arguments between them. Whatever Brooke dose in her forest, is on her. I just have to get out of here. Focusing on where I place my feet, I run and run and run, until the screams from behind me are too far away.

Just when I start to believe this forest will never end. A clearing opens up into a vast valley, with tall waving grass and an absolute  breathtaking view of mountains with snowtops is in front of me. When I look to right, waterfalls that dance with blues, greens and purples is in the distance catching my breath one more time. To the left of me there massive tan, orange and brown rocks that weave in and out of each other as if they're grading something.

I stop just on the rim of the treeline. Gasping for air as I yet again, wait for my heart to catch up.
My mind races with someone else's  memories. I should have stayed and gotten some answers, should have demand Mitch to tell me where that memory came from. From who and when. But if I'm really honest with myself, I'm scared out of my mind. What if I am this Raynee? What if I'm dark and a killer? What if somehow I am bound to Jayden and therefore Zailor?

I did feel some kind of, I don't know,  pull, force, string. Something that pulled me to Jayden in a way I've never felt before. It was stronger than the protective binding strings that made me want to stay with the others. Those strings I could cut. The ones with Jayden, are alive, beating with a heartbeat. Even now, with him no where near me, I don't think I could cut them if I wanted to. What dose that even mean?

Then there is Mitch. He was younger than me, much younger. I could feel the incense of the child he used to be. I could also feel, the unwillingness to corrupt that incense. I wanted him to stay away, because I didn't want him to be like me, or whoever I had my legs draped over. He wasn't bound by the choices I'd made, and I wanted him to be better than me, to make better choice.

But seeing the Mitch he's become, I can't tell if he is better. Than again, these aren't my memories. How can I be younger now, but older than? This place, this star.. this...  "I have to figure out how to get back."

I plop on the ground, syhing my way down. Unsure of where to go next. There's also a small tingle coming from my star, which makes me think, it doesn't want me to go too far away from Brooke. She is the East star after all, my star must of some kind of connection to that.

Just then, Mitch come flying out of the treetops about a football field away from me. He's in full human form as he's hurled off into the valley. I almost panic when his flying suddenly declines. But before I cast my wind into his direction, he shifts into a hawk, soaring gracefully downward. Just as well. I dont know if my wind would actually work. But just before he hits the ground he shifts again into a wolf.

I wander for a moment if this is so we won't know which shape he's in and he can sneak up on us again. But, his beautiful gray fur, dances access the valley as he runs away from the white forest trees. Mesmerized, I watch him run until I can't see him anymore.

I wrap my arms around my knees, hugging the windstorms inside of me. Willing them to stay where they are, and not chase after Mitchell. I do I want some answers from him, but, I know there will another time. Besides, I can feel Brooke slowly walking toward me.

Rewrite on a character's name.

Sorry for the inconvenience, but the character name Thoms, the warrior that protected Queen Ada in earlier chapters.  (I believe chapter 2 and chapter 3.) Will now and forever more be Grant... Sir Grant.

I promise from here on out there shouldn't be any other character name changes. I also promise to Grant, his character will become far cooler than he has been previous chapters. :)

Thank you.

The author.

Chapter 8, part 3

I look at her dumbfounded. Honesty, I have no idea what to say. My nose scrunches as she flys closer to my face.

"I saw you." She continues. "You inhaled that smoke. Why aren't you laying on the ground dying?"

To say that I'm surprised, would be an understatement. My whole body went numb, my hands turn to fists and my blood boils. How dare she accuse me of being dark, right after I saved her life! The only thing that runs through my head is. Why on earth did I care about them? I sigh, there's not point in wishing I could just let them die now.

Something catches my eye and I glance away from Naomi. A black hawk rests on a high branch, just past the first set of trees. I would have thought more about the bird, but Naomi and her stubbornness interrupts my view.

"Well?" She stresses with her hands on her hips.

I begin to say something in retort, but then Naomi spats out something that stops me cold. "You also cast wind. Only powerful dark magic can do that."

Only dark magic? But that would mean... no. No. Its the star. Not me.

"Naomi please." Brooke pipes in with a voice so soft it instantly makes me worry about her. No! She's none of my concern. I stop myself. I don't know what crazy I am. But, something inside of me is deeply concerned about these four. Just like the kids at school. It's almost like I have to protect them from every evil I can find. Which is funny, since they're the ones who saved me.

