Forever Breathing (Just Breathe #3) (26 page)

They turn and leave the room. He turns back to us and says, “James and Ever, you have the power of Seamus and myself. Use it this time.”

I glance over at my brother and his confusion mirrors my own.
What is he implying?
Everyone thought we were really powerful last time this happened but we quickly found out it wasn’t the case. I ended up injured and out for three days and James…well we found out about his healing abilities so I guess that is a good thing that came out of it. I am about to ask him what he’s talking about but before I can, he announces, “I’m filling up everything in the city, be ready.”

With that water starts to rise from the floor. I glance over at Jack and he smiles at me whispering, “Guess you got your wish.”

I smile back eager for the water to get high enough so that I can ‘will’ my fin. He holds my hand and squeezes. We all transform in that moment. I don’t know when it happened but at some point, this became my true form. This is my place and this is me now.

Jaspen disappears leaving only Jack, James, Alody, Amber and I. I watch Jack and James exchange a knowing look and feel completely in the dark. James turns to Alody and asks, “Is everyone ready?”

She answers, “Yes, I just need to give Jenna the go ahead.”

I pipe in, “Something is going on that I don’t know about, isn’t there?”

Jack pulls me into his arms and whispers to me, “This is killing you isn’t it?”

I frown and meet my brother’s stare across the room. I can tell he is laughing inwardly at me.

He explains, “You’ll find out, soon enough. Ever, not only are you a terrible actress but also not a very good liar.”

What can I say to that, he is completely right. Jack pulls away smiling and tells me to take us to the Erebus caves. I have a slight feeling Jack and James have made their own plans without involving Jaspen.

I close my eyes grabbing Jack’s hand and think about the caves that one day, not so long ago, scared me half to death. Well it was more of what they represented at the time. As I open my eyes now, I am greeted with the sight that represents something entirely different. The grand room with sea serpents carved into the walls is filled, filled with people and filled with hope and I am awestruck at the sight.

I glance over at Jack and ask, “How, how did all of these people get here?”

He chuckles, “I’ll let James el let Jaxplain that to you.”

He lets my hand go and swims into the throng of people before us. Alody joins him and James touches my arm gently gesturing that I should follow him. He swims down the hall to a room off to the left. The same room I found him in planning with Jaspen for the battle with Seamus. I knew back then that he would be just fine so I left him. As he turns around to explain things to me I realize how much he’s changed. Not only physically of course but he has grown up. He’s no longer a seventeen year old trying to find out who he is.  He knows who he is and his confidence in that radiates through the room. In this moment, I am so proud of my brother and it hits me that at some point if we come out of this, we will need to make a trip home.

“Ever, let me preempt this with, I am sorry we didn’t tell you everything but we couldn’t risk Jaspen finding out about our plan.”

I wave it off, what’s done is done. I can’t blame them. I am a terrible liar and somehow the truth always comes out without me even uttering a word.

“Okay, you might want to sit down for a minute.” I sit, as he suggests wondering what could take so long to explain.

“Alody is from the Erebus caves outside of Roman’s city. I went there after trying to stay in the city. I followed Sara to the city. I know terrible move. I’m still kicking myself for it but I wouldn’t have met Alody if it didn’t happen the way it did. Sara brought me there under false pretenses. She said she was bringing me there so we could be together but once we were there I found, it was really just what Roman had told her to do. Alex stepped in before they could keep me there and told me to leave. So I made my way to the caves. I met Alody and something I can’t describe happened. I was still reeling from Sara’s betrayal but as soon as…I don’t know she took away every thought of Sara. It’s dumb but maybe you could say it was love at first sight.”

His explanation brings back to me those first feelings I felt towards Jack when I saw him at school. I know exactly what he is talking about. It’s as if the north and south poles of two magnets finally meet. It takes so much to get them apart.

He continues, “Alody’s father was the leader of the Erebus. Roman had just attacked them a few weeks before I got there.”

He sinks into the seat across from me, “Ever, he was in bad shape. I gave him my blood twice but it was too late. He didn’t make it. So she became the leader of those people, the people out in those caves. I talked them into coming here and I keep having second thoughts.”

He takes a deep breath, “I’m not sure if our plan will work. I don’t want them to suffer any more than they already have.”

I place my hand over his to comfort him, “James I am so proud of you. I’m sure if mom, dad and Gam-aw could see you right now, they would be so proud too. I don’t know where all of this will end but I do know we are doing the right thing. We have found our place and we have to fight for it.  I was doubting everything too, but hearing you speak so passionately about Alody, it just solidifies everything. We are doing the right thing. I’m sure of it.”

He smiles and claims, “Will you please not give me a hard time anymore. It took most of took mosthe night to convince her that I didn’t know about Sara.”

I nod feeling guilty for putting him through that.

“So where do I fit into this plan of yours?”

Jack swims in as I ask and he gestures with his finger for me to come over to him. I push up on the table and swim over. I notice a shadow pass by us, James leaving, as Jack pulls me into an embrace. He hugs me tightly and quietly whispers into my ear, “Ever Harding, you are my everything, please don’t let anything happen to you.”

I smirk and pull away from him just enough so we are staring intently into each other’s eyes.

“Jack Tanner, I love you. Don’t let anything happen to you either.” And I kiss him.

