Fear sets in

As soon as I discovered the joy of writing, I started to see myself achieving all these wonderful goals using the writing skills I'd recently uncovered. Most notably, I wanted to be a published author. I still want to be a published author. And I still intend to be a published author. But, wanting something and achieving something are two different things. You can want it all you want, but it doesn't just show up. You have to work toward it. You have to fight for it. You have to power through those days when you just want to give up. A goal worth achieving isn't a goal that just happens. It's a goal that you sweat over, fight over, and cry over because in the end, if you haven't really worked for what you want, than you're not going to recognize or appreciate the value of the dream.

I learned this lesson with my writing. Since my goal is to be a published author, I began researching everything I could about getting published. Oh my! What I learned was so intimidating it was tempting to just take the easy road and back out. Do my writing, write my novels, but not push the publishing thing. It sounded like a lot of scary stuff that I knew absolutely nothing about. Writing a synopsis. Querying an agent. Landing an agent. Making sure the agent wasn't scamming me. Not giving away the farm to a publisher by signing a contract that I don't understand. Those are all road blocks. Worse, everywhere you read everybody says the same thing. Your opening chapter has to be strong or else the agents and editors will never look past the first paragraph! Hook them with your opening line on the query! You have three hundred words to suck them in. Do it right! A synopsis can only be so long; sum your entire 250 page (or more) book into five pages! Write your author bio (I'm thinking, what author bio! I don't have one!!!), build yourself a platform! Don't get stuck in the slush pile!!!!!! And the worst... you know how many authors have tried and failed? Thousands.
Talk about a slap in the face. My reaction... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Have I just decided to jump into the one occupation on earth that is nearly impossible to get into? Again, AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Months into it, I'd bombarded myself with so much information I ended up gulping in fear and seriously rethinking my goals. Did I really want what I thought I wanted? And you know what, the answer was I don't know. I really, really don't know. I decided I'd keep going anyway. I knew I loved to write. I knew it made me happy. So, at the very least, I was going to write. I'd work for the other stuff when I came to it.
There were a few key factors that I took into consideration when I first faltered in my dream. First, my husband had become my cheering section. I'd told him what I wanted and he wanted to see me do it. This was both a good and a bad thing. It was good because I had his support. It was bad because my confidence in myself was so low, that I was afraid he'd see me as a failure if I never published anything. I realize now that he wouldn't, but at the time (three years ago), I couldn't see that. So I had this huge fear of failing... again... at something I'd tried (I'd tried to sell Mary Kay, and I'd taken some courses on medical transcription. I didn't do either of them well. Turns out, they weren't my passion). I couldn't stand to think that he saw me as a failure. So because of that I allowed the fear in, which seriously hindered me in my path. Fear is not a motivator; it kills motivation. And I had let it in. This was my own personal demon which I had to overcome. He had no part in it. He did his best to cheer me on, to build me up with visions of my own dreams. He did a great job. But that fear seriously slowed me down, though, in a strange way, it also kept me going. Fear is not a motivator, but I couldn't stop when my dream faltered because I couldn't stand to fail. So, it did keep me going, though probably not in the best way.
The second thing that kept me going was that I saw myself where I wanted to be. They say if you want something to see yourself there. To feel the emotions you'll experience when you get there. It'll cement the thing in your future and give you the drive to push for it. I had done this. It wasn't on purpose, it just happened. I could see myself (still can) achieving my dreams. I really could. So that helped keep me focused.
After a few months, when the fears began seeping in, I began to question what I really wanted. This would go on for a while.
But, it's all part of the process. I repeat: It's all part of the process!!!! Without the fears, how will you learn to overcome, how will you learn to appreciate what you have and gain, and how will you be strong enough to handle what you want when you get it?

