Two Worlds; The Collision

Chapter 9

Sage Pov

I woke up to a flurry of motion. My door being thrown open, hushed whispers, my door shutting, and then more whispers. “We have to tell him,” I heard my father say, making me sit up and rub my eyes.

I had no idea what they were talking about, but instantly I lifted my fingers to the sun necklace hanging around my neck, brushing my fingers against it. “He’s going to blame himself, this might crush him,” My mother said, making me stand up and rush to the door.

I felt my heart tearing apart as I yanked the door open, staring into the startled faces of my parents. Now that the door was opened, I heard more voices. The sound of Ana softly sobbing and Ren trying to soothe her, and somewhere outside there was talk from Robby ordering everyone to search. Our house had always been a place where almost everyone we knew and loved went in and out, but there was more activity here than usual, and that, along with what I had overheard, was enough. It was enough to tell me what happened. “Where is she?” I whispered, my voice coming out in a growl as I felt my eyes narrow, the inner dragon in me raging before I could even take a minute to register what was going on. “Where’s Falyn?” I nearly screamed, my hands shaking at my side.

My parents instantly bristled, their inner dragons feeling the rage, the tension, but then all I could see was their faces. The crystalized paths of tears, even on my father’s face. My father, who has never cried, as far as I knew. To see those tears shining against his cheeks was enough to make me break down and I fell to my knees, trying to remember how to breathe. In…out. In…out. It was a struggle, and I didn’t know what to do. I failed her. “She told Ana and Ren her stomach was hurting her. Too much fairy food, it seems. She refused Ren’s offer to walk her home…she never came home. We have word from an older man that she stopped to help him pack some of his wares on a wagon but no one saw her after that. Ren said he woke this morning worried for her and came to make sure she made it home. That was how we knew.” Mother whispered, her voice filled with suppressed anger and horror.

“But…but…” I whispered, shaking my head back and forth. My dad fell to his knees in front of me, grasping my shoulders as the panic started to overwhelm me. “It’s your fault!” I screamed at him, my eyes narrowed as he stared at me in surprise. “The world is peaceful now, the alliances are complete, there’s no need for weapons, there’s no need for extensive training!” I screamed, mimicking his words, his decree. His eyes flashed in understanding and sadness, a simple nod of his head as he registered what I had said. I ripped my body away from his grasp and ran to Falyn’s room, grabbing the ribbons I got for her, and wrapping them around my hand as I stared at her room in horror. To hear it was one thing, but to see her bed made and not touched, no dents to indicate she’d even tried to sleep on it, was enough to snap me into action. I grabbed a shirt of hers she had worn the other day, fresh with her scent, and ran back to my room. My mother was trying to comfort my father and I felt a twinge of regret over my words, but I couldn’t stop to take care of it now. I know I was wrong. The words weren’t wrong, but they weren’t right either. It was true, that the land has gone peaceful, and the kingdoms growing lax because of the peace was understandable. They didn’t feel the burning feeling of what was to come like I had, they didn’t feel the need to keep training for a destiny I didn’t know to come to pass like I did. Even still, I would apologize. Not right now, probably not even today, but when I felt like I had calmed down enough, I would apologize. It was only right, since I was to be King one day.

I went into my room and quickly changed my clothes, ignoring my parents still sitting in front of my door as I grabbed a bag and packed it. Essentials, because I didn’t know where she was or what happened but I knew I wasn’t coming back until I found her. My coins, my clothes, the tent, and the sleeping bag I had under my bed were rolled up and strapped to my bag. I shoved Falyn’s shirt into the top of the bag and closed it, grabbing my sword and tying it onto my belt. I noticed the ribbons in my hand and tied them tightly against the hilt of my sword. Quickly I grabbed a few packs of wire, wrapping it around my wrists as I was trained to do, the art of the assassin to swiftly kill a man. My shoes, my pants, my pockets, every available place was filled with small daggers and throwing stars, and once I was finished I stood there, staring at my reflection in the mirror. This was what it looked like to be an assassin, I couldn’t help but think, and the small fifteen-year-old me that always wanted to go with Jareth on adventures cheered, while the grown twenty-year-old man that I am now simply sighed, feeling exhausted despite just waking up. I walked to the door, where I had never cared to shut it, and stared down at my parents. My father looked up at me, his eyes widened with shock as he swept his gaze over me, taking in my appearance, before nodding, steeled realization crossing his features. “I will find her,” I said, growling the words out softly, but with enough ice in them to make sure they understood there was no room for argument.