A huge vibration echoes through the water. We break apart and I look to Jack for clarification. His look of fear verifies that the shield Jaspen tried so hard to keep up, just went down and it is starting. He grabs my hand and swims out into the front of the caves, pulling me along with him.

I look around as we enter; everyone is dressed in silver armor. James and Alody swim up handing Jack and I the same silver armor. I take it and we help each other into it. This thing is getting more real and I still feel like I’m in the dark. The familiar tingle is starting to rise up from my fin as a result of my fear. I push it away though. I cannot possibly lose it right now.

When we are ready, James hands me a bow and quiver of arrows. I place the strap across my body. It makes me feel more secure as I grasp the bow. The tingle just about disappears.
Good Job Ever, making progress here.

Jack turns to James and asks, “Are they coming?”

James glances at Alody who looks away. He mutters, “We don’t know. We haven’t heard anything.”

Jack acknowledges his admission and states, “Well, we will just work with what we have. The shield just went down so they are close. I am guessing someone was able to ‘travel’ through the shield.”

James admits, “I don’t know what Jaspen was thinking hiding out in the city was going to accomplish.”

I realize two things while listening to this conversation between my brother and Jack. One, they are whispering and the rest of the room is silent. Two, no one is moving; all of these people seem to be frozen, just waiting for something.

I turn to Alody and ask quietly, “What are we waiting for? Aren’t they in the city?”

She smiles slowly and tells me, “We are waiting for surprise. I know Roman. He won’t be in the first wave of fighters. He sends everyone else to do his dirty work. Then he sweeps in at the end and takes all the credit.”

I snicker, “That must be a family trait, his brother seems to do the same.”

She nods, “I didn’t mention it to James or Jack but I think Jaspen has an ulterior motive in all of this. It just doesn’t sit right with me.”
me.”

All I have to do is nod my head back to her. No words are necessary. I think Jaspen has always been off. I could never put my finger on it but something…

Another boom vibrates through the water. I watch as hands tighten around bows and spears and people in this now small space seem to brace themselves. Jack grabs my hand and squeezes. It must be soon. I tighten the grip on my bow in response and wait.

Chapter 45

James

The first vibration through the water came earlier than I thought it would. I was sure Jaspen could keep the shield up longer than he did, but maybe he is no match for his brother after all. Alody seems to think Roman won’t be here for a while but I have a different opinion. If they have that much animosity toward each other, Roman would want to be front and center when his brother goes down.

We readied all of her people, explaining what to expect when we do leave the caves. Everyone is covered in the unmistakable, silver, Erebus armor with their weapons readied. Just as I finish explaining about the caves around us, Jack and Ever swim out. The look on her face is so transparent. She is scared, I can tell, but also unsure. That is exactly what Jack and I had hoped. We’ve kept her in the dark with almost all of our plans. I told her it was because she gives things up easily but really we don’t want her to have an episode. She takes everything so personally and her whole body reacts, usually with her nerves resulting in fainting. So far, she’s good.

I hand them their armor and swim over to Alody as they get ready.

She looks up at me and wraps her small arms around me, “How are you doing?”

I lower my mouth to hers giving her a light kiss in response. At this exact moment I don’t trust my voice. Too many things are running through my mind. Most concerning is, what I would possibly do without this wonderful girl in my life? I have to protect her with everything. The other thing weighing me down is whether bringing all of her people here, was the right decision. I’m worried she will lose more of her family and it will be my fault.

I glance over to Jack and Ever and notice they are ready. She seems to be handling things pretty well. I lean down toward Alody’s ear and ask, “Are you ready?”

She nods against my head and I kiss that sweet spot on her neck before pulling away. She follows me over to Jack and Ever. I hand Ever a bow and quiver. As she takes it, I can see her calm down. I was hoping this would help. She loves the bow.

I turn to Jack as he asks, “Are they coming?”

I look to Alody but she looks away. I know this is hard for her. We had a plan and just not knowing if it will work is eating her up.

I admit, “We don’t know. We haven’t heard anything.”

Jack relents, “Well, we will just work with what we have. The shield just went down so they are close. I am guessing someone was able to ‘travel’ through the shield.”

I tell him, “I don’t know whhat Jaspen was thinking. Hiding out in the city won’t accomplish anything.”

The room is silent and the water is thick if that’s possible. I know it’s the unknown. Everyone is bracing for what’s to come but none of us really know for sure what’s coming.

Alody and Ever are talking. This makes me happy with all the other turmoil. I need my sister to accept her. She’s not going anywhere, ever.

Suddenly, a second vibration echoes through the caves. This is it. That’s our cue. I tighten my grasp on my spear and look down at Alody. She smiles and mouths, “Here we go.”

Yes, here we go.

Jack announces to everyone in the cave, breaking the silence, “It’s time to win our freedom once and for all.”

Everyone raises their weapons and cheers.

Alody adds in a loud, strong, voice, “Let’s do this for family and for choices.” They all kiss their first three fingers and place it over their hearts. I do the same and meet Alody’s gaze.

The double doors open and Alody’s people slowly make their way out into the open water following Jack and Ever. I pray that this works.

Alody and I are the last to leave. She turns to me right before we make our way out and stops looking up into my eyes and tells me, “James, I love you.”