Eye on Orion (18 page)

The Vision

Jai held my hand as we snuggled on the couch, watching the movie. He stole a kiss whenever he thought Amira or Ryad weren't watching. We were caught more often than not. Amira grinned like she was pleased, and Ryad looked thoughtful.

The movie was still hilarious to me. I laughed until my sides hurt, and my cheeks had been aching since the first half hour. Every time I would laugh, Jai could feel the mirth bubble up through me, and he would start laughing too. That would just make me laugh harder.

Amira asked, “What is so funny, Jai? I can see Holly finding this humorous since she understands the culture, but why do you think it's funny?”

After Jai could stop laughing enough to respond he said, “I don't technically think it is funny. I feel her humor, then I start laughing and it builds between the both of us.”

Each time I laughed, Jai would join me, and Amira and Ryad would start laughing at the two of us. We laughed so much we would have to start holding our sides until they stopped hurting and take deep breaths to get enough air. Eventually I'd calm down until another funny part brought my giggles up again, and the whole process would start all over.

When the movie stopped and they finished complaining about how abruptly it ended, I was so tired from all the laughing, I laid my head on Jai's shoulder and breathed slowly. I would start giggling again as I thought of the funny scenes, and Jai couldn't help but laugh with me.

“How about we pick something a little less humorous and extend our evening. You don't have to be home early tonight, do you?” Amira asked me.

“No, since it's Saturday my curfew isn't until midnight.”

Amira put in another movie. I watched out of the corner of my eye how Ryad sat next to Amira for this one. They didn't sit too close together, but they were close enough her shoulder almost touched his. I watched her for a moment and thought she was pleased he decided to sit by her this time. They shared some popcorn and settled into the couch to watch.

I wasn't familiar with the movie at all, so I watched closely to try to get involved in it. Jai settled in to the side of me. Almost halfway through, I got bored and looked around the room at the others. Jai still watched the movie, but seemed aware I no longer did.

I looked over at Amira and Ryad and smiled when I saw them both asleep on the couch. The dimmed light revealed his mouth hung open slightly, and it almost sounded like he was ready to start snoring. Amira looked incredibly graceful even as she slept with her head leaning against Ryad's. Her mouth was closed and smooth, but the small creases around her eyes never fully went away.

I turned back to the movie and hoped she wasn't too overwhelmed and stressed about her whole situation. She handled it remarkably well, but who knew what she actually thought about it all. She'd been careful to not let any stray thoughts escape to be heard by us.

Jai pulled me closer as I focused my attention back on the movie. He leaned toward me, and I knew he wanted to kiss me before his lips got anywhere near mine. We enjoyed a nice lingering kiss and worked on keeping our emotions under control. We were getting much better at it. We weren't perfect yet, but I enjoyed the practice. I rested my head on his shoulder and sighed. I felt his contentment and sent him a response of mine.

Ryad and Amira both began to stir and grumble in their sleep. I looked at them, the movie forgotten in the background, and Jai and I got more and more concerned. We could tell they were both seeing something that disturbed them, but we couldn't wake them from the Vision in case they needed to get all the information they could.

Jai used the intercom on the wall to tell Delilah and Marshal to come join us.

“
Do you think they are seeing the same thing
?” I thought to him.

“
Since t
hey are twitching at the same time, I would guess they are
.”

When Delilah and Marshal got to the bottom of the stairs, Jai said, “
We think they are having a Vision of something. We wanted to let you be here for the information when they awake
.”

They turned the dimmed lights up in the room and came to sit on the couch with us while we waited.

I feared this might be the signal they waited for. My happy little pretend
normalness
was about to be shattered when they awoke. Shander must have made a move that would cause them to leave. Jai felt my concern and hugged me closer, trying to reassure me that everything would work out for the best.

I watched Amira and Ryad closely, and when they started reaching together — Amira with her left hand and Ryad with his right — I wondered what she saw. Ryad must have been assimilating Amira's talent. She turned her head sharply to the left, and Ryad turned his head to the right. The movement caused them to shift closer against each other and the jarring of their shoulders hitting caused them to wake up startled.

