attempts to cheer Kira up had been in vain. So deep in her own self-pity, even Arela stopped trying to see her. Kira spent all day sitting in front of the window watching the boats on the water come and go, wishing she could hitch a ride back to when things were safe, when Lydia and she were friends-even before Octavion stole her heart. If they’d never met then she wouldn’t have to think how her mistakes cost her friend’s life and destroyed the only man she ever loved. She wanted to wake up-she wanted this nightmare to end.
As night fell and the golden glow of the crescent moons sliced through the dark clouds, a bolt of lightning split the sky. The thunderous roar that followed rattled the windows and shook the seat beneath her. So deep into her thoughts, the power of it shook her to the core. She bolted upright, not sure if she’d been asleep or if her conscious mind had shut down momentarily.
The first few days had been a rollercoaster of emotions. The reality of her loss consumed her and without Octavion there to comfort her, her imagination had run wild. Her thoughts entertained everything from insanity to self-destruction and suicide-someplace she’d never let herself go before.
Now she just felt numb-an unemotional state of nothing that occupied her mind and body. She just wanted to feel again, she kept telling herself, but she couldn’t even cry.
A strong breeze coming off the lake tossed rain against the window. She watched as the tiny rivulets formed on the glass and ran down to puddle on the ledge. Another bolt of lightning illuminated the kingdom before her-this time its companion instantaneously shook the castle walls. Somewhere in her mind she heard a little voice call out to her mother. She’d heard similar voices in her dreams-nightmares of what would never be.
When the voice came again, she let her shawl fall to the floor and swung her feet over the edge of the bench and went in search of the source. Only the morning room separated her room from Arela’s. From the outside of the castle it appeared to be a small tower. The tiny round space between what used to be Lydia and Shandira’s sleeping chambers faced the garden and lake. Lined with tall windows, it gave a full view of the sunrise.
As she passed through her doorway, she heard voices coming from Arela’s room. She quietly opened the door a crack. The scene before her pierced through to her heart. Mara held Arela in her arms. Unnoticed by either mother or daughter, Kira closed the door and leaned her back against it. She could still hear Mara trying to comfort Arela, her voice tender and kind.
Kira wrapped her arms around herself and slid to the floor. As she listened, she fell deeper and deeper into the hole in her heart. When Mara started singing a lullaby Kira had reached her limit. She numbly rose to her feet and made her way out of her room. She had to escape. She had to
As soon as the cool air hit her she stopped, letting the rain moisten her face. In the protection of the trees, the fine mist barely reached her. She ventured farther and farther out into the open where she found herself on the other side of the garden. The cold wet grass felt good on her feet, but gave her a chill. She welcomed it. Craved it.
She heard the waves crash against the rocks at the base of the cliff-a pulsating rhythm that called to her. She slowly made her way closer and closer to the edge-her feet leaving the softness of the grass and venturing out onto the rocks. She climbed to the highest point as far out as she could reach and still keep her balance. Her feet planted firmly on the cold stone beneath her, she stood. The adrenaline rush gave her what she needed.
She stretched her arms out to her side, closed her eyes and leaned her head back, letting the sting of the rain hit her face and hands-she’d never felt so alive. She took in a deep breath and let the cold air burn her lungs. The force of the wind hit her head on and threatened to push her back away from the edge, but she leaned into it. If only she could fly.
Then, after days of nothing, she felt the warmth of Altaria return. The separation of spirits that caused Lydia’s death had haunted her for days. The thought of them never being together again and Altaria imprisoned in Kira’s body forever, only made her feelings of despair worse.
As Kira opened her eyes and saw the jagged rocks below her, she realized they could still be together- kindred spirits would find each other in death. It was the only way to bring them back together. A final gift she could give both her friends. The ultimate sacrifice-to give her life for Lydia and Altaria, who’d on several occasions, shown their willingness to do the same.
“Altaria,” she pleaded. “Please forgive me. It’s the only thing I can think to do-so you can be with Lydia.” She suddenly felt empty inside, as if Altaria had withdrawn her spirit-perhaps in preparation to rejoin Lydia. “I’m sorry.”
Kira took a step closer to the edge as another flash of lightning came. She braced herself for the jolt of thunder that would follow. When it came, she also felt a familiar spirit surround her. She sighed.
“Go away, Cade. You can’t be my hero this time.” She didn’t have to see him to know he was close by. She held her ground and didn’t move.
“Kira, step down from there, please. You do not have to do this.” She heard fear in his voice.
“I’m fine. Leave me alone.”
“Kira, please.” He seemed closer now. “The way I see it, you have two problems.”
She smiled at his attempt to talk her down. “Just two?”
“First, if you jump, I will have to go in after you and with these legs, we will both die.”
“What makes you think I want to jump?”
“Because I have been out on that very ledge, only I had no feet to stand on. Do you think I want to live the rest of my life without the use of my legs? As soon as I healed well enough to bring myself here, I wanted to end it all.” His voice cracked.
“So what stopped you?”
He paused for a moment. “That would be your second problem.”
Kira turned her head in his direction. He’d perched himself on a rock a few feet away-almost within arm’s reach. “And what might that be?”
“The image of you jumping off this cliff will bring my little sister nightmares for the rest of her life.” He motioned toward the castle.
Kira turned back to find a little girl in a white nightgown pressed against her bedroom window-her hands framed around her face to block out the light from the candlelight in her room. Mara stood behind her.
Kira’s heart sank. What was she thinking? “Oh, Cade, I’m so sorry.” Tears burned her eyes.
“Can you get down alone? I can call my father to help.”
She shook her head. “I’m fine.” She pulled her nightgown up to her knees so she wouldn’t trip. She’d only taken two steps when her foot slipped on the wet rock and slid out from underneath her. She came down hard, slamming into the jagged rock. She reached for Cade, but her hand hit air instead. She struggled to gain her balance, but when she tried to wrap her arms around the bolder she lost her grip.
“Cade!” she screamed.
For an instant Kira saw his face, the panic in his eyes as he leapt off the rock and flew through the air toward her. She felt the force of his body hit her as they both tumbled off the edge and plunged into the lake below. The water was like ice. Cade wrapped his arms tightly around her torso as they sank deeper and deeper into the cold darkness. Her lungs craved air.
Kira kicked her feet to bring them to the surface, making little progress before the water swirled around them like a cyclone, spinning faster and faster until a flash of light almost blinded her. Pain seized her entire body as Cade yanked them from the lake and through the castle walls to land middle of her bed. An explosion of water came down, splashing out around them. She gasped for air, coughing up the water her lungs had taken in. A blood curdling scream pierced her eardrums.
“Arela!” Kira half yelled, half coughed. “I’m okay. We’re in here.”
Cade lay on the bed, gasping for air, his face wrinkled in pain.
“Cade, are you okay?” She tried to help him sit up.
“No!” he cried. “Do not move me. I am hurt.”
The door leading to the morning room flew open and Arela ran toward them. She leapt on the bed and into Kira’s arms.
Mara trailed right behind her, stopping when she heard Cade groan. “What have you done?”
“I will be fine, mother. I just hit the water on my back. I need a moment to let it settle.” He tried to take in a
