A Secret Hidden in Plain Sight

Poor Jenny! I should probably finish her story! I really have no idea where I'm taking her though, so this should be interesting... If you want to go back to the beginning and read her story, head on over to the story links page. You'll find links to the other posts there.

For three weeks Jenny studied the key. She turned it over and over searching for anything that could be a possible clue to its purpose. There was nothing. It was a key, but it was a key to nothing.
After three weeks of frustration she dropped the key into the drawer of her nightstand and swore she'd forget about it, and forget about the night in the cemetery. That wasn't a memory worth holding anyway.
But she couldn't forget about it. She went to bed and dreamed about it. It was the first thing she thought about in the morning. The cemetery and the key haunted her thoughts. The key and the cemetery. The cemetery and the key. With a flash of clarity, it clicked into the place. The cemetery and the key were two halves to a whole. She'd find the answer at the cemetery.
Jenny was too frightened to go at night, after her last experience at the cemetery, so she waited until the sun was high overhead, at its brightest point. Maybe, without the shadows, that overwhelming fear would stay away.
The cemetery in the sunlight was quiet. It didn't look like the same cemetery. Still, the moment Jenny stepped through the gate, she felt a shift, a change. Something wasn't right. She hovered just inside the gate, clutching the key in her pocket. Did she dare continue? Her mind screamed at her to run. Her heart told her if she did, she'd always regret it. Swallowing hard, she stepped away from the gate, making a beeline for Alex's headstone. Your answer lies with Alex... The words replayed in her mind. With Alex.
A minute later she stood in front of his headstone, gazing down at the smooth stone. "My answer lies with Alex." She said the words out loud, as if somehow hearing them would make it more real. She walked around the stone, searching for anything out of place. She ran her hand along the smooth surface, hoping to find a notch or a crevasse. Anything that could hide a secret. Nothing.
Just before she turned to go she saw it, the anomaly she was hoping for. The stone had the typical words engraved on it, words she'd told them to write. His name, date of birth, date of death, and the words... "I'll always love you" beneath them all. But barely visible beneath the "L" in love the stone was a different color, a darker shade then the rest. The reason she noticed was because the color was in the shape of a keyhole.

Passion: An Explanation

If you look up the word passion in the dictionary, you'll get a definition similar to this: any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as in love and hate. That will be the first definition. The other two definitions you'll see have to do with love and lust. When people think of passion, most of the time they equate it with love or lust, basically with relationships to people. I used to see it that way. In fact, if I remember correctly (it's been a while since my thought processes have changed), I used to view passion in a negative. The thought process I had went something like this: Passion = strong emotion = carnal desire or the carnal mind in control = wicked.
Ouch.
Here's how I view passion now. It can't be done in ='s however. More in lead to's. So here's my lead to ">". Passion > enthusiasm > goals > accomplishment > greater self-worth > loving the self > loving others > God. That may even be a loop because I believe God is the creator of true passion. So, looking at is as a loop it would look like this: God (loving God, serving God, trying to live for God... however you want to look at it) > passion > enthusiasm > goals > accomplishment > greater self-worth > loving the self > loving others > God.
God starts it, God ends it. Passion, when used to better yourself, which in turn betters the lives of others, is a positive. It's a good thing.
Like any good there's always the bad, so passion can be used for the negative. The passion of lust can destroy relationships, the passion of hate can destroy lives. But just because passion has a negative, doesn't mean it is wrong altogether. Everything has a negative. Everything has an opposite. Does that mean everything is wrong?
No.
When you pursue a passion, chances are you're going to come to a point where you question what you're doing and whether or not you should be doing it. I know I questioned it... a lot. Maybe I wasn't supposed to be a writer. Maybe I'm just supposed to be a mom and wife and be okay with that. I've tried that path though, and I sink into depression because I don't feel like a person. I feel like "wife" and "mom", not me. I kinda like to be me.
So, when you start to question, pull back a bit and examine your passion. Ask yourself why. That's the best place to start. Why are you pursuing that particular passion? If the answer is only money, you might want to look deeper, because I personally don't believe that's enough. Money can be an off-shoot, but it's not the desire of a true passion. What do you really want? Why are you choosing that particular way to get it? I can only use myself as an example, but I will. What I really want is to better the lives of others, in any way that I can. I want to use the gifts I've been given to make the lives of other people better. That is my ultimate goal. Why did I choose writing to do this? Because I love it. Because when I write I feel something in me that wakes up and smiles. Because I love to use my mind and see the creative side come to life. Because words literally give me joy. Sounds crazy, I know, but they do. I love words. They make me happy. Like rainbows make other people happy, words make me happy. So I want to achieve my ultimate goal doing something that I absolutely love. If you pull back and examine your passion, chances are you'll feel something similar. You'll find the real reason you're pursuing that passion and the real reason you chose that particular passion. Man is that he might have joy. I believe passion has a role to play in bringing us joy, especially when we channel that passion into something that benefits others.

