Extraordinary (29 page)

Crushing despair pressed against my chest again. We had discussed this and I had come to terms with it as much as I could, but seeing Tristan hurt was not something I could ever accept. Even if my expression said otherwise.

“Most of this will be played by ear,” Arwen added.

I grinned at Arwen and his determination. He might resemble a child on the outside but his intelligence clearly extended far beyond adolescence. This was the day he had waited for. The risk he was taking was more than admirable.

“What about the route we discussed earlier,” Arwen said to Tristan.

Their brainstorming made it clear that my role in this planning session was limited. My train of thought drove off course. This world was full of enchantment and yet I managed to be amazed by the simplest of things. I supposed running water in the forest was not so far-fetched in a magical land and miniature furniture was not unheard of in any world, magical or otherwise. Yet, I was thoroughly fascinated nonetheless.

Relationships were not the only things I would leave behind.

Haliwick had more to offer than danger and anguish, unfortunately that was about all I had been able to experience. Part of me wished I could stay and see what my mother’s world was all about. This beautiful, mystic land would only exist in my mind; at least I hoped the memories would remain.

My journey had begun with only me. Now there were five of us fighting for life, love, and freedom. James had taught me that I can control my power but, more importantly, he taught me to believe in it and myself. Though he wouldn’t finish the journey with us, his wisdom would.

It was certainly not just me any longer and I didn’t intend to return to that. My character and strength were being tested to the fullest extent. Regardless of how I viewed myself in the past, I was proud of who I was becoming.

“I think it will be ok
ay,” Tristan said.

What will?

I didn’t realize I was staring until his eyes met mine. If I ever wondered just how deep my love for Tristan was, moments like this reminded me. I held his gaze while praying that this place, Tristan’s face, my love for him, and newfound respect for myself be permanently burned into my memory.

"Arwen's going to take the potion to Sadie and Blaze tonight," Tristan said.

Tristan’s grin was confident, his gaze unfaltering. Arwen stood taller once again and looked us both in the eyes when he spoke. In the middle of the forest, in a house the size of my car, I smiled.

We might actually pull this off.

****

Chapter Twenty-Three

I had wanted to storm into Katerina’s castle as soon as possible. Tristan and Arwen insisted we wait until morning, assuming that Katerina would expect us to return sooner than later and the night would only make it more difficult for us to see. Arwen had successfully delivered the potion to Sadie and Blaze, setting my mind at ease at least as far as that was concerned.

More importantly, I knew they were, in fact, alive.

“The potion is almost gone,” I said. “This is our last chance for this to work.”

I tasted the purple concoction on my tongue, only instead of recharging, I was anxious.

I could barely stand. The potion was no longer able to compete with the strain Haliwick was putting on my body. Two drops used to hold me for well over two days, now I was lucky to make it through one.

Weakness was now accompanied by intense pain. So much so, that upon waking, I screamed in agony before collapsing to the floor. Tristan was frantic, searching my pockets for the temporary relief. Only now the bottle was nearly empty.

We had awoken before the sun, though I barely slept a wink.

I sat gazing out the window at the full moon hanging high above the forest. Its brilliant pink glow slinked between the trees and into Arwen’s living room. I listened to sounds of Tristan’s breathing while he slept peacefully, scrunched against the wall next to me.

Whether we were successful today or not, I would still lose. I just wouldn’t know how severe that loss would be until the battle came to an end.

“Are you ready?” Arwen asked, peeking timidly out of his bedroom.

Tristan attempted a positive expression but his eyes showed the worry he was actually feeling. Still, I returned the sentiment with a counterfeit smile and hoped I fooled him better than he fooled me.

We trekked through the forest in complete silence. Tristan held my hand for most of the walk, either out of concern or adoration. Either of which was fine with me. Dew clung to the blades of grass below us. The bottom of my jeans absorbed their moisture and the soles of my shoes became slippery on the wet leaves. The morning air was crisp and the shade from the trees enhanced my cold shivers. The temperature or the condition of my blue jeans was of little concern to me. A single complaint never crossed my exhausted mind much less left my trembling lips.

The stone columns of the castle’s towers came into view. We were much closer to Katerina than I’d imagined.

We left our hesitation at the door and entered the castle without even acknowledging it or any anxiety we each may have felt. Our hope was to move quickly to avoid detection and, at least, make it inside of our own freewill.

“Why are there no guards?” I whispered once inside.

“They are around,” Arwen said. “Stay alert.”

“This is about as alert as I’m going to get,” I said. “Any more alert and I may explode.”

This was the same corridor I had investigated before Sadie and Blaze were captured. Though the scenery had not changed, the gloominess had grown exponentially. The same pathetic candles still sputtered in their medieval sconces along the wall, the concrete floor was still damp and echoed the sounds of Sadie’s screams and that familiar drip-drip-drip. This time, though, the tension was almost tangible.

“I will take Alex to Blaze and Sadie,” Arwen said to Tristan. “Follow this corridor all the way to the end and make a right. If we aren’t there in ten minutes, good luck.”

I had heard this plan a hundred times, but hearing it was the easy part. Arwen’s harsh tone was focused, not callous, but the overall message was alarming just the same. Knowing that Tristan was leaving me sent a shiver from my neck down the length of my spine. I was aware it would happen, but now it had become real.

I didn’t want him venturing off alone knowing that I was afraid. I didn’t want him to go at all. In a perfect world, he would not have to risk his life for us. In a perfect world, Katerina would not exist but in the real world, perfect was an illusion.

“I have to leave you now,” Tristan said.