I bite my lip as the hawk leans in on his purch. Eyeing me, his next prey with great interest. Maybe I am dark.... would it really be all that bad?  Wait.... I'm not dark! Note  to self:  Shut your inner monologue up!

"No!" Naomi shouts back at Brooke. "Why else would she be looking for Jayden? She's dark and she stole that star."

Now she's starting to piss me off. Stephanie and Wade gave me this star. The best home I've ever been in gave me a necklace for God sakes. No one has ever given me a necklace, and absolutely nothing this beautiful before. Whatever made me concerned about her, just snapped off and shredded it's self.

Who did she think she was? She has no right telling me who I am. I am Jazlyn Love. I'm kind, caring, a little bit of a freak. But I know who I am. I've been Jazlyn for seven almost eight years. And if my name was Raynee, Elizabeth, Maribel or Suzy, before, It doesn't matter now. Because I decide who I am. Light, dark, green or purple, I decided. Not some pixie on a power trip!

"I didn't steal my star" I reveal as I stand and almost fling myself out of the forest. But something keeps me here, I'm not quite sure what yet. But, I want to fight with Naomi, I want to show her, I'm not who she thinks I am.

"And I'm looking for Jayden because Zilor was trying to kill him. He was trying to kill everyone  around me, all for this stupid ridiculous star!"  I hold out the necklace, but stop before I rip it off.

A low laugh creeps in from just above us and I swear it was the hawk. My head is whirling, all I want to do, is curl up in bed and tell Stephanie, I'm too sick to go to school. But I can't do that, I'm here. Where ever here is.

I look up just in time to see the hawk swoop down gracefully and transform into a man. My heart almost stops, but then I remembered I'm in freaken wonderland Jeez, dose everything here have different shape?

"Zilor won't kill Jayden. Not until he has Raynee." His voice is calm, almost as if his insides were still the hawk.

"Mitch!" Brooke blairs out with a gust of wind. But she only has enough strength to barely rest her upper body on your hands.

"Relax Brooke. I didn't bring that spell in, that was brought in for Raynee." Mitch says then nods his head at me. "Which you might just have her."

Ugh. I'm sick to my stomach already. "I'm not Raynee! Why does everyone keep saying that?"

Mitch gives a crooked smile.
"Because you walked into a trap that was set up for Raynee." He clicks his tongue as he strive a little closer to me. "Tell me. Did you hear a little voice calling Raynee?  A pull beckoning you to him? Did you feel it, because that would explain why you're not laying in the dirt dieing. "

I stay silent, unwilling to admit that I did feel it, I did hear it. And so what if I did? That doesn't mean anything.

Mitch walks around me slowly as if he's sizing me up for a fight. Naomi flitters back to Aubrey who still lays on the ground, watching everything with wide eyes.

Mitch isn't that much older than me, maybe early 20's. But, his gaze makes me feel like he could break me like a toothpick, if he desires to do it. His shoulders are broad, scard up for fights, I'm sure he's been in and his jet black hair hasn't seen a comb in years. If I was a normal girl, his mysterious muscular body would have me  weak in the knees. But, I'm not normal and he feels more like a brother than a potential mate.  So this is Mitch, the one who knows Jayden? It's not that hard to see them as friends, but something tells me, their more than friends.-Their family...... Although they look nothing alike.

"Is it Raynee?" Naomi barks.

I stand there waiting for Mitch to either attack me or reply to Naomi. my hands flex in and out as I feel the rush of the wind twirl inside of me, it's waiting too. But before Mitch has even a second to answer, Brooke dives in pushing Mitch to side as she screams at Naomi.

"You! You called him here?"

"Someone had to. You were all about saving the poor little jumper. What if that jumper is the killing machine that's with Zilor?" Naomi takes an exasperated breath. "What if she's here to kill us?"

"If she was going to kill us, she would have let you all die, not save you, so, she can kill you when your stronger."

Finely some sense. "Thank you Brooke."

Mitch still watches me with his hawk green eyes.  I glear at him and almost choke on the words as they come out. "Where can I find Jayden? How do I get back?

Chapter 8 part 2

"What was that?" Aubrey mimics my thoughts.

I'm not sure what to tell her. Brooke's shrubs, roots, vines everything she grew, collapse in a heep and her oak tree -her, is the last to fall. She slowly shrinks back into her girl form as she lays on the grass with her knees tucked to her chest. She gasps for air, clean air but only smoke slips out of her mouth.

