The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (31 page)

My palms itched. The time had come to stop this little cat and mouse game, but before I summoned my fire Mathias’s voice resounded in my head.

No. He’s mine Willa. Count to five and then run to the portal. We will meet you there.

I lifted my eyebrow up while Mathias’s father and I stared at each other. Five, four, three, two, one...

Right on cue, all hell broke loose. Mathias, obviously faking being held captured, broke free with ease from his captors grasp. He snapped two of the Rau’s head off and plunged his hands into their chests, ripping out their bloody hearts before anyone even responded.

Frank was also grappling with the ones that held him. This time he was not alone. Leona had sprinted into the fray, and the two of them worked efficiently to dispose of their enemy’s heads and hearts.

The room exploded in a mass of limbs flying and blood spraying around the area. Benedict had joined his son and was lending his hand in assaulting Mathias.

But they were no match for Mathias. I realized why they had feared him. Mathias was incredible. I watched him, in a blur, toy with them. He fainted left and right, ripping small pieces off their bodies, sometimes even smiling at their attempts to hit him. He didn’t break stride with his attack; in fact, he looked rather bored at some points.

Until I cried out, I was so involved with watching the bloody scene unfold in front of me I didn’t see the last remaining Rau that broke free from Frank and Leona sneak up behind me. He grabbed my neck and left arm in a death grip, and I couldn’t do anything for a second but cry out in pain as I clawed his arm with my right hand.

Frank and Leona immediately came over and were watching my assailant with alertness. They looked for any opening, any way to get me away from him safely before they could finish him off and kill him.

Willa.
Mathias’s voice breathed. I looked to his face that was bathed in horror. All it would take was one quick snap of my neck that the Rau held on to tightly, and I would be dead.

“Oh, hold on, what is this?" Benedict’s scornful voice said. “Why Mathias look at your face. You haven’t perchance fallen for this girl, have you? I don’t even think you looked like this when Elizabeth lay dying on the floor."

Darias laughed. “That’s ridiculous. Mathias has no heart."

“Oh, but he does my son.” Benedict said. “His heart though is not his own anymore. Imagine the head of the Guardians of Solas and the Fae-Gypsy Princess. Talk about tragic."

I’m sorry.
I said softly to him

Don’t move. I will not let anything happen to you,
he replied wordlessly.
Just be still.

Sorry, Wolfie. I realize you don't want me to reveal my abilities but this guy is toast.
I said

I heard Mathias soft sigh of resignation before he slowly backed up against the wall behind him and crossed his arms. His face relaxed into one of almost amusement.

Be careful not to fry Frank and Leona
he ordered. Benedict and Darias looked from Mathias to me in confusion. Their brows furrowed at this turn of events.

Just make sure to rip Daddy Dearest heart out real painful for me.
I asked

The instant I dropped my scent and called my fire, Benedict and Darias’s nostrils flared, and they started towards me. The Rau who held me growled and jerked my neck towards his fangs.

I shot my fire towards him and felt a perverse satisfaction at his howling in agony. Mathias had taken the advantage of my distraction and pounced on his brother. He ripped his head and heart out as Benedict screamed in frustration and shouted “Noooooo."

But before Mathias turned his attention to his father, Benedict raced towards me.

Mathias yelled
No; he’s mine!
In my head but I ignored him. I had shot my deadly flames towards Benedict right before he reached for me, and we went down to the floor in a flaming tumble.

The fire enveloped us, and I called upon the air to shield me. A whirlwind went up around me forming a protective bubble as I continued my assault on Mathias’s father. Images of a beautiful dark haired woman with a kind smile flashed before my eyes and then it was replaced by a tall, stern looking older man with thoughtful eyes.

When I saw his image morph into a young girl with chestnut curls and whiskey brown eyes, my heart clenched. Her infectious smile made me want to cry.

When everything cleared there were only the sounds of ash smoldering next to me. I sat up and was breathing so heavily I thought I was going to pass out. Strong arms that I knew so well, lifted me up and held me close while I was sprinted off towards the room with the portal.

I saw Frank and Leona jump up and then we followed them a mere second later. I could sense Mathias’s relief, but I didn't feel that at all. My parents came right up to me, but I pushed them away. My attention was on the still figure lying on the floor.

I walked over slowly to where she was laid out. My whole body was numb inside. All of my adrenaline was washed away at the sight of Serena.

