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“Madison,”
Laci said softly, putting her hand on Madison’s shoulder. “This is something
Jason and Lexi will have to work out; it’s between them, and we’re not going to
discuss it here. We need to wait until the guests have left.”

“Madison,”
Jessica said supportively, “everything will work out. I think we should all get
some sleep.”

“Well,
I’m not ready for bed yet.”With that Madison flung herself around and tromped
back out of the room.

My
gaze dodged between Laci and Jessica. “I’m sorry.”

“You
have nothing to be sorry about,” Jessica said.

“There’s
no stopping love,” Laci added.

Jessica
stretched and said in a light voice “Madison will recover. She always does.
Besides,” she offered us a half smile, “she’s always known that Jason thinks of
her as a sister. But you know Madison; she’s never one to give up hope. Maybe
now she can finally move on and find someone special. Someone who will love her
the way she wants to be loved.”

###

I
awoke with a start, my trembling body bolting upright – sweat dripping down my
back. My head was throbbing. The snapshots had returned, and those amber eyes
were haunting me again. They were Kieran’s eyes, but strangely they weren’t. I
shook off the premonitions and dressed quickly. When I looked at the clock
again it was 5:15 am. Four hours of sleep. Not nearly enough. I studied the
sleeping faces of each one of my friends, and I said a little prayer in hopes
I’d see them all again. I snuck out of my bedroom and found the rest of the
house utterly still.

After
locating some stationery in a kitchen drawer, I wrote a quick note to Jason.

DEAR
JASON,

I’M
SORRY I COULDN’T WAKE YOU UP AND SAY GOOD-BYE THIS MORNING. I DIDN’T WANT TO
GET CAUGHT SNEAKING INTO YOUR ROOM – THINK OF THE RUMORS THAT WOULD HAVE
STARTED!
J
I HAVE AN EMERGENCY TO
ATTEND TO, BUT HOPEFULLY I’LL BE BACK IN A COUPLE DAYS.

THANK
YOU FOR MAKING ME THE HAPPIEST WOMAN ALIVE! I WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR PASSIONATE
KISSES OR TENDER WORDS LAST NIGHT. I’VE WAITED SO LONG, ONLY HOPING I WAS RIGHT
AND THAT YOU FELT THE SAME WAY ABOUT ME AS I’VE ALWAYS FELT ABOUT YOU. I CAN
HONESTLY SAY YOU WERE WORTH THE WAIT.

I MUST
ADMIT TO SOMETHING THOUGH, BUT PLEASE DON’T BE UPSET WITH HANNAH. MY MEMORIES
ARE COMPLETELY INTACT. I ASKED HER TO PRETEND SHE’D ERASED THEM, BECAUSE I THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR YOU IF THAT’S WHAT YOU BELIEVED. BUT I WOULD NEVER LET
ANYONE TAKE AWAY MY TIMES WITH YOU.THEY ARE PRECIOUS, AND I HOLD EACH MEMORY
CLOSE TO MY HEART. I’M SORRY I’VE LIED!

GOTTA
RUN NOW. I WILL ALWAYS BE ETERNALLY YOURS.

LOVE,
ALEX

After
sealing the note in an envelope and accidentally adding a couple tears for good
measure, I tucked it in my pocket. I decided my safest bet was to wake Trevon
and put my plan into action. Once Trevon heard about my brother being
hospitalized, and in light of the latest developments between Jason and me, he
eagerly agreed that he should be the one to transport me back to Squalicum
Harbor. I was on the boat and almost back to Bellingham before I knew it.

“Trevon,
will you please give my apologies to Mr. Walker and everyone else since I won’t
be able to attend the meeting today?” I asked, rubbing my mittened hands
together. The morning was really cold, and despite my jeans, heavy coat,
gloves, and hat, I was still freezing. Probably more so from nerves than the
weather. Under my coat I was still wearing Jason’s sweater; I wasn’t about to
take if off. In fact, I’d even slept in it.

Dawn
had not broken, and the shadows seemed heavier than usual, but I could see
white plumes as Trevon’s breath hit the frigid air, and I could see his white
teeth when he smiled. His brown skin blended well with the pre-dawn darkness,
though, and I had a hard time reading his facial expressions.

“Of
course I will Lexi. I hope everything is okay with your brother, but I’m sure
if it’s not, you’ll find a way to take care of him quickly,” he said knowingly.

“Yes,”
I replied with a smile. “If all goes as planned, I should be back in a couple
days.”