"Where's Grace?" Panic rises from my voice as I scramble to my feet. Brooke lets out a gagging noise then weezes. I know she's not breathing anymore. The wind around her is dead, giving me an unnerving sensation . I have to get to her. I did this. I have to fix it.

Aubrey's voice is only a whisper. "The darkness got her." And then I see her. Grace is just past Brooke, eyes black, her skin changing color.

"No." I gasp, stopping at Brooke's side wondering for a split second, what the hell am I even going to do? But it doesn't take me long to think of first aid. I took a class last year for a week, trying to get a job at the public swimming pool. I failed the class and didn't get the job. But I have to try something.

I take a quick glance at Naomi, hoping she'll understand. "Do this." I say and roll Brooke to her back.

Support her neck, I push her forehead back and lean down so my cheek is to her mouth. "One, two, three." I count to five, she's definitely not breathing. I list off the steps for CPR to Naomi and immediately follow them myself on Brooke. Pinch her nose, breathe in clean air and then I plumage to Brooke's mouth pushing the air into her lungs. Her chest rises with each breath. I release and position myself to compress her heart. In out, in out. Thirty times. With each compression smoke flys out as if it knows there's no where else for it to go.  In the corner of my eye,  Naomi and Aubrey are pushing the smoke out of Grace. I hope this is working. God, the Eye, Buddha, Gandhi, universe whoever, please please, please make this work.

By the time I breath air into Brooke's lungs the second time. Her eyes fling open and she gasps for air, deeper, stronger than her weezing a moment ago.  With a sigh of relief, I roll her to her side as she couches out the last remaining smoke. She's alive. When I know she stable, when her hand digs into the dirt under her and the color of her skin turns back to normal. I rush over to Grace. She should be back by now. She should be awake.... alive.

I fall to my knees at just the site of Grace. Her face is frozen in fright and her little body is so cold, weak and damaged. I look to Aubrey as she sits back watching Naomi perform a better CPR than I've ever done. She bits her nails as tears run down her face. Aubrey glances at me. "What dose this mean?" She quivers.  I can't answer her. I can't get the lump out of my throat to let me answer.  "I'm so cold." She hugs her legs.

Naomi's power is seeping out of her as well, it's only moments for their magic finds a new host and leave all three of them lifeless. I can't let that happen. They can't die because of me, for me. They must live. 

I close my eyes, letting my own tear fall and let the magic from my star flow. Pulsing like the heart beats around me, it soars down my arms, past my fingers, through the dirt and grass, until it reaches Grace.

The wind pulses through her body pushing, twisting, squashing every darkness out. Grace's hand twitches ever so slightly and I feel her heart pound once. The energy inside of me sparks with delight and I pulse air and magic and whatever else I can feel into Grace.

Naomi gasps as her power returns to her. -Grace's heart beats again. Aubrey shivers but releases her legs and leans closer to the other pixies. -Grace's heart beats again. Gently the wind flows from Grace's feet, up her body and past her head. Tossing her hair as it leaves -cleansing every inch of the darkness out of her. Grace gasps for air and her heart beats as if it's running a marathon.

I can't help but smile in releaf and let out a silent "thank you" for no one in particular.

Weak, sore in muscles I didn't know I had, I feel like I've just gotten off a roller-coaster that forbidden to ever stop. From the moment I got up this morning. Wait no. The moment I walked into Wade and Stephanie's house, it's been an overwhelming roller-coaster of emotions, of unexplained, crazy, amazing things and somehow, I'm alive and now these four are still alive.

I grib onto that aspect as if it's my lifeline and the only thing holding me up. That is until Naomi glears at me and starts shouting with her new found power.

"What the hell... are you?"

Chapter 8, Part 1

If I could go back. I think. I would go back. I'd go back before I met Jayden. Before I saw him. Before I even felt him near me. I'd go back before Zilor, before I even left Seattle, and I'd never leave.

When the world came back to me, I was in the bushes with Naomi hovering over my chest. I had felt the brief sensation of flying through the air. The pull on my arms being ripped away from Jayden's hands. But I have no idea how I didn't feel the landing, especially since Naomi looks exhausted.

Aubry flitters over to my right shoulder and softly says. "It's dark magic. That's not him."