Understanding Dawns - 6

The dark was stifling. I felt trapped in my own body, unable to move or breathe. My chest felt like it was on fire every time I tried to take a breath.
I slowly became aware of a steady warmth moving through my body. It was comforting. I felt my muscles relax as it moved toward my heart. The warmth pushed away the fire in my chest, replacing it with a pleasant calm. I felt my heartbeat return to its normal, steady rhythm.
When I opened my eyes Caden was sitting next to me. He desperately clutched my hand, holding it next to him. His other hand rested on my chest. His eyes were closed tightly shut, and his lips moved almost in an almost imperceptible whisper. "Please Kyra. Not like this. Not like this." He repeated over and over.
"Caden?"
His eyes popped open. "Kyra! Thank heaven! I thought I was too late."
"Where is Lahuir?" I tried to sit up, knowing I should be fighting, but Caden stopped me. He kept his hand pressed against my chest.
"Don't move yet. You're not completely healed."
I lay back. The same warmth I had been feeling again surged through me. It stemmed from Caden's hand.
"Lahuir?" I asked again.
Caden shrugged, "He's gone." He grinned mischievously at me, "He took a bit of a fall... out the window."
"What?!" I lurched to my feet and rushed to the window. "How?"
He moved to stand next to me, "You really should let me finish." He sighed. He glanced out the window. "He didn't see me coming, and I wasn't thinking. I just had to get him off of you."
I stared glumly out the window. "What are we supposed to do now? How do we save our world?" I felt tears sting in my eyes. We had lost. Because Lahuir had turned, we had lost.
Caden slipped his hand into mine, "No. Not all is lost. We can still win."
"How? My union with Lahuir was supposed to unite those still in hiding."
"Your union? With Lahuir?" Caden's eyes flashed with anger. "When was that decided?"
"I don't know. Ya'shiie was guiding me. He said it would save our worlds."
"Ya'shiie was a liar." He hissed. "The union was supposed to be between two lovers, not two complete strangers. You were supposed to be the key to finding the lovers."
"Oh!" I breathed. Suddenly I felt hope again, followed by a deep longing. I understood now. I wasn't the key to finding the lovers. I was going to be one of the lovers. Caden stared at me, as if seeing me for the first time. "Oh." He finally whispered. "It's us."
I nodded.
Caden grinned and grasped me against him. His lips found my mouth almost before I had a chance to react.
His eyes sparkled happily when he pulled away. "I didn't dare think it. I knew I was falling for you the first time you yelled at me... for almost killing you." He chuckled, "But I couldn't allow that. I'm a nomad, a loner. I've never wanted or needed anybody. But then I met you." He whispered. He took my face tenderly in his hands and pressed his lips softly against mine. "I know now why I had those feelings. You and I Kyra. We're going to save the world."

