Daughter of a Monarch by Sara Daniell Page B

with the consequences of who I am. Alone.”
    “Your parents are the ones who have to deal with that, not you! A, don’t you see, none of this is your fault? When will you stop trying to fix everything?”
    “It doesn’t matter who is at fault! It doesn’t change a damn thing about who I am and what I’m capable of!” I can feel my magic brewing inside me. It’s only a matter of time before I lose control again. “Isaac, please leave,” I clench my jaw as I try to fight against it.
    “I’m going to just follow you.” I feel his hands on my face.
    I move so I’m against him, my head on his chest. I concentrate on his heart beating as my tears soak his shirt. I want him to stay in Gaia and forget about me, but I’m selfish. I need him by my side through whatever I’m about to face.
    “You might die,” I say against his chest.
    “I don’t care.”
    I look up at him, and he wipes my tears. “You know you’re making a really stupid decision, right?” As I calm down, the power building inside me subsides.
    “Mmm hmm.” He kisses my forehead. “But it’s my stupid decision to make.”
    Was I honestly going to let him go? Probably not. But it felt good to bask in this short lived fairytale that the boy I was falling for was going to run away into the sunset with me.
    Reality sucks hardcore.
    I look at Isaac’s guitar. “So, before we make a run for it, will you play that for me?”
    He nods, sits down on a large piece of driftwood and motions for me to sit on his knee. I sit facing him, and tears fill my eyes. He sincerely cares for me, and I’m about to crush him.
    He starts playing, and I close my eyes, getting lost in the melody. I lean in to kiss him, and he stops playing.
    “Goodbye, Isaac,” I whisper against his lips, and before he can argue, I teleport myself to Earth and immediately use my abilities to keep anyone from tracking me and lock the passage.
    If my plan works, the Regime and Versipellis of Terre will be in search of me and focus on that instead of harming anyone. If I can’t figure out how to fix the monster inside, I’ll even make it easy for them, eventually let them find me and do what they will, under one condition. They leave my family alone.
    I’m making the rules now.
    Everything was going to be—
    I scream as Dad’s voice makes it through my mind, even though I blocked him.
    A, I hear faintly in my mind.
    He sounds like he’s in pain.
    “Dad!” I scream. I try to pry my eyes open, but they’re sensitive to the light. It’s useless.
    I fall to my knees and scream when the feeling of an ice pick stabbing my head intensifies. Tears pour from my eyes.
    “Stop…Make…It…. Stop!” I beg while gasping for air.
    Take care of your—
    “I hear you! Dad, where are you?” The pain lessens, and I know I’m losing my connection with him, but I don’t understand why.
    Pain pulses through the back of my head again, sending me to the ground, gasping for air.
    I have to do this. Forgive me. It’s the only way. It will buy you time. I love you, A. Tell your mom I love her. Fight, A. Fight with everything in you.
    The pain stops completely, and my eyes shoot open. Sobs escape me.
    What did he mean by it would buy me time? What was he doing?
    I was having to use my abilities to hold on to dad. I was losing the connection with him. He was struggling. That’s never happened before.
    I start regaining some of my strength back and sit up. I scoot until my back rests against the metal wall. I notice the front of my shirt is drenched in blood. I touch my nose and feel warmth and sticky liquid.
    I try desperately to reconnect with Dad, but it’s useless.
    I try to stand on my jello legs, but I’m too weak. It took too much to try to keep a hold of Dad’s connection.
    Daddy, where are you?
    My eyes close with no hope of reopening them. I feel the warmth of my tears before the faint light from the setting sun fades to black.

 
     
    The Holly Nather Series Will Continue…
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