The Beginning

I discovered I loved writing after I read Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series (not number four, however, because it wasn't out yet). I read the books, loved the books, bought the books and then thought, "If she can do it, why can't I?"
I'd always wanted to write a novel; it was on my list of goals for myself. And I'd tried a few different times to do it, but I just couldn't seem to pull it off. Something changed after reading those books. I'm not even sure what it was, but I knew that I could do it. So, I did. I sat down to my computer, stuck my fingers on the keys... and sat there. And sat there. And sat there. What do I write? I asked myself. Where do I start? I asked myself. I had no idea. So I sat.
Obviously, that wasn't working. Thinking maybe I needed some inspiration, I turned on some music, the kind that "spoke" to me, as it were. FYI, the song was "Rainsong" by George Winston. One of my favorites.
Anyway, music plays and guess what happens? Magic. I start writing, and writing, and writing, and writing. Five months later I had finished my first novel. But, more than that, my journey had begun. I was beginning to learn what it means to dream, what it means to have passion, and what it takes to pursue both.

The Quest

I started this blog more than two years ago as a creative writing outlet. The goal then was to give people a place where they could go to find fiction stories that were new and fresh. It was also a way for me to improve my writing skill; by doing something often, you get better at it. Obviously my initial goal never came to fruition. Updating the same story daily didn't really work for me becuse more often than not, I would sit down to update and end up staring at a blank page with absolutely no idea what I was going write. Not a good thing. So I decided to change things up.
When I started writing a little over three years ago I didn't know that I was starting a journey. All I knew was that I'd discovered something I loved to do, and that I was going to do it. But so much has happened since that discovery that I have become a completely different person. You may be wondering why. Well, once I found my passion I realized that I had goals and dreams that I wanted to achieve. I learned the value of dreaming, of pushing for things that I never realized were possible, of learning that things really are possible. I learned the true feeling of passion and I learned how important it is to truly value yourself. These are only some of what I've discovered and it hasn't only been through my writing journey, but since writing is so tied to my life, the lessons learned all come through and are affected by it. So this blog has changed like I have changed. It's now about the journey and my passion. It's about learning and growing and developing who you are as a person. It's about the struggles that come up and what it takes to overcome them. Since writing is my passion, it's about writing as well. Anything and everything I can think of that might relate to writing may just end up on here. I don't know where this blog will take me and I don't know where my journey will take me, but I hope that through my journey and this blog I can help other people achieve the goals they've set for themselves and ultimately, their dreams.

A New Path

Look at the object. Learn the secrets. The small voice didn't stay small for long. After fleeing the cemetery and screeching onto a street with light, Jenny's fear began to dissipate and logic slowly set in. The creature in the cemetery had been nothing but a man. Her senses had simply been heightened by the dark, the cold, and her own emotions getting the better of her.
Look at the object. Learn the secrets. The thought grew in intensity. Learn the secrets. She glanced onto the seat where she had tossed the object. Glittering in the streetlight was an iron key. The design matched those of keys forged hundreds of years before, but the key itself gleamed as bright as a newly minted quarter.
Jenny parked her car in front of Alicia's apartment, picking the key up and turning it over and over in her hands, looking for any clue that it might reveal. The only thing she learned was that it was very heavy, heavier than it should have been for iron. There were no markings, no engravings. For the cryptic way it had been delivered, Jenny had been sure there would be a cryptic clue somewhere. But there was nothing. Frustrated, Jenny pocketed the key and hurried into Alicia's apartment. The storm was rising in intesity, rain pelted the street, the windows, her bare head as she rushed to the door. It beat on the ceiling, sounding like millions of tiny drummers all trying to out-beat the others. It was going to be a long night.

