Empyreal: Awaken - Book One (19 page)

She continued to run, faster and
faster, knocking limbs and brush way from her path as she
ran.

Coralie began to recall the recent
scene from which she had just left behind. She recalled her
attacker's limp, lifeless body lying on the ground. She remembered
the last powerful blow given to her approaching enemy by her own
hand. She could almost feel his bones cracking beneath her hands
and feet as she replayed the events, again, in her head.

Running faster and faster, dodging
trees and hanging brush away as she ran.

She pushed herself forward. But not
because she was afraid. It wasn't fear that pushed her forward. It
was something else ... something indescribable. It felt like pure
adrenaline being injected into her veins. She felt
alive.

Memories started to fill her mind ...
Real memories.

Memories started to rush through her
mind like roving waters. Shadowed alleys, dark figures, hooded
attackers, monster canines ... more memories flowed in as if
someone had opened up the flood gates.

Something about this night. Something
about her life. It was all falling - yes, falling - falling into
place. Piece by piece, locking into place, creating a bigger
picture.

Suddenly, Coralie became more aware of
her surroundings. She had absentmindedly and hurriedly pushed her
way into the city park.

Lynn Park …

Coralie slowed her pace to a brisk
walk. She looked around and took a deep breath, trying to calm
herself from the continuing flow of adrenaline coursing through her
body.

She scanned her surroundings as she
walked toward the fountain in the middle of the park. She had
always loved the way the park pathways wound around to one meeting
point – the fountain.

Coralie had always felt comfort in the
flowing water. The sounds, the sight, even the smell – the constant
flowing fountain water had an almost drawing power to her. It
seemed to pull her in and hold her in its grasp.

Much like that of the lake … Empyreal
Lake.

With her eyes set on but one
destination, she continued her stride until she was startled by an
abrupt sound. She spun around in the direction of the sound. It had
come from just beyond the trees.

“Who's there?” Coralie asked,
anxiously and fearfully.

Coralie held her breath as a dark
figure stepped out of the shadows, and moved toward her.

“Hello?”

Coralie looked toward the rustling
sound coming from the tree line. “Hello, is anybody
there?”

Coralie’s eyes widened as she watched
a dark figure emerge from the trees.

When the figure stepped forward into
the light, it illuminated
his
body. The young man seemed to
be around her age, a teenage boy.

Coralie peered intently at the
half-shadowed person. Shadows were cast upon his face. “Hello?” she
said again, not knowing if she really wished the person to
answer.

The boy looked her direction and
stepped further into the light pathway of the park. He was wearing
faded jeans and a worn, dark gray t-shirt that read of some band's
name that she didn't recognize in black letters across the front. A
backpack rested on his back and he was holding a large piece of
paper in his hands. Coralie noticed that he looked as if he were
looking for something or someone ... then suddenly his expression
changed.

“Hey – I mean, Hello...” The boy said,
walking slowly in her direction.

Skeptical of her approacher, Coralie
began to back away. The boy casually raised his hand up, letting
her know that he came peacefully and meant her no harm. “I'm sorry
if I startled you...”

She shook her head to acknowledge him,
but she did not allow words to leave her mouth.

The boy continued, “I know this may
sound crazy – probably looks even crazier ... but I must have
gotten turned around...”

The boy waited for some sort of
response, but Coralie still said nothing, remaining distrustful.
“You see, I went for a hike this afternoon –”

“By yourself???” Coralie blurted
out.

“Oh, she speaks – sorry ... sarcasm –
and for the record … yes, by myself...” “Don't you know Hiking 101?
Rule number one – never hike alone!” Coralie said, pointing out the
obvious.

“I told it would sound crazy ... I'm
just glad you weren't a bear...”the boy said, laughing. “So, I know
by the park benches, I must be in the park, but where exactly will
this take me … I mean, if I follow this path,” he pointed,
continuing his logic questioning, “... where will I end
up?”

Answering a question with a question,
Coralie said, “Well, I guess the better question would be, where
are you trying to get to?” Coralie paused, studying him. The boy
looked innocent enough, pure almost. “Obviously, you must be new to
the city...”

The boy grinned, shyly. “What makes
you think that?”

“Well, anyone who can get lost on a
nature hike in a small town like Thessla, must be a
newbie.”

“Oh, so I take it that you've lived
here a while?”

“Yeah, most all of my life, so I know
my way around ... plus, I've traveled a lot with my parents, so I’m
good with directions, I think...” Coralie said, then paused,
deciding to offer her help, “I could help you get turned in the
right direction, if you would like … but only if you can give me an
idea of where you’re trying to get to.”

The boy stared at her for a moment.
Almost as if he was studying her, trying to place her from
somewhere. Somewhere from which he would know her. The boy
continued to study her for a moment, then he said, “Yeah, right -
sorry...” he continued to struggle to find words, “...Umm, Indian
River...”

“Okay, we’re making progress ... North
or South End?”

“South...” the boy said, still
studying the girl that stood before him.

“Well, you're in luck...”Coralie said
with a friendly smile, “... if you take this path here,” she
continued as she pointed in the direction of the park path, “... it
will wrap you around to the south side of the park. You should see
a road directly facing the front of the entry hedge, Elk Avenue.
Take Elk Avenue to South Rose, then take a left. This will put you
on South Rose. South Rose will lead you right to the south end of
Indian River.”

“Wow! What a tour guide ... You sure
you don't do this for a living?”