The Light Shatters - 5

Ya'shiie took my hand and let me to a small room. The room had a window that looked over the entire city. "Wait here Kyra. Lahuir will be here shortly."
I stopped him before he could leave the room. "What am I here for Ya'shiie? How can I save these great realms if I remain in this room?"
Ya'shiie gently patted my hand, "These two realms must unite and become one. To do that you, the only human left still fighting for your realm, must unite yourself with the greatest fighter of our realm. Together, the two of you will be unstoppable. It will create renewed hope and vigor in those still able to fight. You will become a great light, one that will push away the Kaifuri and their dark world."
"And who must I unite with?" I whispered, knowing that I needed the information, but also knowing that I wouldn't like the answer.
The old sage smiled softly, "Lahuir. He has done more to keep this war at bay than any man in our realm. He has risen through the ranks and become our greatest military commander. He is the man you will unite with."
I nodded and turned away. Ya'shiie quietly left the room. I felt like I was in a nightmare. How had this happened? Why was I the only one that could save our worlds? I stared out the window, seeing nothing but darkness through the fog in my mind. One face flashed repeatedly in my thoughts: Caden. I couldn't help but see his smile and hear the memory of his heart beating as he held me next to him.
I suddenly wanted to cry. I never cried. I never wanted to cry. This was new to me. But the sage was right. I was in love. Caden had managed, quite by accident I was sure, to break through all my carefully built walls and find the path to my heart.
But I had to bind myself to Lahuir. He was to be my mate.
The thought sickened me.
I heard footsteps outside the room and quickly pushed away my new emotions. If joining with Lahuir saved my world than that's what I would do. I had been fighting for it since before I could stand. I couldn't give up on it now.
Lahuir entered the room, followed closely by Ya'shiie. I remained where I was, by the window. I wanted to see life outside the prison walls I was about to drop on myself.
Lahuir crossed the room and slipped his hand into mine. "Kyra. We belong together. You know that." He said soothingly. He glanced slyly at Ya'shiie.
I couldn't look at his face. I fought the urge to tear my hand from his and flee from the temple. My hand jerked, but he grasped it tighter and pulled my body next to his.
A stab of fire shot through my stomach. Lahuir held me so tightly against him I couldn't move. But I could feel pain coursing through my stomach. I looked into his face. His eyes were changed. They glowered at me. His mouth was twisted in a malicious grin. "Everything will be just fine Kyra." He whispered. He shoved me away. I stumbled against the window, clutching my stomach. Blood oozed between my fingers and dripped to the floor. Lahuir held a bloodied dagger firmly in his hand.
"Kyra!" I heard someone cry my name, but I didn't know where they were calling from. I couldn't focus on them.
"Lahuir, what have you done!" Ya'shiie cried.
Lahuir turned to him, laughing, "I've destroyed the world. She was the only piece I was waiting for. It's finished now!" He grabbed the tip of the knife and flung it across the room. It buried itself deep in Ya'shiie's chest. He groaned and crumpled to the ground.
I clutched the windowsill, determined to fight Lahuir. I would not lose this way. I'd fought too long to die like this. I stood upright, bracing myself against the wall. I slipped my knife from its sheath and held it as tight as I was able.
Lahuir glanced at me. A wicked grimace filled his features. "You were supposed to die." He muttered.
"I won't die so easily." I gasped. "You can't take the world from me."
He laughed, "I can. I already have. Why do you think the Kaifuri are coming? I led them here."
I gripped the knife more tightly. "Traitor."
His eyes flashed fire. "Traitor?!" He screamed, "You think I'm the traitor? Look at you! You fight for something you cannot achieve. Everyone you have ever known has died because of your fight. You are responsible for the death of thousands of people. You are the traitor here. All I have done is chosen the winning side."
He yanked the dagger from Ya'shiie's chest and slowly sauntered toward me. "And now, I'm just speeding up the victory. Once you are dead there will be no hope for the rest of them."
I felt a moment of fear. I was going to die. I could see my fate as clearly as I could see him. This was not how I had planned on dying. I was always going to die in battle, taking down hundreds of the enemy before they took me. This was wrong.
And then I realized I could kill him. He would die with me.
My fear vanished.
Lahuir advanced, clearly choosing a point of attack. Suddenly, he shot toward me. I could barely follow the movement. I responded swiftly, blindly, throwing the knife in front of me where I knew he was coming. I heard it cut into his flesh moments before I felt his dagger plunge into my chest.
He crashed against me, knocking me to the ground. I saw the hilt of my knife. The blade was buried in his stomach.
He yanked it from his body and threw it out the window. "You think I'm that easy to kill?" He cried. "This is nothing." He pointed to his stomach. "But you. You were easier than I expected. I had planned on fighting an equal." He laughed, "You were no more than a child."
I couldn't focus on him any longer. My chest felt like fire was ripping through it. His voice sounded as loud as thunder one moment and as quiet as a whisper of wind the next. I was fading in and out of consciousness, trying to keep my grasp on reality.
"Kyra no!" Caden's voice blasted in my ears. His face flashed in my vision, and then disappeared. I heard the sounds of a scuffle, but the noise was far off, miles away. Blessed blackness finally took over and enveloped me in its calm grasp.