But her words barely register in my mind. My body, on its own, trys to get up and I don't know, run back into the devil's arms? Luckily Naomi is faster than my stupid self. She shaves me back into the bush letting the plant's arms wrap around me into a jell cell. "Stay down!" She demands.

"You are not welcome here."  A dark deep voice shivers up my spin and I shrink into the bush. "Get out of my forest." That voice. That scary, creepy, skin crawling voice, is Brooke. I shutter at the thought of it. She sounds stronger than I thought she could be. -She's  fearless. The earth under me trimmers but Jayden only looks around as if he's lost his favorite toy. -me.

My heart pounds. I did this. I put them all in danger and I don't know how to get them out. Taking a deep breath, a list of things that I do know, charges from my lips to my ears. "My name is Jazlyn, my foster parents are Wade and Stephanie Erickson. They live in Kennewick, Washington. They gave me a star, which took me to Normalyna. Brooke is a Nymph she controls the earth around her. She has a star."

I catch my breath as Jayden's wild eyes lock onto mine. It only takes a moment for his eyes to flash black and with a lung he's heading toward me. Roots shoot up from under the durt near my feet. Spikes explode from the branches like knives, but they grow longer and longer. Forcing Jayden to stop.

"I have star. The wind listens to me, or follows me or... "  I have a star. I take a breath as Jayden snarls at me, his hands flexing in and out of fists.  Toms said the stars are stronger together.  -Together.

The oak tree that grew from nowhere, swoops down with a force so great, I tumble and I'm not even standing. The gust of wind is intoxicating and is inviting me to play. The branch connects with Jayden's gut, but he doesn't move. He's a wall with enough straight as a steal train. Brooke plunges again and again.

I catch the wind from her swoops and chase it backwards. It's big wind. Bigger than the torrato from my room. -wait was it from my room?  I shake my head I can't think of that right now. I cast the wind to Jayden. Naomi and Audrey have just enough time to duck beind me. Crap! I forgot all about them. I have to be better. Do better! The wind connects to Jayden at the same time Brooke thwacks him again. But this time he takes one small step backwards.

Brooke's knives take the space he left and I know exactly what Toms ment. The stars are stronger together.  Not what Brooke controls or what I control. It's the star themselves that are stronger.
My star glows brilliant blue, I look for Brooke's ring but she still flighting, still whaling against the wall. I can't see her star, I wonder if she even still has it.

Black smoke slithers through the roots and buches, closer and closer to me. But Brooke cuts it off with more and more shrubbery. There's a thick forest wall between me and the dark magic.  But I know there is only a matter of minutes before I suck it back inside and follow Jayden out this forest. That idea makes me skin crawl. 

"Brooke." I scream. "Where's your star?"
Jayden's eyes flinch and he dives into the knives after me. His skin cuts with each spike letting black smoke slither from this openings. The smoke crawl past his body and onto the knives following them down to the roots. -Suffocating the plant. Brooke's roots. Terror lumps in my throat as I realize, its not suffocating the plant, its suffocating her.  My wind spins out of my control, twisting and spinning around us. I'm practically lying on top of the pixies to keep them from being tossed around.

"Brooke!" I scream again as I inch backwards on my bottem. I don't know what to do. I don't. Is she dead? Dose it have her? "Brooke! Your star." I scream with desperation I didn't even know I had.

One of Brooke branches struggles down to me. She's moving slowly, agonizing slow and my wind doesn't help. - thrashing and howling as if it's agents us from touching at all. I reach up but I can't grab her. My fingertips brisk by her leaves, which are now turning brown. But there wrapped in vines around a leaf, is a vibrant lavender star.  I shimmy up, pushing the bush that still holds me aside. Naomi almost pulls me back but she notices my arm reaching to Brooke and she flys into the wind  to Brooke's arm. I don't know how Naomi even has the straight to move forward in my wind, but she does it. The power in her little pixie body pulls Brooke's hand to mine.

Our hands connect with a shocking tingle that flows through my body. Our stars spark to life in a light so blinging I have to look away. But that's all I do. That's all I have to do. Whatever the stars do, they force the dark magic away. Light pulses like a beating heart pushing, tugging, whatever it dose. The light grows and grows so much I can't even see any more and when it dies down. When it finally glows to a soft little star on my necklace. Jayden is gone, the smoke is gone and Audrey, Naomi and I sit there with our mouths open, gaping at what just happened. What did just happen? 