“It’s
probably for the best that you’re gone. I don’t think you’d have been allowed
to go on this massive hunt for the Ray-pacs anyways. You being such a newbie
and all…”

“Oh
right,” I mumbled. I hadn’t even stopped to think that I wouldn’t be
accompanying the rest of the Guardians. It was a good thing I had my own plan
in place. Standing next to him, I realized what a big guy he really was and
wondered if I shouldn’t consider taking him with me; he might take out three
Ray-pacs in one blow.

“I
don’t know what’s going to happen with you and Jason,” he said quietly while
steering the boat into the marina, “but I hope it works out. He’s a good guy,
and he deserves some happiness.”

When I
climbed off the boat, I said sincerely, “Thanks Trevon. I really appreciate
this. Tell Jason I’m sorry I couldn’t tell him good-bye.”

“I
know. I heard Max placed you both on a two day no contact order,” he said with
a grin.

“That’s
why I was wondering if you’d give him this note for me?” I handed him the small
green envelope. “Be careful with it. If it were to fall into the wrong hands…”

“I’ll
give it directly to Jason,” he said in his deep voice and immediately zipped it
into his coat pocket.“Good luck with your brother.”

“Thanks.
And hopefully, I’ll see ya soon.” I headed down the pier before my tears
started splattering all over the wooden planks. Reaching the end of the dock, I
headed up a ramp to the main street level. I peered out into the foggy parking
lot. Streetlamps glowed through the misty haze and offered enough light that I
was able to catch sight of my car. It was parked at the back of the parking lot
close to the same spot as before. Good! Ash was here.

Before
I could step off the sidewalk I heard a “thump” off to my right and turned just
in time to see a person jump out from behind a brick wall. As the tall figure
stepped into view and drew closer, a sick feeling of recognition swept over me.

“So,
we meet again you little…”

“Melanie?”
I said with genuine shock and flinched.

Her
long black hair hung around her face, and her cruel eyes sized me up. Laughter rolled
off her tongue. “And I hear you’re going by
Lexi
now,” she said
spitefully. “No matter. It’s payback time, and I’m gonna have a little fun
before Kieran arrives.” She stepped closer, her white teeth gleaming.

“Melanie,
this was not the agreement,” Ash’s voice rang out angrily from behind me. I was
surprised to hear him so close, but before I could turn around, he whispered,
“I’m sorry.” He spoke so quietly I wasn’t even sure that’s what I heard.

Something
hard smacked me in the head, and for the second time in my life I was knocked
unconscious.

My
cheeks were stinging, burning actually. Besides having a throbbing headache my
mind was hazy and my body woozy. Unable to find the strength in my neck to lift
my head up, I allowed my chin to rest heavily against my chest. Thoroughly
exhausted, I wasn’t quite ready to put forth the effort it would take to open
my eyes and look around. Not to mention, my wrists felt achy. Of course, if I
just drew upon my Essence and delivered it…

A loud
“whack” rang in my ears as something smacked hard against my cheek. Sharp
tingles rippled through my face, as my head dangled and swung wildly from left
to right. What the --?

“Melanie!”
Ash’s voice rang out with anger. “I don’t see how you get any enjoyment from
slapping her around when she’s unconscious. Really, where’s the satisfaction in
that? I always knew you were sadistic, but this is morbid, even for you.”

My
ears perked up at the sound of Ash’s voice. Listening, rather than speaking,
seemed like my safest option, so I didn’t bother opening my eyes.

“Oh,
I’m enjoying this all right,” she snarled. “But not half as much as I will be
when she’s awake…which is exactly what I’m trying to do right now – wake her
up.” Her voice screeched. “She’s been out for several hours, and I want my
chance to smack her around before Kieran, that obsessed narcissist, gets here
and declares her off limits to everyone but himself. I deserve a chance to get
even with this little –”

“Whatever.”
Ash sounded suddenly uninterested. “Do what you want then. But,” he paused and
I could hear him smacking his lips together, “I hope for your sake
she stays
out cold
.” Detecting considerable emphasis on his last four words, I
wondered if that directive was meant for me.

“If
Kieran gets here and his little prize is all banged up, I don’t know that
you’ll
live to see tomorrow. But, like I said, whatever,” he said carelessly,
reemphasizing his boredom with the whole matter.

Melanie
huffed. “You’re grating on my nerves Ash.”