“Yes, I'm sure...” Coralie answered
with a smile.

“Hey, thanks …,” the boy said,
stepping closer to her, with an outstretched hand for what looked
like preparation for a friendly grasp.

Coralie was reluctant at first, but
when the boy continued to speak, her reluctances eased. “I don't
think I caught your name...”

Coralie noticed as his eyes caught a
flicker of light from the park path light. His eyes sparkled a
brilliant, bright, almost translucent blue. “Coralie,” she
answered.

“Well, it is certainly nice to meet
you, Coralie ... I'm Alex.” He shook her hand with slowed ease, his
eyes never leaving hers. “If it weren't for you, I'd probably still
be wandering aimlessly out here ... by the way, what were you doing
out here all by yourself, anyway?”

“Just taking a walk, clearing my
head...” Coralie answered, shyly, thinking of her parents and how
they must be worried. She suddenly felt a wave of guilt for leaving
her parents to worry about her safety.

“Alone???” Alex asked,
lightheartedly.

“Yes, hypocritically speaking...”
Coralie said, admittedly.

“Not very safe, out here all alone,
you know ... What if I'd been a bear?” Alex said
smiling.

“Thankfully, neither of us are of a
bear heritage...”Coralie said, matter-of-factly.

“Yeah, that could have been an awkward
encounter ... aren't bears territorial?”

She shrugged with a smile crossing her
lips. “Most, or maybe some, I think ... I don’t know...”

Returning her smile, Alex said, “Well,
I must be on my way ... thanks again...”

“Glad I could help...”

Alex turned in the direction of the
right path, but without taking the first step, swiftly turned
around. “Hey, Coralie?”

“Yes, Alex?”

“Be safe out there ... alone. You
never know who may be out there, watching you...”

“Okay, thanks. I will. Take care,
Alex.” She said, taking a seat at the fountain, as she watched him
take the winding path leading through the park and then disappear
over the hill.

“Coralie???” She heard her name called
out from behind her. She turned to the sound of her
name.

“Court?” Coralie answered his familiar
voice.

He rushed up to her, took her hands,
and pulled her from her seat. He lifted her straight up into his
embrace. “Are you okay?” he asked, as he studied her, looking her
over and then into her eyes.

“Yes, I'm fine. How did you know where
to find me?”

“When you took off, your parents
called me...” he paused, “And I believe, I recall you saying
something about this place being your
thinking
place
...”

“You were listening...”

“Of course I was
listening...”

“I still like yours better...” she
said, admittingly.

He smiled, then said, “I think it's
time we get you home ... your parents –”

“My parents - oh my gosh – my parents
… I know they must be furious with me...”

“Worried, yes … but I think furious is
highly unlikely...” he said, reaching for her hand. “Come on, my
bike's this way...”

“Your bike? Is this some sort of
punishment?” she asked, causing Court to smile. “There are lighter
punishments, you know ... have you ever heard of a warning for
first time offenders, a slap on the wrist, even...”

Court let out his ever so handsome,
bellowing laugh. “Maybe this will cure you of being a repeat
offender ... let's go, Runaway...”

Coralie took his hand, following him
to the east side edge of the park.

She sighed. Coralie knew that she had
to talk to her parents. She felt so bad for the way she had left.
She shouldn't have done that. She should have, for at least her
mother's sake, taken Jacques.

But now, that was neither here nor
there.

She couldn't change things in the
past. Even the most recent. She couldn't change how she had left.
But there was something she could do. She could finally have her
parents tell her the truth. The truth about her life. The truth
about who she was.

Coralie felt justly and genuinely
ready to hear the veracity of her existence. And it was the
excitement of this fact that pushed her forward.

* * * * *

As Alex topped the hill of the south
pathway, he was startled by a familiar figure standing before
him.

“Alexander,” a voice said.

“Yes, Sir...” Alex answered
obediently.

“You have taken a grave risk, showing
yourself to her.”

“But Cal –”Alex started.

“Alexander, you have an obligation to
uphold as a Protector. Not just any Protector,
her
Protector. This is my daughter we're talking about. You are
supposed to protect her, no matter what.”

“I am, Sir – “Alex
interjected.

“From afar –” Cal added. “You
shouldn't have allowed her to have contact with you...”

“Sir, what if I wanted her to...” Alex
said, questioning not only Cal, but centuries of Protector
regulations. “... what if I wanted to be seen by her?”

Cal interrupted his words. “It makes
no difference. You have a specific and important position to
uphold.”

Alex replied. “Yes, Sir, I do ... I am
very aware of my position. But honestly, I cannot truly protect
your daughter from such a far distance.”

“Why such the sudden
change?”

“No sudden changes. I just wish to
protect your daughter more closely.”

“Alexander, you must understand, this
position is only as permanent as I allow, you could be stripped of
your duties.” Cal explained intensely.

“Would that be so bad?” Alex blurted
out before he could stop the words from fleeing his
lips.

“You don't mean that! I know you,
Alexander – I know that being a Warrior means more to you than
that. I know that
she
means more to you than
that.”

“She does –” Alex said, with agreeing
words. Coralie meant the world to him.

He had been assigned as her Protector
for as long as he could remember. Anything beforehand, was
meaningless to him. He had watched over her for the most part of
the entirety of her existence. He couldn't imagine what it would be
like to not see her every day.

Just once, he wished he could be with
her without the duty of protection hanging over their
heads.