Chapter 7 part 5

By the time this thought registers, and I mean really, turely, full heartly registers. The fog grew so thick I could harder see my hand in front  of me, let alone Jayden.  But it was the trees around us that gave me the first clue something is, seriously wrong. They almost look like they came straight out of an old 80's scary movie. Something I am all to familiar with due to a foster home and an obsessed older foster kid.

Images rustle together, as the realization that in the memory of my mother,  I was the same age I am now. It couldn't possibly be true and if it wasn't ture, the only possible explanation for it is to get me out of the cacoon. That incredible feeling, the delight that Jayden was here, fades into the distance as quickly as it came on. Trying not to care, or think too much about the "issues" of my memories, I take a step forward cautiously and careful.

Jayden’s blank look on his face sends a chill down my spine and I wonder if this is a trap for the both of us, or just me?
“Jayden?” I hesitate, trying not to say anything at all.

He blinks in front of me, and I mean literally a blink. One second he's ten feet away from me and the next he's ten inches from my face making me stumble backwards. He grabs my arms so quickly that he jolts me even closer. His hands are like steel bars holding me tighter and tighter. - Too tight.  His stone cold Black eyes fill the space between us with lust and desperation, as he glides his eyes over my body slowly. Leaving me with the distinct feeling that this is all for me, this was my trap and not my Jayden.

“Raynee” His voice is a smokey aftershave left in the distance. "Raynee" echos chime in through the fog.

This is wrong. I think. Jayden is wrong, my memory is wrong, this whole damn thing of me being here..... is wrong. His grip tightens around my arms and I twist in protest trying to get loses.

“Stop! You’re hurting me.” I scream at him, hating the fear that drips off my tongue. I wanted to sound strong, but of course I am anything but strong.

Jayden’s mouth turns into a devilish smirk as if he wants to hurt me and he likes doing it. Squirming the inch I can, I kick, push, pull, scratch, even scream again.  But nothing I do makes him move. He's dead inside and has his dead cold hands are glued to my arms.

He pulls me closer planting his lips on mine. This kiss is so much different than the one he gave me the hallway. For one thing, there's a foul taste in the back of my throat my stomach lurches threatening to heave.  Wrong. My mind screams.  I struggle even harder as I dig my fingernails into his neck. Warm blood socks my fingers but I don't stop. His hands release my arms and in an instant he slide his arms around me. One hand pulling my back closer to his body, the other gripped my hair to keep my head straight. He was too fast, too strong, too.... he's definitely not real.

I hit his shoulders over and over as my arms burn with fire. A fire that doesn't just burn from the inside out, but sparks, spits and darts pain with every hit I land. The longer he holds me to his lips the weaker I get. My arms slowly fall to my sides and I stand there only able to dart my eyes to see anything but him. The trees to the left of us, shake and if I didn't know any better, I'd say there was a new full grown oak tree to the right.

His lips push fearlessly on mine, slicing an opening of my lips. Smoke slithers from his mouth to mine, illuminating my lungs, stomach, back, all the way down to my toes. Fire, burst of fire.

No screams come out, no gasp of agany. I just bathe in the pain, waiting for it to finely kill me. Zilor is smart, devoted, cunning. He knew I would only come out for Jayden. Only come out for my nightingale.

Chapter 7 part 4

“Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

My heart skips a beat; that's Jayden, I know it is. I drop the wind and lean into Brooke’s vines.  After searching a few places for the perfect view I almost claw an opening just to see if I'm right. I  barely see anything between the black smoke and the cacoon; I can just make out someone legs about ten feet away from us.  Whoever it is, they're looking past us and into the clearing I landed in.

Just like before, my body pulls toward him; every muscle tightens up and the desire to be near him, to touch him, to just hear his voice again, calls to every inch of me.  I bit my lip to keep myself from screaming, I have to make sure it's him.

Letting the desire move me higher and dig another opening through Brooke’s vines; hesitating for a moment, wondering if I'm hurting Brooke. But she doesn't move in complaint nor dose she stop me from moving her branches aside. So I keep my hands where are. - in bracing her vines.

He takes a slow step forward and I move with him as I rip open the vines for a better view. It appears that I'm moving slowly up his body, with each view getting better and better first his legs, then his stomach, chest. By the time he has taken three steps I am fully standing, and see a full view of his face. His glorious, beautiful breathtaking face. -Jayden’s face.