In between the flickers of the candle on the wall beside of us, I caught glimpses of distress and bravery in his expression. Tristan wrapped his arms around me, communicating the feelings he could not speak aloud. I remained stoic until he leaned down to kiss me. My knees buckled but I was quick to regain my composure. I resisted the fluttering in my stomach and the pain in my chest.  We both knew what this was—the end.

My heart told me I would regret not making the most of this last embrace but my always- contradictory brain said to be strong and get on with it. It was not the romantic moment I imagined but how romantic could goodbye actually be?

Tristan released me. The bandages and stitches holding my wounded heart together gave way and the pieces shattered across the cold, wet floor. The weight of the emotions I was fighting to hide squeezed my chest, pushing a silent gasp through my trembling lips.

I had become too familiar with this feeling.

“I will keep my promise,” he whispered in my ear.

“I...” I choked.

The intent and words were there but something stopped me from completing the sentence. I knew that I loved him but with an inevitably tragic ending looming ahead of us, the expression seemed wasted and would only make our parting that much harder. More than that, if I’d finished my sentence I would have surely broken down. 

Tristan stepped away from the faint glow of the candle. The shadows covered him until I could barely see him at all. I willed the flame to stretch its light so that I might watch him for a second longer but it seemed that was not one of my magical capabilities.

In the quiet darkness I heard him say, “I know.”

Powerful emotions welled up inside of me, pooling behind my eyes. I could not see him or the expression on his face; I could only hear his footsteps move further away. All that stopped my true sentiments from pouring from my eyes was the one solitary thought screaming throughout my brain—Stop him.

“Tristan!”

I ran into the darkness, unsure if he was even there. I had never known such intensity, such agony. There were more candles further down the corridor and that was when I saw him. He had begun to run towards my voice but stopped when he saw me. Practically leaping into his arms, I hugged him with all the love and energy I had inside of me. My right hand cupped the back of his head, my fingers combing through his velvety hair.

I can’t let go. I can’t let go. I love you.

His arms wrapped around my waist, his hands tugged desperately at my t-shirt, holding me as close to him as possible. His breathing next to my ear was heavy but I could not decide if it was from running or if his heart was breaking too.

I felt another pull at the hem of my shirt that yanked me back to reality, back to the reason we were here.

“Alex,” Arwen said. “We have to go.”

Tristan and I separated, holding hands until the distance between us became too great. I took a candle from its wall holder to light our path. Arwen led the way while I concentrated on soothing, positive thinking to avoid mindlessly running right over him. I imagined how it would be to sleep in my own bed, the smell of my shampoo that I could hardly recall, and how great it would be to devour an entire pepperoni pizza.

These musings were temporary fixers to a situation that would plague me for the rest of my days. Tristan had already disappeared into the darkness but I still glanced back several times hoping for a reassuring sign that never showed itself.

There was no time for an emotional breakdown. Arwen, ignoring his aches, began to jog down the hallway leaving me little time to be distracted by Tristan or his absence.

“Kill the light!” Arwen whispered.

The candle slipped from my hand, its flame extinguishing on the damp floor. Two guards passed by on their patrol just as Arwen had said to expect. We stood hushed and motionless, positioned so close to the wall I feared we might tumble through it. The guards strolled by completely unaware of us hiding in the shadows. Arwen and I shuffled down the length of the wall without so much as an exhale until we turned the corner away from the guards.

“Great,” I said, once we were out of earshot. “Now we are in total darkness. I hope you know where we are going because I can’t see a thing.”

“I do,” he responded. “We are close. Try to speak to them.”

“Sadie? Blaze? Can you hear me?”

“
Alex! I can hear you,
” Sadie said.

“Me too,”
Blaze added.
“Why are you whispering? No one can hear you but us.”

“We are coming—just hang tight. The plan is the same as before so once we get you out just go with that.”

“Okay,”
Sadie said.

“Ten-Four,”
Blaze responded.

“It worked,” I said aloud. “They know we are coming. They sound better than I thought.”

I waited for Arwen’s response but there was only silence. I no longer heard his faint moans or the scuffling of his footsteps.

“Arwen?” I whispered.

Panicked, my strides became frenzied. Several flustered steps in I smacked right into his two-foot frame. Toppling over him, I banged my head on the appalling concrete floor. I slammed my lips together, practically melding them into one. My screams all remained internal and barely made a sound.

“Are you ok
ay?” he whispered. “I was trying to determine where we were. I guess I got a bit ahead of you.”

“Do you think anyone heard us?”

“No, they would be here by now. Let’s get moving. Blaze and Sadie should be just around this corner.”

Ignoring the potential danger lurking in the next hallway, I dashed around the bend with Sadie and Blaze as my only concern. As soon as I made the turn, I came nose to nose with the burliest guard we had encountered yet. His incredibly unattractive face glared down at me. His menacing smirk revealed his belief that he had me cornered.

My first swing connected just under the man’s chin. The roar of Sadie and Blaze’s cheers boomed off the dank prison walls. The robust guard collapsed onto the damp concrete and I lunged on top of him, wasting no time celebrating my strength or accomplishment. My feet touched the floor on either side of him as his temporary state of unconsciousness wore off. His callused hand wrapped around my neck.

Arwen raced to my rescue, kicking the man (who was more than three times his size) square in the rib cage. The kick, though clearly not painful to the muscular miscreant, distracted the guard enough for him to release his death grip on my neck. To my horror, the guard’s rage became directed towards Arwen and a brawny backhand swung over Arwen’s head with a forceful swoosh. The guard missed his mark by mere inches causing his temper to boil and his face to burn bright red.  His heavy foot slammed the floor with a thunderous rumble, sending Arwen cowering into a corner.