I knelt down next to her, noticing someone had covered her body with a blanket and put a scarf around where her neck should have been attached. She looked like she could have been sleeping, but I knew better. I had seen her die. I had seen her life taken away in a split second because all she had wanted to do was protect me, and I had failed her.

I replayed the scene in my head again. If I hadn’t been so shell-shocked, I could’ve blasted him with my freaky fire. I could've saved her life, but I didn’t. Instead of acting swiftly, I had been weak.

I don’t know how long I sat there next to her. Visions of our time together played like a movie clip in my head. Serena greeted me in Yuma, her warm smile putting me at ease. Her face lined with worry, when I had taken a break from reality and stayed in bed, Serena sneaking me chocolate and potato chips while I sat watching movies.

Serena breaking into the bakery for me, so I see the building, helping me move into my new house and laughing hysterically while Riah and I flirted outlandishly. Finally, I saw her face that latched on to mine in her final seconds on this earth.

“Willa, honey, you should go clean up and change your clothes,” my mother’s voice gently broke through my comatose trip down memory lane.

But still I sat by my friend. I prayed she had known how much she meant to me, how much I would miss her and how I would never again fail to react.

Willa.
Mathias said.
Kathleen wants to have Serena moved. She wants to get her cleaned up and moved to the funeral home.

I nodded after a moment before taking her hand and placing a small kiss on it. “Goodbye my friend. Thank you so much,” I whispered before rising up from the ground. I looked around and noticed for the first time that everyone was staring at me. My mother, Julia, Gussie and Kathleen all had tears streaming down their faces. Even my grandmother looked teary eyed.

My own tears bubbled up and realized I had to get out of there before they exploded out of me. I just wanted to go somewhere safe. Somewhere I could cry in private. Somewhere no one would look at me in pity.

My body started whipping around, and before I even realized it, I had teleported to my bathroom at home. I sank to the floor and started weeping and shaking uncontrollably.

Moments later I felt my parents join me. My dad must have followed my trail and instead of being mad at their invasion I was horribly grateful.

They both sat next to me on the floor and held me close. I wept not just because of Serena’s death but also because of the nightmare that followed. My body was exhausted from all the magic I had used, and my brain just wanted to shut down. The images that danced behind my eyes were just too much for me to digest.

Blood, severed heads, horrific family stories, Mathias feeding off of me. All of it replayed over and over until finally I screamed into my father’s shirt.

Finally, after what seemed like hours I untangled myself from their arms and looked up to see Mathias standing at the door. His presence caught me by surprise. I had no idea how long he had been there, but I couldn’t even acknowledge him right now.

I saw my parents exchange a look, and my father went over to Mathias and gestured for him to leave. My father closed the door, leaving my mother and me in private. Gently she peeled off my blood stained clothes as well as her own and together we stood under the beating sprays of water in the shower.

When I felt like my skin would never get unwrinkled we finally stepped out. I stood, still numb, while she dried me off and dressed me in my comfy black pajama bottoms and white strappy sleep top.

She guided me out into my bedroom, and my father rushed to my side. They both put me to bed, and I looked up at both them and said in a hoarse voice. “Thank you. I love you both so much."

They climbed in next me and whispered words of comfort. Eventually, my body relaxed, and I told them both to go home and get some rest. I appreciated everything that they had done for me, more than they would ever realize, but I needed to be alone.

After a little discussion and a lot of persuading, they finally left. When they opened up the hatch, I heard the pattering of paws come down the metal stairs. Cupcake and Oscar came through the door and jumped right on the bed next to me. They both gave me a tiny lick on the cheek before settling their massive bodies around me like a shield.

When I turned my head, I noticed that Matthias was in the chair by the corner of the room. I didn’t even see him nor did I think that he had stayed after I went into the shower. I couldn’t form any words at this point though.

Instead, we stared at each other until finally my eyes got heavy, and I drifted off into sleep.

Chapter Twenty-Three

I slept on and off over the next thirty-six hours. I tossed and turned in my sleep and kept waking up every two hours. Every time I woke up, Mathias was there sitting right beside me. He held my hand in comfort and made me drink water until I would fall back asleep.

We still never said a word to each other. We didn’t even communicate in our heads. We simply stared at one another. The only thing I wanted to hear was silence and lucky for me Mathias was the master at it.