Peering at him, I'm almost afraid of what I see. I expected him to be hurt after fighting with Zailor, possibly even dead but he isn’t. He walks past us perfectly, not even a limp in his step. There's no stress in his face no worry or fear, he's... calm. Wickedly calm.

There's a sudden prick on my finger where Brooke sprouts a thorn; but I'm not sure what she wants I'm not even sure if I care. Because, I'm looking at Jayden and he is alive. Alive. Alive. Alive. My mind sings.

When the air inside the cacoon sinks to my shoulders I didn't notice. When more thorns apear, I simply moved aside and when the black smoke creeps through the gaps I made I breathe it in like an old friend coming home. I don't however, choke to death. But the fear of losing Jayden forever, deepens into my stomach.

The smell inside the cacoom was horrible musky and moldy at same time. Without even questioning my sanity, panic rises to full force. I'm going to die here. I'll be trapped in this cacoon forever and ever. My body starts searching through Brooke’s vines, as fast as I can. There has to be a way out of this cacoon. I can't die here. I can't die without Jayden. I move downward, reaching through the gaps. -sucking in more black smoke.  I begin to shack but my body moves freely on its own, searching and searching until I hit the ground.

A memory drifs in and out, as my muscles grow weaker and weaker. My right arm starched out under Brooke's vines, my head softly settles on the ground I see... yellow. A yellow ribbon, yellow dress. My hand intertwined with someone elses hand. As the yellow ribbon is wrapped around our arms. -once, twice, three time around. My lips form words with only a whisper. "I am yours and you are mine. My echo, my song, my life, my nightingale."

A familiar earrie feeling tickles down my spine as two hands grip my out strached arm. Without realizing it those hands are dragging my body through the dirt and mud underneath Brooke’s cacoon. I don't help them, or fight them I simply do as I'm told. Be still. The black smoke said. Be still.

Brooke's vains wave themselves around my middle and scrap down my body.  I can't really be sure, but I don't think Jayden is dragging me, he would be more... gently with his touch. When my body suddenly slams to the ground, air puffs out of my lungs in a rushing waterfall of black smoke. Brooke still holds onto my right foot and Jayden is turning around slowly with an odd look on his face.

We stare at each other for a long moment wait for the other one to move or I don't know... speak. But when his breath touches the air. "Raynee”

That's all I need. The urge to be near him is too strong. Desire fills my insides and I yank my foot out of Brooke’s branches- stumbling forward. I stand up quickly. -bracing myself. As soon as I stop for a second I realize there he is and here I am. -We're together. The most incredible feeling comes over me and my mother fitters through my mind. "He is my nightingale. Without a doubt."

Chapter 7, part 3

As soon as she pushes me in between two trees. Two very tall, weak, thin trees. I'm starting to really doubt her judgment.

"Stay between these trees." She says in a whisper. "Don't look out and don't say anything."

I stand there, trying to catch my heart from beating out of my chest, thinking,  I'd have better chances on my own. She really is trying to kill me. But as soon as this thought enters my mind. Brooke does something I'm not sure how to describe.

Her feet plant themselves into the ground like the trees. Her legs glue themselves together as her body changes from a girl into a plant. No not a plant. A thick vine. She wraps herself around the trees I'm standing between, twisting and weaving in and out. In circling me in a cacoon. There is just enough room for me to stand and maybe sit on the ground if I curl up in a ball. Her vine reaches high into the sky and I see it spread like wildflowers across other trees near by. As soon as the vine comes to a growing stop, leaves and flowers starch out from the vine. Hiding me completely. There is just enough time for me to slowly slide down into a ball, when the smoke reaches the clearing where we are.

"Brooke?" I say softly. But she either can't speak or won't speak in her plant form.

Another power a nymph has  entertains my mind.  She's like mother nature. Creating, guarding and absolutely has the power to beam light into anything. But most important, is the stream she's tied to, the rushing water of everlasting life. This stream is what everyone and everything searches for and yet never finds. The stream that's behind us. At least it used to be behind us. I no long can hear the rushing water.

Nervously, I rest my back on Brooke’s vines, feeling the plant of her come alive. Her heart beats with mine as we wait for the doom that's approaching. Our pounding heart beats, is the only thing I can hear. The only thing that's left.  Boom boom boom. I desperately pray, I'm the only one that can hear it. Because I have a feeling that smoke isn't alone.