They both sat upright and said together, “He has come.”

When they said the words aloud, a heavy cloud of despair fell upon me. I'd only had Jai in my life for less than a month. Now he would have to leave to protect his princess, and I might never see him again. I tried to fight the tears that threatened to come and focused my attention on what came from Jai.

He responded in a way I didn't expect. He seemed relieved the moment had finally come. Like he'd been waiting to face it head on. I wanted it to stay away forever, but he wanted to get it over with. He wanted to move on with his life. I admired that in him, but at the same time I still worried.

He felt sure things would work out for the best and was ready to let things fall as they may. I worried about it not working out the way I wanted it to. I didn't want it to come at all. My time in limbo had been heaven.

“What did you see?” Jai asked, leaning forward as he sat on the edge of the couch.

Speaking together, Amira and Ryad began, “Shander has discovered the other Traveling medallions.”

Amira looked over at Ryad with her eyebrows raised.

“My apologies, Princess,” Ryad said with a slight bow as he slid away from her.

Amira began again. “Shander has the other Traveling medallions. He has forced my father to reveal his plans for our return and has taken both of them. It seems he thinks he can bring both of them and Travel multiple times. He is here on Earth and has found Ramal. He tortured Ramal, trying to find our location.” She shook her head and swallowed before continuing. “Ramal didn't give him any answers.”

Amira turned to Jai with tears in her eyes, “Ramal is in terrible shape. He may not recover without Healing.”

Jai clenched his fists and looked frustrated. I could feel conflicting urges pass over him.

She beckoned Jai to come sit on the coffee table in front of her. “Shander has taken Ramal's cellular phone, and his Traveling medallion and has left him to die. He has the intention of finding us through our phone number. The kingdom is in a panic because my father is so ill, and I'm not there. Shander has changed the workings of the kingdom, and the people are getting worried. The Grand Council has called a meeting in his absence. I think it would be best for us to leave as soon as we can. But my concern is Ramal will die if you don't go to him.”

“But if I do, I cannot protect you and return you to your father.” He slid off the table and knelt in front of her then bowed his head as if he felt like he had failed her.

“I would be honored to return the princess safely to Rommader and to her father. I will protect her with my life,” Ryad told Jai.

Jai looked at Ryad and then at me. We didn't need to speak our thoughts. I knew he wondered if my doubts of Ryad's change of loyalty had any truth to them. Jai turned back to Amira. “I can't allow you to go with him. I must return you to your father.” Jai's voice was so low I wasn't sure if I heard him.

“I won't be alone. Delilah and Marshal will be with me,” Amira said.

Marshal stepped forward. “I won't let anything happen to her. I will make sure she is in her father's protection first thing.”

Amira nodded and lifted Jai's head to look at him. “You have to Heal Ramal.”

Jai sighed. “If I Travel to Scotland to Heal Ramal, I can never return home to protect you. My medallion would be used up.”

Amira looked over at me as she answered Jai. “I could never ask you to leave Holly and return home with me.” She reached to touch his cheek softly. “It would be worse than torture for you. And no one knows what would happen if you were to be separated that far. Your connection is more than just love. You must stay here with her for both your sakes. I will not be the one to ask you to bear that kind of pain. Ramal is one of my father's most trusted friends, and I will do what I can to help him since he has given so much to protect me. You are released from the oath you gave my father.” She touched Jai on the head, and he visibly relaxed as if a weight had been removed from him.

“I will still do all I can to protect you. Until you have left this planet, I will not give Ryad back his medallion. He can Travel home after you are already gone, but I will not allow him to leave with you at the same time.”

“Jai, that is not necessary,” Amira said.

“It is.” Jai crossed his arms over his chest. “Until you are gone, I am still your bodyguard. It will happen my way.”

Ryad nodded.

Amira shook her head and stood up. “We must hurry. Time is important.”

“What would you have us do, Your Highness?” Delilah asked.