On the second morning, I woke up a little more refreshed. I stared up at the ceiling, waiting for the anguish to come over me but was relieved when it didn’t. I still grieved, but it wasn’t as devastating like the last few days. I could now reflect on everything that happened without wanting to screaming.

I turned my head and was surprised to see that Mathias wasn’t there. In his place sat my grandmother.

“Hi,” I said. “Are you on babysitting duty now?"

“I took over a few hours ago,” she answered. “Mathias, of course, did not want to leave but I finally persuaded him to go home and change out of his clothes."

I hadn’t even been aware that he had been wearing his blood soaked clothes. That little detail didn’t even factor into my reality at the time.

“Are you hungry?" Winifred asked

“I am.” I answered. Mathias had tried a few times to get me to eat, but I had pushed it away in disgust.

“You mentioned something to the effect that I would never be the type of grandmother who would make you cookies. Is that right?"

I squirmed uncomfortably. “That sounds like something I would say."

“Well, you are wrong. Not only do I make cookies, I make amazing double chocolate chip cookies,” she said as she took the plate off the table from beside my bed and pulled off the towel covering about a dozen chocolate chip cookies.

I smiled and took one. When I bite into it, I made an approving groan. They were fantastic.

We both had munched on the cookies for a few moments before I grabbed a glass of milk beside my bed that she brought with her and took a long drink. I leaned back against the headboard and let out a sigh of contentment.

“Willa?" she asked tentatively

Oh, no, please don’t ruin this moment. I don’t want to go there.

“It’s not your fault,” she stated softly

I just sat in stony silence. How dare she? How dare she come in here and ply me with cookies and then say something like that? Of course, it's my fault. I stood by and did nothing.

“It’s not your fault,” she repeated more firmly. “Serena was told not to go into the portal.

Julia warned her of her fate, but she did it regardless."

I jumped out of bed and wobbled for a second from my lack of inactivity over the past few days. I threw the covers back violently before stomping around to the bathroom.

“Don’t you walk away from me." she yelled. “It’s not your fault."

"Yes it is,” I screamed. “I could have saved her. I should have dusted that prick with my fire; instead I stood by and let her die."

“It’s not your fault."

“Stop fucking saying that,” I continued. “It is too."

“No,” Winifred said. “It’s not your fault. It's not Serena’s fault. It's not Julia’s fault. It was the Rau’s fault."

"But I could have…"

“
Could have what?" she interrupted. “Shot at him with your fire? They were grappling all around the room; you would have most likely hit both of them, there's nothing you could do."

“There was,” I said “There was a moment when I dropped my scent…"

“A moment that took all of a split second,” she finished. “It’s not your fault sweetheart."

I sat back down on the bed and rubbed my face with my hands. Tears threaten to spill from my eyes again, but I pushed them back when I realized something.

“Did you just call me sweetheart and you brought me cookies too?"

Winifred just raised her eyebrow at me and walked over and sat down beside me. “What in the world you are blabbering about now?"

"Did they start playing hockey games in Hell as well?" I asked confused. “Jesus, how long was I asleep?"

“Did Julia know? Did she realize what was going to happen?" I asked quietly

“Julia had two different visions. One of Serena dying and one of you taking care of the situation all by yourself." she answered

“Then why didn’t she tell her this? Reassure her that I could handle it?"

“Didn’t you read the letter she wrote in the journal to Serena?" Winifred asked quizzically.

“No." I answered. “I assumed they were private."

All except for the one to Matthias I added silently

“Willa,” she said. “Don’t ever lose sight of who the real enemy is in this world."

“Believe me, I never will." I said.

“Kathleen is having a memorial service tomorrow morning,” she said. “It would mean a great deal to her if you would come."

“Of course,” I replied. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world."

“I’ll ask Riah to come and get you at nine o’clock?" she asked as stood up and looked down at me.

“No, I’ll drive myself. Where is it?"

“It will be held at the chapel on the castle grounds,” she answered. “Are you going to be ok? I can stay longer. We can play a round of cards?"

“I’m good. Thanks though, for everything, especially the cookies." I said with a small smile.

Winifred looked at me for a moment before she grabbed my hand and squeezed it somewhat awkwardly. Our relationship had shifted this morning. We still had a long way to go, but we were finally on the road to moving past our first few meetings and learning to accept one another.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?" I asked. “Some poor soul you need to berate or boss around?"