The temperature must have dropped at least 30 degrees. I peer through Brooks vines, but, I see nothing.  Only the frost on the trees as the air turns frigid cold.  My body starts shivering  uncontrollably and after a few moments of rubbing my hands together and breathing hot air on my fingers. I realize the smoke isn't searching in vane for someone.  It's following the carbon dioxide I breathe out. The more I breathe and shiver the easier it is to find me.  My hand instantly rises to my mouth. Fully knowing its a foolish wish that I could somehow stop breathing and stay alive at the same time. If only. If only I could shift the air. Shift the wind.

My mind giggles with the idea that both Jayden and Brooke seem to think, I could control the wind. That somehow the power to will something so majestic, so wild, and untouchable, could come to me freely and easily. And,  not even know I had the power to do so. But then again, what did make me feel that I was more powerful than all three of the pixies? Who exactly did I think I was in that moment?

Unsure how to answer that question. I decide the only way to find out, is to try and call the wind. I need to call the wind. It might be thr only thing that could save us now.

Untangling my arms from my legs, I  circle my fingers around an invisible ball. I don't know if calling the wind has anything to do with my hands in this shape. It just feels right to me, or maybe my hands are so cold this is the only shape I can must up. Either way,  it gives me something focuse on.

I think back to when Jayden told me to stop the wind. The panic in his voice when he couldn't tell which power was Zilor's and which were mine. What was I doing? Oh right, I was holding onto him for  dear life. Unable to leave him to face Zilor alone. I was... afraid. Stupid. Full out insane at the moment.  But I was afraid.

Then with the pixies and Brooke,  surrounded by them with no where to run. Although I thought I was more powerful than them. Deep down, I was afraid, like a child on the school grounds being bullied.  Like right now, I'm terrified. Every inch of my body is filled with stone cold terror. I'm trapped in Brooke’s cacoon, if that smoke follows my breath, there will be nothing to save me, no one to stand in front and tell me to run. No gaps of empty air where I could simply walk out of the circle.

A shadow crosses the courner of my eye and I jump. My heart quickens, but I don't let go of the invisible ball. Nor do I look away from my fingers. The air inside of my hands tingles as it whispers by. Suddenly, wind curls around me, like a dreamy hug or distension memory.

The wind is a whisper of a breeze, weaving in and out of Brooke’s vine. Dancing. I realize.  A smile tickles on the corner of my lips. As I wonder if it will dance with me.  I slowly take my right index finger and twirl it in a circle. Watching the movement in Brooke’s leaves. The breeze doesn't hesitate to mimics my finger in a small twirl of its own. When I let my finger come to a stop and, the small twist of a wind smooths out to a flittering gust. Never fully leaving the cacoon, but never fully caged either.

I can start it. I think.  But can I stop it?

My teeth grind together and my cheeks burn hot. As I focus on making the air still. But nothing happens. In fact the breeze toys with me in a hungry vengeance. It wants to be released fully from the cacoon. Free to dance, to play, to destroy at will. My eyes squent into a line as I battle with it, but the wind only builds stronger. Gaining its power like an angry teenager.

"Raynee"  A voice calls from beyond the cacoon and I suck in a breath, possibly my last breath.

Shifting to my knees, my hands plunge into the ground. Hoping that by some magical force, I might grow into a plant like Brooke. But no such luck, I stay in my weak, wimpy  human form.

The light beyond Brooke’s vines turn dark as the fog creeps closer and closer to us. But as soon as it touches the cacoon my wind forces it back with a gust. I look up in amazement. I didn't even tell the wind to do anything. It shifted on its own. For a spit second, a thought crease in my mind. What if the voice could feel the push on the smoke? But if they did, they don't seem to turn towards us and the smoke moves past us without touching Brooke again.

"Raynee" this time I recognize the voice. The soft, sliky voice that rings through the air and through my vains. Jayden.

Chapter 7 part 2

A gust of wind twits in between me and the four of them. Even though, they surround me. I could tell that I have the power in this circle. The pixies look weak and fragile to me now.  I chuckle at the thought that only moments ago I believed they were powerful. Now I know better. At least I think it was only moments ago.

"How long have I been out?" I demand.

