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
Chapter 101Arabella never called.Arabella lifted her head to the rising sun. She couldn’t remember how many nights she stayed up with one grieving person or another. At times, she wondered if she even helped these people. The Borders people were using her in may ways. One of them being this, midwife. Until now, she had never delivered before. She lost count of how many she had delivered. They were constantly on the move from one village to another.“You look like shit, Ari. Go, get some rest, I’ll clean up here.” Mac had been with Borders for many years and in that time he had been many things. Throwing Ari into it without her realizing the extent of their needs. It didn’t set well with Mac. Arabella was a nice and gentle woman and had a way of putting the patients at ease. Her help was greater than she realized.“It’s okay, Mac. If we both do it we can both get some rest. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you driving yourself half to death.” Arabella replied. “You push yourself too har
Chapter 100Arabella sat in front of the cave one last time before she had to leave for the airport. She felt a great sadness when she gazed at the rubble that was once her place of peace. So much over the years was soaked into the rocks and ground. It was a place where she felt close to her mother and father. She felt a touch of loneliness when her thoughts turned toward Lucian. Too much time was lost to them. The years separated them. Adrian separated them. Arabella stood up and started the hike back to the cabin. It was time to leave.Arabella didn’t rush home. Thorn walked with her and she savored his presence. “I don’t know when I’ll be back. Jack promised to take care of the place and check up on you once in a while.” Thorn cocked his head to the side as he listened to Arabella. He understood more than people knew. He had his own large pack to take care of but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t miss the walks and talking she did with him. Over the years his pack grew to the size it wa
Chapter 99The sound of the rock slide echoed down the canyon until it lost strength and force. Arabella stood in shock as her beloved cave was no more. In the distance she could hear the forlorn howl of Thorn and his pack. The forest itself became silent as though it were waiting for something more than it had already received, Arabella felt as though the world had stopped.The sound of a living forest returned slowly and Thorn’s pack could no longer be heard. Arabella knew it would be a shock to her system but after Ella blocked her abilities before, it showed Arabella that she could handle it. The mental agony could not be avoided but that too would fade as time went on.After the dust settled, Arabella looked around the forest and clearing where the cave once stood. Somehow, it all looked brand new. It was as though she had entered a new world. The shape and color of the leaves and pine needles on the trees took on a whole new meaning to her minds eye. They were sharper and the col
Chapter 98The dog days of summer were upon them. One hundred degrees and more were now the normal. Forest fires were springing up with little chance of rain helping to put them out. Lucian and Arabella kept their days full. Lucian would not reopen his practice until after he had won Arabella’s heart back. He took it on as a full time job to try and romance her and felt Arabella’s heart was finally starting to soften toward him.Lucas and Lauren were back from their honeymoon and ready to open their own practice together. The pair decided to make Boulder their permanent home. Lucas grew up there and was delighted to show Lauren all of the entertainment and fun there was in Colorado. Everyone but Arabella settled down to the rhythm of their lives.“Do you fully understand what you are asking for Arabella?” Selene asked her for what seemed like the hundredth time. “Once done, it cannot be undone.” Frustration was evident in Selene’s voice as she glared at Arabella. “You were given a few
Chapter 97During the wedding set up and the wedding itself, Arabella ran on pure adrenaline. Now that it was finally over, Arabella had nothing else to give. Exhausted, she lay down on one of the benches that lined the pavilion. After much searching, that was where Lucian found her, sound asleep. Gently, Lucian picked up Arabella in his arms to carry her to her room.Arabella stirred slightly but did not awaken as Lucian strode toward the cabin. It felt so good to have her in his arms again, even if it was when she was sleeping. He orginally planned to propose to Arabella that evening, after the wedding. But decided that it was not the right time. This day belonged to Lucas and Lauren alone, Besides, he wanted to make it all special for the woman he loved, for his sweet Bella.Arabella awoke the next morning, still in her wedding outfit and laying on top of her bed with no memory of how she got there. The sun was peeking over the mountain tops as she made her way to the kitchen in se
Chapter 96Life slowly moved forward to normality. Lucian and Arabella’s relationship was put on hold as they prepared for Lucas and Lauren’s wedding. The young ones decided that they did not want to be married on the Island but at home on the mountain side.The wedding itself would take place on the west lawn that was large enough to hold around a thousand people, various tents full of food and drink.One tent would hold a memory lane of Lucas and Lauren as they grew from toddlers to graduate students. Thorn kept his distance as the wedding plans ramped up.Lucian worked with the wedding planner. They mapped out on paper where everything would be placed on the west lawn. There was more than enough room for them to be extravagant. Lucian mapped where he wanted the pavilion for dancing to stand. It backed up to the rose garden near the north side. The smell of the blooms would help create the romantic atmosphere he was aiming for. Lucian wanted to plan it beautifully for it would be the
Chapter 95Mother, Fate and Karma were Ella’s judge and jury. She stood before them in silver chains, insolent, uncaring. Ella lifted her head in arrogance as Mother read out her crimes. The top crime being her kidnapping of a human. One of the biggest no no’s were harming a human in any way to which Ella qualified for by her actions. Arabella stood to one side of the Dias; she was to give evidence against Ella.Arabella was uncomfortable to be in the presence of three such powerful women. She shuffled her feet so much she caught a warning look from Karma. Arabella stood stock still so as to not bring more attention on herself.The proceeding was similar as on earth except Ella was not allowed to defend herself. All of her misdeeds were playing out o the walls surrounding the proceedings. Ella was not the least bit repentant. She did not believe Mother would actually send her to be absorbed. It just was not done anymore. With that thought in mind, a small smile played out on her lips.
Chapter 94Lucian walked back to the veranda to be close to Arabella while she slept. He was not surprised to find Thorn asleep on the porch beside the lounger where Arabella lay. Smiling to himself, Lucian sat down to wait on Arabella.Arabella’s sleep was long and uneventful. Echaustion keep the nightmares away. Slowly, Arabella started to wake up. She groaned a little at the pain from sleeping in one position for a long period of time. Arabella found herself alone on the veranda and started to panic. Just as she was ready to lose it, Lucian walked onto the veranda with hot coffee and finger sandwiches.“Ah, finally, you are awake?” Lucian said with a smile in his voice. “I was hoping you would soon. You must be starving by now.” Lucian set the tray with the coffee and food on the small table in front of Arabella.“Lucian, you’re here,” Arabella breathed whispered before she could stop herself. “Where is Selene? Oh, by the Gods, where is Ella?”Arabella tried to jump up from her cha
Chapter 93Suddenly, Ella realized it was not Arabella, but Selene that stood before her. Quickly, she reached for the shadows, but nothing happened. Running to the mouth of the cave, Ella stopped short. Outdide stood Michael, his sword of rightness was drawn. Ella’s shoulders slumped in defeat.“How did you find her?” Ella was curious as to why her spell didn’t work.“Silly woman,” replied Selene, “You forgot one important element.”Ella was getting impatient and almost stomped her foot in anger. “No need to draw this out Selene.”“Please Ella,” Selene smiled, “Let me finish. You forgot she was half human. That rather voided your magic. Why did you do this, Ella? What did Arabella ever do to you?”“Do to me? You want to know what she ever did to me? She exists, Selene. Do you understand that? She exists. I have spent my life having Arabella shoved down my throat. So much so that I never felt good enough for you. What better way to reach than through your ‘daughter’. Your precious Ara