A Dark Message - 6

Without quite knowing why, Jenny chose to follow the advice of the young stranger. Her stomach felt like one giant knot. This was a new sensation; a cross between caution and fear. The girl had seemed nice enough, but something about her was dark... cryptic. But regardless of her feelings, Jenny knew she had to listen to the girl.
She found herself now standing in front of Alex's newly laid headstone. It wasn't a good night to be out here. The air was bitter cold and the wind was picking up, howling through the trees, ripping through her light jacket as if it wasn't even there. Jenny glanced around furtively, feeling a strange sense of unease. The moon cast flickering shadows through the waving tree branches, covering everything in dancing minions.
One shadow wasn't moving; it was blacker than the night and still as stone. When it finally did move, it moved slowly, toward her. Jenny backed up a step, feeling the panic flood through her body. Her limbs felt like jelly. The shadow moved faster now, coming toward her at a swift pace. Running would do her no good; there was nowhere to hide in this miserable graveyard. The only thing she could do was gape in absolute terror as the shadow grew in height, coming swiftly closer. It stopped no less than a foot from her body. The being towered above her. In the dark she could only discern that the shadow had the shape of a man, but the man was too large to be human. Before she knew what was happening, a giant hand snatched hers up, laying something cold and heavy in her palm. "When you're ready, look at what I've given you," a voice whispered. The voice didn't match the body. It was too soft, too quiet. "But don't look unless you know you can handle the truth. For if you can't, this will destroy you, as it destroyed Alex."
Jenny's hand instinctively curled around the object, but her eyes never left the huge bulk in front of her. She nodded briskly, not trusting her voice. The shadow receded, melting back into the dancing minions. Jenny stared after it, rooted to the spot by terror and uncertainty. Her mind was a jumble of a million questions, none of which she knew the answer to. The object in her hand was cold, like steel. Trembling, she finally turned and ran to her car, locking the doors and starting the engine almost simultaneously. One thought shouted in her mind. "Get the hell out of this place. Leave the secrets behind!" Another thought, much smaller but growing in gravity, whispered a different message. "Look at the object, learn the secrets."

Help Comes Unexpectedly - 5

Jenny walked slowly up the street, toward Alicia's home. Since Alex's murder, Jenny had been staying with Alicia; staying in the apartment where Alex had been killed was just too painful. She sighed, glancing up the street. It was painful staying with Alicia too. She knew her friend was trying to be helpful, to comfort her, but Alex, despite all his failures, had loved her. She knew he had. He was always trying to make her laugh, to help her see the good in everything. She felt so alone with him gone.
She sank onto the steps outside the apartment, not caring that the cold of the concrete seeped through her clothing. Alex had been killed a month ago and the police had made no headway on solving his murder. When she asked for updates, the only response she got was a patient "No dear, we don't know anything yet." They treated her like they would a child. The kind cop was the exception to this rule. He always treated her wonderfully, but he could never tell her anything. Sometimes it felt to Jenny like they weren't even trying.
Jenny sighed heavily, "Alex," she cried, "What do I do? I'm scared. I feel so alone." She wrapped her arms around her chest. "You wouldn't just sit here. You would do something. Anything! You were always the strong one. I can't do it," she muttered, "I can't do anything."
"Yes you can."
Jenny looked up, startled. A young woman stood in front of the steps. Wide eyes in a thin face were framed by short, black hair that spiked in every direction. Her eyes darted around nervously before coming to rest on Jenny's face. "There's always something you can do," she said urgently.
Jenny stiffened, "You don't know that," she snapped. "You don't even know what I'm dealing with."
"I know more than you think." The response was cryptic. The girl glanced up and down the street, then took a step closer to Jenny. "Your answer lies with Alex," she said urgently. "Go to him."
Jenny stared at her, wide-eyed. "But Alex... he's dead."
The girl nodded, "Go to him," she whispered again then she darted down the street and was gone.

New author!

Oh my goodness, it's been f-o-r-e-v-e-r since I last updated. Sorry about that. I've been spending a lot of my time focusing on the novel I'm writing. I'll have to post an excerpt one of these days :). Anyway, considering the fact that my goal is to be a published author, I thought I might promote a new author who recently published her first book. Her name is Lisa Mangum and the book is titled "The Hourglass Door". It's the first in a series, which is nice on one hand and not so nice on the other. I love series... I relish them really, but oh I hate waiting for the next book to be written! The sequel to this book will be published next year, I believe. So I get to wait. Oh well.
Anyway, the story is about a young high schooler named Abby and a mysterious stranger named Dante. It's a love story, but like any good love story it has other elements. This one has time travel, which definitely makes it interesting. I'm not going to reveal the entire plot on this blog, but I will say that it is worth reading, and it's a simple read. There were a few parts that I thought could have been elaborated upon... a little more detail would have made them better, drawing me into the story more, but overall it was good. You'll find that the characters are easy to like, especially Dante who is hot and mysterious, the perfect mix. I'm looking forward to watching her writing career. I hope some of you enjoy her book as well.

