The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (70 page)

I’ll be fine. So I assume we’re leaving now?

We have to make a quick stop to the tower room. I need to see the paintings before I leave and then I thought we would go to your island. You need to feed and get some sleep.

We’re not going to have much time once we leave this cell. Are you sure you can open the paintings?

I threw my hands up and shook my head.
No, I’m not sure. But I think that it’s time. If I can’t do it then we’ll hightail it outta there

Whenever you’re ready,
he answered a few seconds later

I grabbed his hand and in an instant we were teleported to the tower room. I undid the concealment spell and walked slowly over to the table where the paintings were still rolled up.

I felt a trickle of nausea, but I waved it away. These paintings were mine to see. They belonged to me. I touched the ribbon on the first one and almost cried in relief as it unraveled effortlessly. I decided to open them all at once. I didn’t want to get too caught up in staring at them one at a time.

After I had pulled all four ribbons off, I reached into my pocket and handed Mathias my phone. “Take pictures. We’re not going to be able to study them for as long as we like.”

I took one at random and opened the yellowed canvas. At first I wasn’t sure what I was seeing was real.

I saw myself.

Mathias reached around and unfolded the other ones. He took some paper weights from the nearby shelf and put them around the edges of the paintings. I was aware that he was clicking away, but I couldn’t seem even to move.

All four paintings depicted me perfectly. From the color of my hair to the curve of my face, each one was done with an eye for exquisite detail. I tried to ignore the roaring in my ears and focus on the details. The four paintings showed me in each of the different realms of Fairlia. There were no weapons in my hands. It was just me in a specific place. It looked like I was drawing energy from a cave, a cove, a forest and on top of a mountain.

I had an inkling of what it meant, but I didn’t want to go there yet. I was too afraid. I was just about to turn away when I noticed something else in all the paintings. In each corner was a shadowy portrait of a man.

“Mathias.” I said shakily pointing to the shadow. “It’s you.”

“I know.” he said solemnly. “We have to go. I’m sure the Guardians will be aware soon….” He stopped and lifted his head up. I could see his face straining in concentration. That’s when I heard the sound of the alarm.

“I guess that means our times up.” I said. I took three different envelopes out of my backpack and put them by the paintings were I was sure they would be seen. I glanced around to see if there was anything useful in the room to take with me. I almost laughed when I realized that there was nothing I could use here

“Willa.” Mathias said warningly. I grabbed his hand, and we took off into the night. We landed on the beach of Mathias’s island, and I let go of his hand. I stared up at the sky looking for answers. I had been so sure that the paintings would depict the weapons we needed. Now I wasn’t sure about anything.

“Are you all right?” Mathias asked breaking through my thoughts. I was so caught up in my jumbled thoughts I almost forgot he was there. I threw my arms around his neck and buried my head into his shoulder. The last few days had been such an emotional and physical roller coaster for me. I wanted to be in his arms and not worry about trying to appear strong.

We held on to each other, but soon comfort turned into something else entirely. We may have only been apart for four days, but it had felt like a lifetime. He had just crushed his mouth to mine when suddenly he pushed me behind him and scanned the sky.

“What’s wrong?” I asked in confusion. I tried to make out whatever threat he sensed but could see nothing but the dark, starlit heavens.

“Someone’s coming.” he answered

“I thought nobody knew about this place?” I cried. “We should never have come here.”

“It’s ok.” Mathias said. “It’s just Robert.”

“Robert?” I asked. “Oh, you mean Robert, my grandmothers Guardian and I’m sure the acting head of security for the island? Are you kidding me? How does he even know this is your home?”

“Remember when I told you that Winifred and I had discovered Robert and Katya together?” Mathias asked. “I lied. I was aware of their relationship long before that and had offered them the use of my home for a sanctuary to conduct their affair.”

“Why would you lie to me?” I asked. As far as I knew Mathias had never kept the truth from me. No matter if I wanted to hear it or not.

“I promised Robert I would never tell a soul.” he replied. “Remember we had just met when I told you. I wasn’t about to go tell you a secret that I had sworn to keep.”

“You’re just so darn admirable sometimes, you know that?”

“I have many hidden depths.”

“Me too,” I said. “I can’t wait for you to explore them later. Now can we get out of here?”

“Just wait.” he said confidently. Robert landed near us a few seconds later. He looked anxious, which, of course, made me nervous.

“Robert.” I said. “I know this looks bad but trust me when I tell you, I need Mathias with me. I have to go somewhere, and I think it might be dangerous. Please…”

Robert interrupted me. “I don’t care Willa.”

“But…” I started to say. I was completely freaked out. Mathias, on the other hand, looked seemingly unconcerned.

“Do you have enough money at your disposal?” Robert asked Mathias

Mathias threw his back and laughed. “Please, I could buy you ten times over and still have enough to purchase a small country.”

“What?” I asked intrigued. “You know when I said a big rock; I meant a giant one.”

“I don’t want to know where you’re going but try to stay in touch somehow.” Robert said

“Do you have the untraceable phone?” Mathias asked me. I nodded and patted the backpack

“If you need a safe house, go to my other place in Colorado.” Robert said. “You know which one I’m talking about.”

“I will but somehow I don’t think we’re going to be gone that long.” Mathias answered

“Robert.” I said. “Can you please make sure my grandmother and parents go to the tower room?”

“Of course.” he answered. “Why?”

“I got the paintings opened.” I said. “I also left a few letters for my parents, grandmother and Polly. Can you please make sure they get them?”

“I will.” he promised before he turned to Mathias and held out his hand. “Stay safe my friend.”