“We will go back home immediately,” Amira said. “Jai can Heal Ramal, and if we can develop more Traveling medallions, we'll send for him. Jai, of course, will stay on Earth with Holly.”

I sat there in stunned silence. Jai could stay here with me. I wasn't going to lose him forever. He would leave for a short time, then fly back to be with me. The thought of losing Amira hurt. I would probably never see her again after tonight. I was too overjoyed thinking that Jai would stay here to care as much as I should.

Amira stood. “Marshal, is the paperwork prepared?”

“Yes, Your Highness. He needs to sign a few forms, and the house and property will be his. It has already been notarized and completed by our lawyer.” He went to the other room and returned with a legal-sized folder.

“What?” Jai asked, stunned. “When did you do this?”

“Not long after you Bonded,” Amira said with a slight shrug. “I knew you wouldn't be coming back with us. I didn't know if we would all have to leave, or if Marshal or Delilah would stay here with you to pretend to be your parents. You are almost old enough to be considered a legal adult here. I don't think there would be a problem for you to be the one owning the house. And hopefully Ramal can be Healed and persuaded to stay here with you as your father.”

Jai shook his head numbly as he absorbed what she said to him.

Amira continued, “You already have the documentation showing you are a legal citizen of the United States, courtesy of Marshal. He made us birth certificates, driver's licenses, and passports. What harm could come from making you the legal owner of the house?”

“You should have told me you did this. You planned to go back without me all along?” Jai said with a hint of sadness as well as hope in his voice.

“Did you think I would force you to return home when you truly desired to stay here for all time? I couldn't do that to you,” Amira said with tenderness.

“Thank you,” Jai said through tears he fought to contain. “I am indebted to you.”

“And I to you.” Amira rested her hand lightly on his arm. “You have saved my life many times, and now in this small way I am trying to repay you.”

They hugged, and I felt blessed to have known her. She would be an amazing queen. I was sorry I wouldn't be able to see it first hand, but I knew the glimpses she'd shown me would always have an impact on the way I saw myself and the world.

Amira looked around the room briefly then said, “I believe we will need to leave immediately. I think the things I saw in my Vision have recently happened. If Shander has left Ramal, then we can only assume he will use everything he can to find us. If we leave now, we will be able to avoid seeing him completely. If it happened a while ago, who knows how soon he'll be at our door. Hopefully you will be in time to help Ramal, Jai. If you can help him, then give him my thanks. If we are too late, please give him a proper burial as he deserves. He will be honored at home either way for his service.”

Amira wiped a tear from her eye. Everyone was quiet for a moment.

“It will be done,” Jai answered solemnly.

Marshal took Jai to the side and gave him instructions and information about the documents in the folder. Then hugging him as men often do, they pounded each other on the back and stepped apart.

“I enjoyed having you as a son, Captain.”

“Thank you, Marshal. You have been an exceptional father figure.”

Delilah came up to Jai and hugged him too. “We will miss you. Take care of yourself and of our dear Holly. Maybe someday we'll be able to see you both again.”

She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and came to hug me. “Don't worry about a thing, dear.” She rubbed my back. “Jai is extremely capable of taking care of himself and will return to you soon. I have enjoyed getting to know you and seeing how caring and kind you are. It has been a pleasure having such neighbors as yourself and your family. Come, I have a gift for you.” She took me to the side.

Delilah opened an ornate wooden box on a cabinet lining the wall. “I found this stone while searching for precious metals and ores for the financing of our mission. It is not valuable as far as I can tell, but something about it caught my eye, and I kept it. It made me think of home when I held it. I would like you to have it. Hopefully it will remind you of us.”

“Thank you.” I looked at the dark stone and felt the smoothness of the top. It felt a little heavy in my hands. Heavier than I would have thought it would be, given its size. The rock was a deep black, but tiny specks of some type of quartz reflected the light. It reminded me of the night sky. It would definitely remind me of them. Delilah patted me on the shoulder then slipped away while I looked at the stone.