P.S. the image above is a picture of the cover of her book. I found the picture online and posted it here so you all would know what you're looking for. No, I have no rights to the picture, so if that was illegal, let me know!

Questions - 4

Jenny sat alone at the police station. The old police officer had gone to get her some water, leaving her alone in her grief. She had one hand pressed tightly to her stomach, feeling somehow that the baby inside her was the only link she had now to Alex. Somehow the thought was comforting, knowing that a part of him lived on in her. The officer returned and set a bottle of water on the table in front of her. "Here you go," he said. A kind smile crinkled around his eyes. Jenny tried to smile back, "Thanks," she mumbled.
"The detective is coming to interview you. He'll be here in just a minute."
"Thanks," she whispered.
The old cop took her small hand in his and patted it softly, "Are you going to be okay?"
Jenny shrugged, "I'll get through it. I have to." But she didn't look like she could get through it, not to the cop. She looked frail and worn, like she might break at any moment.
There was a loud rap on the door and a moment later the detective entered. To Jenny's surprise it was a woman, a young woman wearing a sharp outfit, heels that clicked loudly on the concrete floor, and a scowl on her tight features. Jenny's automatic response was to shrink away from her.
The detective set a file on the table and sat down in front of Jenny. "I understand you're..." she paused, glancing at the file, "Mrs. Harper?"
"Yes."
"Do you know of anybody that may have wanted Mr. Harper dead?"
"No."
"Where were you, when he was killed?"
"I was at my friend's. We... Alex was late and I left," Jenny's voice faltered, "I was so mad at him... I should have stayed." A tear dropped onto the table, "I should have stayed," she whispered again.
The detective shuffled through the file, "It says here that Alex was out of work. Could he have gotten involved in anything illegal?"
"I...I don't know. He didn't talk about work after he got fired."
"How did you get by after he lost his job?"
"Savings. I got a job."
"I see." The detective stood abruptly, "Thank you for your help Mrs. Harper. We'll call you if we need anything else." She nodded at the kind cop next to Jenny, "She can go."
Jenny stood, confused, "Can you tell me who killed Alex?"
"No. We don't know."
"What do I do now?"
The detective stared at her, "Nothing. We'll solve the case."
The old cop took Jenny gently by the arm and guided her toward the door, "You just take the time to get through this," he told Jenny quietly, "I'll keep you updated, and I'll check on you to make sure you're okay."
This time Jenny's small smile was genuine, "Thank you, for all of your help."
The old cops eyes crinkled again. He would be Jenny's rock through the coming months, he knew it as well as she.

The coffee shop

The change clattered onto the counter. "One cup of Joe," the bum mumbled while settling himself onto the stool. His face was blotchy red and his hands trembled. Patches of blue were visible here and there on his coat, but mostly it was gray streaked with brown. A fit of coughing racked his body. The barista looked at the man in disgust; he quickly counted the coins, trying his best to touch them as little as possible, and then turned to make the coffee. "Here," he snapped, setting the cup in front of the bum. "Hurry up with it and move on. You're making my guests uncomfortable."
The bum glanced around the room. It was nearly empty. The one exception was a young woman seated three seats down from him. She was watching him with interest. He nodded to her and turned back to the barista. "Sure," he chuckled. He took a slow sip of his coffee and sighed. "There's nothing like coffee to warm a man's..." loud, hacking coughs interuppted his words, doubling him over. He gasped for air and then straightened up, "bones." he finally finished.
The barista just glared at him.
The young woman moved to sit next to the bum, "Hello," she said, "I'm sorry. I couldn't help noticing you sitting here alone. That cough sounds bad. Are you okay?"
The bum nodded, "I'm fine."
"I don't believe you."
The bum laughed mirthlessly, "Nobody seems to."
The woman beckoned to the barista. "Give him his change back. I'll cover his tab, whatever he wants, make sure he gets it."
The bum shook his head, "You don't need to do that lady. I'm no charity case."
She laughed, "I never said you were."
They lapsed into silence. The barista counted back the bums change and dropped it on the counter.
Thirty minutes later the bum left. His changed remained on the counter; he drank his coffee and nothing more. The woman watched him go, wondering what had brought him to his current state.

