Beyond (55 page)

“U
nlike the others, he already knew who you were. He wanted your knowledge a nd powers.
Since you gave him your memories before, he was draw n to you beca use you two ha d already connected.
Y
our memories were returned to you when both of your souls united becau se he held your memories as well .
”

“
So…then you can ’
t get your memories back when you eat a forbidden apple?
”

“
No…there is no such thing. Aliah was able to give your memories back because you gave them to him fir st .
”

I
took all of her words in and blinked my eyes.
“
Does that mean I don ’
t have the same soul anymore?
”

“
You don ’
t need the protection where you ’
re at .”

“
And where am I?
”
I said worriedly.

“
In your Heaven.
”

I already knew the answer, but I needed Gamma to confirm.
My heart sank, knowing I would never see the ones I loved again.
“
Will you stay here with me?
”

“
Let me ask you this question instead ; do you want to be here?
”

“
What do you mean? Do I have a choice?
”

“
Because you sacrificed your life for the good of mankind, you have a choice that I can grant, but you need to make the decision quickly.
Your friends have used the healing crystal on you. You may not have a choice.
”

“
They did?
”
I smiled , happy that I meant so much to my friends that they would use a crystal on me , a gift that was given by the Royal Council to the Twelve.

“
I believe you ’
ve already made up your mind, ”
Gamma said , as if she could read my thoughts.
“
You ’
ll go back as you were. Your soul will be back to the way it was before you had fallen.
”

I wasn
’
t sure if that was a good thing or not. As I exhaled deeply, I closed my eyes and thought of the reason s why I should go back , and there were too many. I would miss Gamma dearly, but I had just begun to live.
“
I want to go back, but I ’
m afraid.
”

“
Everyone is afraid. There will always be mountains in your way. Hold your head up high , and keep climbing with hope and love in your heart . You ’
re not alone my child. I ’
ll always be there for you, even if you can ’
t see me. Your life has just begun. Nourish it well and wisely , and you will have a fruitful life. Life is about taking risk s , but know ing your limits. You have so much to give. Your destiny doesn ’
t end here…at least not yet, ”
she winked.

I didn
’
t know what else to say ; I felt her words that w ere so true. Her words were what I needed to hear, a permission to set me free. I reached for Gamma and held her tightly with all of me for the last time. I knew she would be with me no matter where I went or what I did. I just couldn ’
t see her.

“
I love you, Gamma, ”
I said, pressing my face into her chest, remembering those days she protected me when I was a child, those days when she was always there for me , and even after death she would always be.

“
Close your eyes, ”
Gamma said softly, running her hands down my hair, making me sleepy.
“
I ’
ll see you one day when it ’
s your time. I love you too.
”

Like the way I appear
ed into th at world, everything was white again. G
amma was gone as I stood alone , and this time I was not afraid.

Chapter
3
6

Claudia
’
s eyes s lowly pe e led open as she inhaled a slow breath of new life. The familiar it y of the room told her she was lying on her bed at Island of Eden. She felt a sudden chill , but her right hand felt warm. She peered down to see Michael cupping it into his hold.
H
e sat on the edge of th e bed while his head hung down , as if he was praying. She felt wetness trickling down her fingertips on the hand he held , and she knew it was his tears. Seeing him all choked up caused her own tears to fall. She knew the reason he wept..
.
h e thought she was gone forever.

Slowly, she raised her left hand and placed it lightly on his arm . Michael jerked up and stared incredulously.

“
Hello, ”
she murmured. Her words were hardly audible.
E
xtremely parched , her throat ached like she had swallowed sand.

Too much in shock, Michael didn
’
t know what to do. He wiped his tears and stood up.
“
Do you need anything? Are you in pain? Should I go get Katherine?
”
He couldn ’
t stop asking questions from nervousness.

Claudia tried to get up, but the pain
where she ’d pierced herself with the sword , in the middle of the rib cage just above her stomach, was excruciating , so she lay back in a hurry.

“
Don ’
t get up. You need time to heal. You had the deathly crystal inside you as well as the healing crystal and now…somehow…you ’
re here .”
H
e raked his hair back in confusion.

“
Michael, sit down…please.
”

And so he did. It hadn
’
t hit him yet. Claudia was alive , but was she herself ?
Michael continued to smile, extend ing his arms to touch her, but pulled back, afraid ; but most of all , feeling simply stunned.