My mom, however, didn’t agree. She stood, her eyes filled with fear and anger as she tried to grab my arm, catching my sleeve instead. “You can’t! You’re not trained, and we don’t know where she is! We have the assassins searching for her, Jaelyn and Ashe are tracing her steps with magic, you can’t go, Sage, you have to stay here!” She said, her eyes wide as she glared at me. “You’re the heir, and Falyn’s gone, the kingdom!” She said, taking a deep breath as she wiped at her tears.

I stared at her, trying to control the anger that her words ignited. The Kingdom. I understood her words, despite the fact that I knew it wasn’t all she meant. She was upset, but she was right. The kingdom only had two of the bloodline, and one was missing. The other should stay behind, to make sure the throne was safe and protected…but at the same time, she was also saying what she wasn’t saying out loud. She was scared I’d get taken too, and then both of her kids would be gone. Even still…even still…”I’m her protector, mother, and I’m not coming back until I find her.” I said, my voice steeled with determination as I pulled my sleeve from her grasp.

I could hear my father standing, feel the anger inside him as he muttered to my mother, his own mind filled with leaving to search for her, the assassin he was raised to be sweeping through him once more. Once an assassin, always an assassin, it seems. Knowing my stubborn mother she wouldn't stay behind alone, so before she could try to follow me, I went down the stairs and nearly ran into Ana. Her thin caramel-colored fingers curled into my sleeves so tightly that I paused, listening as a soft voice spoke through the window Ana was dragging me to. “Reports that an old man is missing in town. One of our werewolves reported it to me through mindlink.” Robby’s voice said softly as he looked at Ren. I hadn’t realized Ren had walked outside. “The old man was in charge of a night crew that took care of the ships, and not only is the old man missing but the ship is missing,” Robbie said.

Ren frowned, shaking his head back and forth. “It could be nothing. It wouldn’t be the first time someone decided to steal a ship and travel to a different kingdom.” He said, dismissing the idea.

Ana pulled me once more towards the kitchen, and before I could struggle out of her grip I heard a soft giggle, and noticed as she looked back at me, her good eye was closed, and she was watching me with her fairy eye. Despite the healing Jaelyn did to Naya and Ana, there was still a slight childlike grace to them when they were seeing the future, but at least once the moment left it meant that the childlike grace faded as well, allowing her to keep to her normal mature state without worrying about the childness overcoming them and taking over. However what we’d learned as a downside is the childlike state is what grasped the knowledge of the visions, and now the women had to carry around books and pencils to write or draw what they saw, otherwise when they returned to their normal state they couldn’t remember anything that had been said. However Ana wasn’t trying to write or draw anything, her hands were gripping my fingers, like a child would hold the fingers of the adult in front of them, gently swaying my hands back and forth as another giggle slipped from her lips. “I see a man with brown hair, tanned skin, and a body fit from years of heavy lifting. I see a woman with midnight-colored skin, black shiny hair pulled back into beautiful braids and trailing down her back gracefully. I see them joined together, their eyes filled with crazed passion.” She said, swaying her body from side to side. I gritted my teeth, wanting to pull away from her, not caring about these random people she was describing. They said Falyn was last seen close to the square, so I needed to go and search for evidence. I didn’t have time for this. “I see them on a ship, joined together…a conversation.” She muttered. I nearly gasped, hearing what she said. A ship? She mentioned a ship. I heard my parents go down the stairs and turned to yell for them but before I could Ana clasped her thin hand over my lips, drawing my attention back to her as she stared at me with her wide blank eye. “It’s a good thing we’re far enough away that they can't see us now that the sun’s risen. The cliff overlooking the sea would give us away,” She whispered.

I stared at her wide-eyed, silent as I tried to understand what she was telling me. The cliff…overlooking the sea? The shipping town didn’t have a cliff, not that I knew of. Even still, I was already filled with anticipation. I turned away from Ana, looking out the door. This side of the house was facing the road towards the stables, and I knew my parents were still on the other side of the house talking, unless they’d already walked away. “Ana, I have to go…” I said, turning to look at her again.

She had both eyes opened, a puzzled look on her face as she looked down at her hands, wondering why she had been gripping my hands. “When did I come into the kitchen? Did I…Say anything?” She asked, confused. I opened my mouth, unsure what to say to her, how to explain what she’d seen when I barely understood it myself, but before I could Ren’s voice filled through the house calling Ana’s name, and she shook her head and walked away from me, leaving me all alone. I looked towards the other side of the house where the others were congressing and thought about going over to them. Telling them what Ana had said. But then I realized…they’d take the information and tell me to stay behind, they’d figure out what she’d seen and they’d make me stay. I didn’t want to stay, I wanted to find her. I needed to find her. I turned my back on them and walked out the house towards the stables, where my horse was. I was going to ride to town myself, get my own information about her, and then I was going to find her.

‘Wait for me, Star. I’m coming.’ I whispered.