I
detected a hint of cedar wood smoke in the air just as a fire crackled from
somewhere in the corner. Smiling inwardly, I chose not to move a muscle. After
having been struck in the face numerous times, I wasn’t ready for the onslaught
that would certainly follow when I awoke. Comforted by the warmth and sizzling
sounds of the fire, I relaxed in a wave of nostalgia, remembering my time with
Jason only hours before.

Eventually,
I told myself to stop. I needed to focus on the situation at hand and not let
my mind wander. Taking Ash’s sound advice, I decided to let my Essence alone
and sleep a bit longer – might even save my face from a few extra scars.
Melanie’s voice faded, but a song playing in the background roused my
attention. Not any old song either, more specifically – Adam Lambert’s song,
Whataya
Want From Me –
the ringtone I’d set on my cell phone only a month before,
just in case Jason ever did call me…Oh crap! That was Jason calling me.

“What’s
that?” Melanie asked in a perturbed voice.

“My cell
phone,” Ash replied haughtily.

“Who’d
be calling you?” she complained.

“My
girlfriend.”

“You
have a girlfriend?” she remarked snidely.

I
heard him breathe deeply. “A man has needs ya know.”

She
chuckled. “I can satisfy those needs.” Her voice was sharp, almost playful.

“I
don’t think so,” he snorted. “I’m gonna take this outside. And leave her alone
for awhile. You’ll get your chance soon enough.” The door squeaked, and cold
air rushed over me as the cell phone continued playing the song.

“Well
hurry up,” she called after him as the front door slammed shut.

Was
Ash going to answer my phone? Surely not. I should wake up now, and face my
evil nemesis. I could lift my head and look her straight in the eye.

“Wake
up!” Melanie shouted as her fist crashed onto a table close by.

That
did it. I wasn’t about to follow her orders. I shut my eyes even tighter and
drifted in and out of consciousness. Sometime later; although, I don’t know how
much later – I opened my eyes and lifted my head. The room smelled faintly of
spiced apples. My neck was sore and stiff, my cheeks still hot, and my headache
persistent. Without another thought, I directed my Essence to the aching parts
of my body, and the relief was instantaneous everywhere except to my head. I
couldn’t reach up and explore my broken face, because my wrists were tied
securely to the slats on the back of the chair. Glancing down at my feet, I
could see they too, were wound together with a thick, brown rope. I was
strapped down good.

So
much for getting up and snooping around. At least I was alone in the small,
L-shaped cabin. A fire glowed brightly and popped inside an old, black wood
stove. A huge, ugly black pipe extended out of the stove and all the way up to
the wood-paneled ceiling. Knotty pine beams ran along the walls but were
separated by several inches of cement or some kind of stucco. A couple framed
bear paintings hung crookedly from one wall, and long green curtains drooped
over the two small windows, blocking my view of the outside world. A sign above
the front door read,
Happy Trails
.

The
designated kitchenette was small, no more than four feet across, and half the
counter was taken up by the sink and the other half by a coffee maker and a
roll of paper towels. An upper shelf held a white microwave and black toaster
oven, while a compact white refrigerator sat on the floor.

Scuff
marks marred the wooden floorboards but were partially covered by several
multi-colored throw rugs. A round, wooden table with three chairs scattered
loosely around it rested on a worn, burgundy rug off to the side. I was in the
fourth chair sitting in the middle of the room. In the center of the table, a
red candle burned brightly.

Startled
by a loud clicking noise below my feet, I gasped and looked at the floor. As
the lights next to the wrought iron bunk beds flickered, I realized the
clicking noise was simply an old propane generator snapping on underneath the
cabin. This was by no means an expensive cabin rental. Its main purpose was
functionality – a place to crash, grab a bite to eat, and get some sleep in
between trips up to Mt. Baker ski area. At least I was warm now, but I
shuddered, because I knew a cold, icy lake loomed in the near future. Glancing
over at a box of hot chocolate on the counter, I frowned. Allergies sucked. But
then again, so did being tied up with rope.

Bursting
wide open, the front door hammered against the wall with a loud “crack.”
Melanie stalked towards me and said scornfully, “Well, it’s about damn time you
used all that
amazing
Essence to bring yourself back to life,”

I
barely had time to catch Ash’s eye before she slammed her fist into my nose and
my head crashed into the back of my chair. Blinking hard, I sniffled and felt
the blood dribbling over my upper lip. As it landed in droplets on my expensive
jeans, I swore under my breath. That really ticked me off. She assaulted me
with another round of hard slaps, and my head swung mercilessly. By the time
Ash pulled her away from me, I was cross-eyed and dizzy.