The Pain of Discovery - 3

"Jenny, I think you need to see this." Alicia said as she rushed into the room. She flipped the channels on the TV, stopping on a news station. "Isn't that your apartment complex?"
"Was. It was my apartment complex. Not anymore." Jenny said, glancing momentarily at the TV and away again. "Not anymore." She whispered, so low Alicia couldn't hear. The thought left a lummp in her throat. She missed Alex, even after all the stupid things he'd done, she missed him.
"Jenny are you seeing this?" Alicia's voice was shrill, panicked.
"What happened?" She whispered after a long silence.
Jenny jerked toward the Tv. Alicia's words made her feel uneasy. What she saw made her sick. Her apartment complex surrounded by flashing red and blue lights. Policemen everywhere. The news reporter was saying something about a murder. Before she was even fully aware what she was doing, Jenny was rushing from the room, running back to her apartment in the same state of panic she had been in when she left. For some reason she couldn't explain, she knew something was wrong. She felt it in her gut. "He's fine." She told herself. "Stop panicking yourself. Alex is fine." But no matter what she told herself, she couldn't bring her mind to believe the words. She raced around the corner and ran up to the police barrier. "Please!" She sobbed, "Please, I have to get in. I have to know!"
The policeman gave her a blank stare. "Lady, you can't go in."
"I have to!" She shrieked. She ducked under the yellow tape and bolted past the policeman, who had probably had one to many donuts in his life and was unable to stop her. She felt somebody try to grab her on her way into the building but she shoved them away, feeling nothing but raw panic. She burst through the door of her apartment, searching for some sign of Alex. The room was full of strangers. "No." she sobbed. She grabbed the arm of the person closest to her. "Was it Alex?" She whispered.
The man stared at her for a moment then looked away, unable to face her pain.
"Don't!" She shrieked, "Tell me! Where is he?"
The man swallowed noisily and pointed to the other room. He blinked rapidly through eyes filled with tears.
Jenny raced into the room then stopped, closing her eyes, unable to face it yet. When she opened them she found the room was empty. It hadn't been empty only seconds before, but it was empty now. Empty except for Alex's still body lying on the floor. His eyes were closed and she would have thought he was asleep, but she couldn't help but notice the blood staining the carpet. It was pooled around his head. "Alex." She whispered, "I'm so sorry. I never should have gone."
She knelt next to him and threw herself on his body. Sobs racked her small figure. Her fingers dug into the fabric of his shirt, clinging to life, to a love she had thrown away. She frantically ran her hands along his chest, his face, through his hair, placing in her memory every curve of his body. "Alex, please don't." She sobbed, "Please. I was wrong. I can't live without you. The baby is yours." She pressed her lips to his, trying to breathe life into him. "You can't." She sobbed hysterically, "I need you. I've always needed you."
He lay still beneath her.
"Alex!" She screamed, "Don't leave me! I can't do this alone!"
She felt a pair of arms pull her away from him. "Leave me alone!" She shrieked, ripping from their grasp and dropping to the floor next to her husband. Her hand brushed the locket that had dropped from his graps. Instinctively, her fingers wrapped around the locket. She didn't know what it was or why she wanted it, but somehow she knew she couldn't leave it. "Please." She sobbed to the man standing next to her, the man who had tried to pull her from her love, "Please. I can't leave him yet. I can't." She whispered.
He knelt next to her and put his arm around your shoulders, pulling her into his chest. He smelled like old spice and cigars. The smell was comforting, it reminded her of her father. His rough hand stroked her hair. "I'm sorry miss. I'm so sorry." He held her while she sobbed against him, held her like a father holding his child. When her body stopped convulsing against him he spoke. "I know you want to stay, but right now we need to get you away from here. They have to investigate the scene." He pulled her away to look at her face. "I'll take you to the police station. They'll want to talk to you about this. Can you handle that?"
She nodded, feeling safe if he was there. "Will you be with me?"
He smiled and his eyes crinkled, "Yes. I'll be there."
"Thank you." She whispered.