Mathias shook Robert’s hand, and this display of friendship struck me. In all the time, I had known Mathias I had never seen him be so relaxed and friendly with anyone. I could tell he truly cared for Robert.

I surprised Robert by giving him a hug that he returned warmly. “I still haven’t thanked you.”

“For what?” he asked, perplexed

“For what you said in the courtroom when my grandmother was questioning Mathias.” I replied. “Thank you for jumping in like that.”

“Well, I figured better me than you.” he said with a sly smile before he took off into the sky.

“Jeez.” I muttered. “I’m not that bad.”

Mathias picked me up, and we flew to the tree house. I was a little taken aback when he sunk onto the couch. It was then I really got a good look at him. He looked exhausted. There were dark circles under his tired eyes and his body, which he regularly held so stiff and proper, was almost hunched over. I had no idea how he went as long as he did without feeding or sleeping when he was gone for those four months.

“So are you going to tell me how and why you did what you did?” he asked. I shuffled over and sank down beside him.

“I have no idea how I did it.” I said. “I was sitting in that room and all of a sudden it hit me. At first I thought that I was crazy and tried to dismiss my plan. But the more I thought about it, the more I could visualize myself doing it. I told my grandmother it was almost like my powers and the elements were waiting for me finally to unleash them.”

I thought some more before adding. “The funny thing is I don’t think I even used them all to my full potential. I can still feel them lingering underneath the surface of my skin.”

“Do you have any idea what it was like for me to watch you in that field, surrounded by hundreds of Rau?”

“How many did it take to restrain you?” I grinned

“About half the room.” he said. “Of course once you started to become a human nuclear bomb, most of them let me go to enjoy the show. I still think half of them are in shock and, quite possibly, scared to death at the sight of you.”

“You didn’t fight them when they arrested you.” I remarked

“I wasn’t going to challenge my colleagues.” he said. “I went willingly when I saw that you were safe. Christ, I knew it would happen someday. I knew I would get found out the minute I met you. You’re my mate, and when you’re threatened, you bring out the animal inside of me.”

“I’m sorry.” I said

“Don’t be sorry.” he replied, pulling me onto his lap. I curled up and breathed in his scent. I wish I could stay in his arms forever.

“So what was this quote?” he asked

“‘We only part to meet again.' “

“Hmmm, John Gay isn’t it?”

“Yes.” I answered. “I’m almost afraid to tell you my theory because I’m sure you’ll think it’s ridiculous.”

“I have to be honest.” he said. “Right now I could care less. I’m tired; I’m hungry, and I need to feed.”

I pulled away to look in his eyes. “You’re hungry as in food?”

“Yes.” he growled, “As in food, sex and blood.”

“Do you even have any food here in the house?” I asked

“Yes I have food.” he answered as he got up and pulled me to standing position. “I knew I was going to bring you here, so I stocked up some essentials.”

“I’m so glad you think I’m some sort of chow hound who regularly needs to eat.”

“I have angus steak burgers in the freezer.”

“Burgers?”
I asked. “Do you have any potatoes? I could make steak fries.”

We prepared our meal and sat down at the small kitchen table. Mathias moaned in delight when he took his first bite of my steak fries.

“Not too much seasoning?” I asked

“Perfect.” he said. “So tell me why do you think you know Patcoena?”

“When we opened the bakery there was an older couple that came in the first day. I remember thinking I thought that he looked familiar but then I put it out of my head. The second I heard that the line all these memories came rushing back to me. You see the day he came into the bakery he put a spell on me.”

“A spell?” Mathias asked, his face scrunched up in confusion

“The first memory I have of him was when I was four. My father had tried all day to teach me how to ride a bike without training wheels. I was so frustrated with myself because I just couldn’t figure it out.
Early the next morning, I got up, snuck out of my house and proceeded to try again. I wanted to teach myself how to do it so I could show my dad. I wanted to make him proud.”

I took a sip from my bottle of water before continuing. “Over and over I tried to ride that damn bike. I remember I finally got some real momentum and then I was off on two wheels. I looked over my shoulder, and there was a man standing there. I don’t know why but I wasn’t scared. He smiled and gave me a wave. Over the years, I would see him at random places but I never put it together. I just thought he was some guy in the neighborhood.”

“I was shocked when he and his wife walked in the bakery. I said hello and the after that everything was a little blurry. I think that’s when he put a spell on me. He wanted me to forget that I had known him all my life. He didn’t want me to remember him as some guardian angel. I believe the spell became inactive when I said those words that he had written.”

“Who did you know him as before the spell wore off?”

“I knew him as Mr.Sumners. He and his wife would come in every Friday morning before their shopping.” I shook my head. “Sumner’s, Patcoena’s wife name is Summer. It all makes sense now. It’s funny how I never thought it was strange that I would see this man help me out in different circumstances throughout my life. He helped me ride a bike and fix my first flat tire.”

“You’re positive?” Mathias asked. “You have no doubts about this?”

“I’m pretty freaking sure.” I replied. “I also had another thought.”

“Does it involve us in bed soon?”

I gave him the look that every woman gives a man when they try to turn a serious conversation into a sexual one.  “No.” I answered. “I think he’s the man that took you to Fairlia.”

Mathias looked taken aback. “You said you woke up in a cave with an older man, right? Well, what if it was him. What if he’s the reason you didn’t become fully into the Rau?”

“You think he was my guardian angel before yours.” Mathias said

“I don’t know, maybe.” I answered. “You’re in the paintings with me Mathias. Why is that? Is it because you were always meant to be my Guardian? Did Patcoena interfere and pour some of his light into your soul because he knew you were meant for greater things other than revenge?”