“
Is everyone all right?
”
she asked, preparing herself for bad news. She remembered seeing Austin and Katherine on the ground , badly wounded.

“
Yes. Everyone you love is well. There were many casualties, mostly venators and watchers.
”

Claudia felt his nerves and didn
’
t know why when she was the one who should be blushing. She was lying down with this handsome guy sitting in front of her that gave her exhilarating goose bump s . Then it dawned on her. He didn ’
t know she had her memories back …m ost likely the reason why he didn ’
t know what to do or say.

“
Michael.
”

Michael smiled, gazing into her eyes with uncertainty.

Claudia took his hand and held it warmly, close to her heart. Michael shivered timidly from her touch.
“
I remember everything. I remember you. I remember us. I love you.
”
She kissed his hands that she held multipl e times .

Michael blinked. It took a moment to register ever ything she ’d said. He glowed from happiness , and his eyes beamed with overwhelming joy.

“
You remember everything?
”
Michael , still unbelieving, need ed more confirmation.

“
I remember your smile, your laughter, your sweetness, the way you love me and your kisses.
”
Claudia ’
s face became warm with her last words, running her hands up and down his mus cular biceps without realizing what she was doing , and shyly dropped them.

“
Then you ’
ve forgiven me?
”

Claudia saw the sadness in his eyes when he asked his question.
“
There is nothing to forgive. I would have done the same. It was the only way for us to be together. I understand.
”

With relief, he lowered
himself to her. His hand cradled her head , and he laced his hands through her hair. Claudia inhaled the smell of him, honeysuckle , so sweet and refine d . His closeness brought warmth to her, but became hot when he brushed his lips gently on hers.

“
I ’
ve missed you so much, ”
he whispered, brush ing his lips from her forehead to her eyes, to her cheeks, to her nose a nd back down to her lips again.

“
Oh , stop teasing me, ”
Claudia said , pulled him in and kissed him in madness. There was a sharp pa in in her side when she did, but she didn ’
t care. She needed to feel his chest on hers, to feel the closeness, but even that wasn ’
t enough.

They were interrupted when Davin hollered.
“
Michael, what are you doing? She ’
s gone. You can ’
t bring her back. She ’
s not Snow White and you ’
re not the prince.
”
Davin ’
s eyes were glassy, swelling up with tears.

Michael looked up and chuckled
.

“
Have you gone mad ?”
Davin continued , pacing toward him .
“
Holy crap !
I mean…Claudia?
”

Caleb and Vivian came closer too. The alkins
’
eyes wide ned with surprise as tears welled up in their eyes . Michael slipped ba ck to give them room.
“
Claudia, ”
Davin sh oo k from happiness.
“
You ’
re alive !
But you died !
I mean…
healing crystal…angel death crystal…I mean…
I ’
m so happy you ’
re alive, but you died and how does this happen? Oh…hell…I should just shut up and give you a hug.
”

One by one they held her warmly. Afterward, they sat on the edge of the bed like the old days. Nobody said a word; they just sat there in amazement, taking in this miracle.

“
We need to tell Katherine , the Twelve and the guy I don ’
t like so much, ”
Davin said.

Claudia wondered if Austin care
d enough to come to see her , even though he knew she was dead already.
“
Where is everyone?
”
Claudia asked timid ly.

“
Austin has bee n reassigned as one of the Twel ve. Michael was suppose to take the other spot, his father ’
s spot, but he declined, ”
Davin informed.

Claudia looked at Michael for
an explanation.
“
I don ’
t want it , and I ’
m glad I didn ’
t accept it . Now that you ’
re here, I ’
m never letting you go.
”
Michael turned to Davin.
“
You can inform the others, but the plan still remains , if Claudia wants to go along with it.
”

“
What plan?
”
Claudia asked.

Not sure how to answer, there was no response from the alkins.

“
Claudia, for now you ’
ll have to stay here until you ’
re healed enough to walk.
O
ne of us will always be here with you. You ’
re not alone. I ’
m sure Austin and the venators you ’
ve become friends with will be here as well. Meanwhile, don ’
t worry about anything else , and just concentrate on getting yourself well. The faster you ’
re better the faster you can leave with me, ”
Michael said, brushing her cheeks.

“
If it means we can be together then I ’
m in. We ’
ve lost precious time , an d I ’
m not letting you go too, ”
Claudia smiled.