Murder - 2

Alex slowly climbed the stairs to the apartment. He clutched a silver locket tightly in one hand, a small doll in the other. He was hoping for a girl. Jenny had wanted the locket he held since she had seen it in the vintage shop window. He'd made up his mind to give it to her for their third anniversary, which was in a week. He had made a small alteration to it, but she would know it was the one she'd seen. He couldn't help smiling in anticipation. Jenny would love it.
Alex turned down the hall toward his apartment and noticed the door was cracked open. Pale yellow light spilled into the dark hall. NO. He thought, NO! She left. I'm too late! He ran down the hall, nearly hysterical. Jenny couldn't have left, she couldn't! He shoved the door open. The apartment was empty, empty and cold without Jenny's warmth. His knees nearly buckled, but he raced through the door, hoping to see her. He'd promised Jenny he would get home in time for their first prenatal, but some idiot side-swiped his car on the way home. He had to wait nearly an hour for the police to show up and do their job.
The only light in the apartment came from a small lamp, which lit up the desk. Jenny's note lay on the desk.
Alex read it, wishing the words weren't for him. The paper was already stained with Jenny's tears. Now his tears mingled with hers. The gifts dropped to the floor as he fell to his knees, heartbroken.
He didn't see the dark figure slip from the bedroom, or feel the blow that took his life.

Flight - 1

Jenny stomped from the room, slamming the door behind her. She'd been waiting for Alex for too long. She was going to be late. Alex, of course, never came. This wasn't really a surprise to her. He never followed through with his promises. Apparently she didn't matter to him. She had hoped that he would listen when she threatened to leave him, but he didn't. She was alone, as always. She did leave him a note, in case he showed up three hours late.
Alex. I warned you I would leave if you didn't come. Don't come looking for me. You won't find me. I'm scared. I can't do this alone. I'm going to find someone who can support me. As far as I'm concerned this baby isn't yours. Stay out of my life. Jenny.
The note was written hastily. The words scrawled aross the page were barely legible. It didn't matter. Alex would be able to read it.
Jenny ran down the stairs of the rundown apartment complex. I can't do it anymore. She thought. I can't live here, in this life, with that man. I never should have married him. The tears ran unchecked down her cheeks, blinding her as she ran. She slammed into a stranger, nearly knocking him off the sidewalk, but she hardly noticed. Her only thought was that she had to escape the existence she was living in, and give this baby a better life than the one she had.

Whew!

Whew! I hope you all enjoyed that story! It was originally going to be one post. HAHA! Clearly that didn't happen. As I was writing, the story just grew in my head. I had to speed things up a bit in the story, because it was turning into a novel, and I am not ready to work on a fantasy just yet. But it was fun, writing in the spur of the moment, letting things develop on their own.
There are definitely cons to writing fantasy. It gives you the ability to alter the world to your story. Need another realm? No problem. It's fantasy, anything can happen. Throw it in! Need a magical element? Oh yes! Definitely throw it in! We love that!
It was great, working with that freedom.
But I think I'll do something different next time. Hopefully it'll be a little shorter, but no guarantees. I guess we'll see!
For my readers, what did you think? What genre do you prefer to read, or even write in?

Oh. P.S. Did you love that trailer for Twilight or what? I have to admit, it made me even more excited to see the movie!

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."