“I’m sure I can scrounge up someone to be rude too,” she smiled

“Your father is still always going to be my favorite though." she said as she swept out of the room.

Life does go on, I said to myself, before heading into the shower.

The next day was sunny and cold. I wished it would rain and be cloudy and gray so the weather could match my mood. I puttered around the house first thing in the morning, trying to distract myself from what was to come. I was almost relieved to receive a reply to my email I sent to Jon and Eric last week.

After plowing through the ‘Oh My God’s’, I finally got my answer. They were extremely excited to buy the bakery from me for way below the market value.

Even though, it broke my heart to sell Yummy Yuma, it's the right thing to do. I was just happy it was going to be turned over to great people. I knew they would take care of what I had built and enjoy it.

I did tell them to make sure they enjoy working with Susannah. Jon replied with a picture of a woman dressed up as Marie Antoinette giving the camera the middle finger.

I made it my screen saver.

Finally, I had no choice but to get ready if I wanted to make it on time. I choose a very simple outfit of charcoal gray slacks and a black wrap sweater to wear for the day. I added a little more makeup than I normally use because my face looked so pale and washed out. I grabbed my black pea coat, bundled up and was just heading out the door when a large brown and white head nudged my thigh.

“You can’t go with me,” I said to Cupcake, who had glued himself to my side since I got home that night.

Cupcake whimpered and after much eye rolling and discussion I relented. I walked out of the house and stopped dead when I reached the driveway. There sat my kick ass golf cart.

Memories of Christmas Eve washed over me but instead of wallowing in grief, I smiled to myself and hopped in with my faithful companion

.

I drove up to the castle with my stomach turning in big circles and my throat starting to tighten up with dread. This would be the first time I saw Kathleen since that night and the last time I would see Serena again before she was to be laid to rest. I had reconciled with the fact that what happened was not my fault, but I suppose, I would always feel guilt and regret.

The small chapel stood on a hill to the back of the castle and overlooked the sea. The yellow and gray stone walls glowed warmly in the sun, and the stain glass windows that lined either side shone brilliantly from the rays that shot through them.

I parked my golf cart around the side and got out telling Cupcake, very firmly, to stay. Making my way to the front, I saw all the Guardians were lined up around the front door and down the walkway. They formed a veritable wall around those that walked by them.

All except for four Guardians, Mathias, Frank, Riah and Leona, held the shiny brown casket with Serena's body near the entrance. They waited in a stoic silence while the guests all went in before they would follow.

I caught Mathias’s attention the moment I stepped around the side but I averted my eyes quickly against his piercing stare. Today was not about Mathias and me. Although I knew we had a lot of things to talk about, now was not the time to go into all of that. Today was about honoring our fallen Guardian and friend.

The ceremony was short but moving. After the sermon from the Priest, Winifred got up and delivered a lovely memorial, followed by an equally emotional one from Julia. In the end, we all filtered out and made our way to the cemetery located over a small hill on the side of the church.

The sight that greeted us mourners took our breath away. Several dozen island residents had all come out to pay their respects to Serena and lined up and down the hillside holding battery operated candlesticks. The little lights should have been obscured by the bright sunshine but with so many of them glowing brightly their small brilliance was breathtakingly beautiful.

I looked at the islanders and thought how amazing their response was to a Guardian’s death. They were respectful of a being that their ancestors may have accepted but always somewhat feared. That’s when I realized that Serena had not been looked at as just a Guardian but also as an islander as well.

The graveside emptied out an hour later. Most islanders went back to their homes, while some went on to the castle for the reception that my grandmother had decided to host. I had said my final goodbyes and was exchanging pleasantries with Frank and Leona when I saw that Jeremiah stood alone by the grave.

I excused myself and went over to talk to him. Even though now was probably not the time, I had a question that I had to ask him regarding Serena. I couldn’t help but remember when the three of us had met in the courtyard after my three day mental health vacay. The silent exchange, the haunted look in Serena’s eyes that she tried to hide, and Jeremiah’s curt attitude, little things that been traded between them that had made me confused.

“Hey Jeremiah,” I greeted him apprehensively.

“Hello Willa,” he replied, “Beautiful service."

“Yes it was,” I agreed. “I was blown away by all the people that came out to the graveside, holding the candles. It was so touching."

“The islanders never fail to amaze me and their capacity to love and accept everyone. It’s quite marvelous."

“Jeremiah?" I asked tentatively.