Brooke's eyes meet Aubrey's and I can tell they're having a silent conversation. Whatever Aubrey says, Brooke obviously agrees with. Because she nods her head before she turns back to me.

"Not long." Brooke says as she takes a step closer to me. I instantly forget the power I have and step backwards. What is wrong with me? But I can't answer that question. Since I'm not 100% sure I have more power than them. I'm not even sure of the power that I have. Let alone if I could take all four of them. I have to get away. I need time alone to fugue this all out.
But first I need some answers.

"Where can I find this Mitch?"

Brooke looks to Aubrey again.
"Stop" I yell. "Stop." I'm not really sure what to call their construction. But I don't like it either. "Just... answer the question."

Brooke bits her lip before she says. "We don't know how to contact Mitch."

"And we don't want to either." Grace adds.

I watch them carefully, hoping that some how I can tell if they're lieing  or something. But they look as innocent as a newborn babe. Wind twist around us again. As soon as it reaches Brooke, she gasps and almost bursts out with. "We're not going to hurt you. You have nothing to fear from us."

What an odd thing to be a afraid of. The wind?  I think. It's gentle, calming.  It's almost like she thinks I'm controling it. Just like Jaden did. It takes a moment for me to process this thought. Maybe I am.  I feel a serge of energy rise from the tip of my toes. It builds inside me. Screaming to get out. My hands turn to fists at my side as my eyes shift to Naomi.

"You." I say "You know where I can find him."

Naomi rases her bow and arrow, her eyes squint into a line. Without thinking I storm towards her. "Tell me where he is." Naomi takes a few steps backwards, but the ground under us shacks. Her footing isn't strong and she stops before she wants to. She doesn't say anything, she just glares at me with a look that says. "I knew it. I knew you would kill us all."

After a moment of who is beaver. I slowly back down. I know she'll never talk as long as she doesn't trust me, and I'm not even sure this Mitch can help me. I toss my hands up in surrender and walk out of the circle they caged me in.

"Where are you going?" Brooke finally says after I walk a few steps.

I stop and take a deep breath. Then turn back to Brooke.
"To find Mitch."

The look on Brooke's face tells me exactly what she thinks of that idea. It's a suicide mission. A death note. A trap, it's a whatever.

"I don't care." I say in defense. "I have to find Jayden. I need to go to my world." I put the influence on the word need a little too strongly for my liking. But that's how I feel. I need to know he's safe. I need to know if Stephanie and Wade are safe. And the only way to do that, is to get back to Kennewick.

Brooke's face twists with conflicting views. I know she's trying to come up with the right words to say. But I turn away from her before she has the time to think of them. The woods open into a light and airy pathway. I walk up to the edge of the treelines. Waiting for the white trees to come alive or move unexpectedly. But they stay still. Calming, creepy still. I wondered for a moment, where the birds are? Or the anamals scurrying around? This forest is almost too quiet for my liking. But, I take a step.

"I'll come with you." Brooke shouts out.
Her words cut me short and turn back to her.
All three of the pixies hurry over to her.
"No." They say together. But Brooke waves her hand as if she's swotting at flies. She steps away from the pixies and looks at me with puppy eyes.

"I have a star." She holds out her hand to show me her ring. "You have a star." She points to my necklace. "We're stronger together." Her last sentence is filled with hope that drips with each word.

I watch her carefully. Wondering what her possible motives are. This could be a trap to take my star. Or kill me. What did she say she was again? I rack my brain. She's a nimph. I try to think of what a nimph can even do. But the only thing I can think of is; A nimph protects her forest above all else. Whatever that means. But I might be able to use that to keep her here.

I can't help from rolling my eyes as I try the only thing I can think of.
"I'm leaving your forest. You don't want to come."

I turn back to the pathway. But something catches my eye. Creeping along the roots of the trees, is a black slithering smoke. My dream of Ada in the caves rushes to my mind. That smoke was in the city. Strangling the life out of anyone and anything it crosses.

Brooke gasps and holds her throat as if she is the tree the smoke is gliding over. The pixies flash with a blue light and pop back into their pixie form. They're gone before I have time to blink. Some protection they are. I think.

My heart beats faster inside my chest and the wind curls around me. But before I have time to even think of something to do. Brooke grabs my arm and pulls me closer to the rushing water. I follow her without question. Because, it's either trust her or choke to death.