Chapter 17“Geez Arabella, its been 3 days already. Time to wake up.” Sybil whispered. She sat crossed legged on a natural stone ledge that ran along one wall of the cave. Sybil was nervous; Arabella hadn’t woken once from the dream state she was in. Sybil tried to be patient, after all, Arabella was suppose to sleep while the memory of love faded. Still, Sybil was nervous. She had the awful feeling that she did something wrong.Sybil worked through the layers in her head. She followed all the steps she seen Mother do. Sybil did not admit to Arabella that this was the first time Sybil ever did anything like this. She was better at giving memories not taking away love. After all, what could go wrong?Arabella groaned as though she was in pain. Sybil started to sweat as she watched Arabella twist on the floor. ‘Now this is something new,’ Sybil thought. ‘Not good, not good at all.’ She didn’t see this happen when Mother did it. Sybil jumped down off the ledge and went to Arabella’s side.
Chapter 18Arabella felt a sense of freedom. She slowly remembered everything but did not feel the pain of remembering. She was finally free of the love that haunted her from the time she was fifteen years old. Arabella no longer felt anything for the pompous Mr Alexander. There was no anger, no love, no hate, nothing at all. For the first time in years, Arabella didn’t know what she wanted. All of her life was centered around her parents and Lucian Alexander. Sybil took all pain from Arabella’s heart. Now she could remember her parents with fondness and not pain. She did not hate Adrian any longer either, but he was still not allowed around her son. The memories of Lucian were there, but that was all, they became faded memories Finally, it was all gone. Arabella did not notice the lone tear that traveled down her pale cheek.“Come on mom, let’s go. I want to put in some time on the ice.” Lucas’s impatience at Arabella only made her laugh. He was old enough to be chosen for the junior
Chapter 19Lucian stood on the steps outside the ice rink, longing written all over his face. Anyone looking at Lucian would see a man so in love that the world just past him by for those few moments.There, right in front of him, stood Arabella with Lucas. Lucas turned and ran into the building, leaving Arabella on her own until another boy captured her attention. That boy ran into the building too; was this his chance? He cleared his throat thinking about what he wanted to say. At first she stepped aside; then she turned toward him, slowly looking up his chest to his face. At first there was a smile on her face, at least until she saw who it was. The smile faded quickly and she started to turn away.“Arabella! Bella, please just talk to me.” Lucian pleaded with Arabella. She turned and looked at him again. Her eyes were blank, as though she didn’t know him. The cut was deep, but Lucian was determined. He would find a way to bring her back to him. He found it ironic that he now rememb
Chapter 20Where time mean’t nothing, Sybil kneeled on the floor. The stone cut into her knees but she dared not complain or the punishment would be a lot worse. This, really, was mild compared to some of the things Mother punished her with. Why, once, that Goddess made her eat with the dragons. Disgusting. They kept breathing fire, eating and pooping and boy could they poop…“SYBIL!!!! Are you listening? Or have you gone off on one of your various trances? Now pay attention.”Sybil jerked when Mother yelled her name. How did she know that she, Sybil, was daydreaming anyway? Oh, yeah, maybe the glassy eyes gave her away. She jerked again when something landed hard on the stone floor.“You will find the spell that you cast over Arabella or I will do worse then dragons.” Mother was very angry and punctuated every single word to make sure the girl did not misunderstand. “Stand.” Mother orderedSybil nimbly jumped to her feet. It disgruntled Mother that Sybil could still be so spry after
Chapter 21“Slow down Lucas, what do you mean your mom is gone? Gone where?” Lucian felt a sudden sense of fear. Lucas was hysterical; Jack took the phone away and started talking.“Arabella was suppose to be here when I brought Lucas back from our weekend fishing.” Jack sighed and the phone felt empty. “That was yesterday. She’s never not been here, Lucian. We’ve walked the trail, gone to the cave; searched where ever we could. Her jeep is here. I’m going to call Search and Rescue.”“I don’t understand, Jack. Would she go somewhere without telling you?” Lucian was horrified by every word Jack spoke.“No, no, not Arabella; she is always where she says she’ll be. She did say she was going hiking and camp out for one night. Even Thorn is restless, and I’m getting really worried.”Lucian’s throat closed up and he was unable to respond right away. He cleared out his throat. “Call them; Jack, I’m on my way.” Lucian raced to find his keys and ran out of the house.The drive up the mountain
Chapter22She dreamed without memories. Her name was lost to the wind. She still found it hard to believe that she fell. She vaguely recalled the side of the mountain flashing before her eyes. Fear quivered in her heart. Where was she? How did she get here? But most importantly of all, who was she? A shuffling drew her attention to a corner of the small room. She watched as a rat nosed into an old food container looking for food. Arabella Brennen did not know who she was; she knew nothing. She racked her brain trying to find answers and only got blankness. It was as though someone wiped her memory. Arabella was afraid and she had a feeling that she was rarely afraid.“Good, you’re finally awake. It’s been two days, was afraid I’d have to bury you out back along side old Dodger.”Arabella jerked when wood was dumped on the wooden floor. What was this place? It had herbs hanging all over the place. The aroma in the room was pungent and inviting all at the same time. Now that was somethi
Chapter 23Arabella swung the axe and missed for the fifth time in a row. She turned as she heard laughter coming from the homestead. Frowning she turned back to the stump, set the log upright on it and gave a mighty swing. The log split in to two pieces. Jumping up and down Arabella pumped her fist in victory. She was determined to pull her weight. It was not easy, she did not have a familiar feel when she first picked up the heavy axe so she figured she never welded an axe before. Gabriel bet her she could not split the log. The loser got to bring water up from the river.“I told you I could do it.” Arabella walked over to the porch and looked up with Gabriel with a hugh grin on her mouth.“Okay girl, but could you do it fifty more times? That’s how much we need for just one night and day unless that storm that is coming hits too soon. Then we will not have enough to last a day. So, are you done fooling around? I really need to get this done, Blue.”Arabella tried to hand the axe to
Chapter 24Lucas looked at Lucian with sad eyes. The storm outside was starting to abate. Neither one of the two could sleep so they were in the kitchen drinking coffee. It was the third such storm sense Arabella went missing. It seemed like one would hit once a week. Nature was not happy.“Do you think mom is dead, dad? It’s been three weeks that she’s been missing and no one could find anything that she might have left behind.” Lucas watched Lucian’s face closely and was relieved to see that he did not think she was dead.Lucian slowly chose his words carefully. “I believe she is out there somewhere and she is alive. Your mom knows how to survive on this mountain. No, Lucas, I truly believe she is okay and I need you to believe too. Don’t tear yourself up until we know what is going on here. Bella would not leave you. You are her sunshine.” Lucian reached across the table and griped Lucas’s shoulder.Jack walked into the kitchen, a Sat-phone in his hand. Cell phones did not work up o