Chapter 24
The familiar whistle begins before the door cracks open. Rushing towards the door, I see Ash. “You remembered the cabin.” Relief floods through me as I give him a bear hug. He’s like a son to me. “How is she?”
“She’s hurt by our lies, and pissed for being left in the dark,” Ash answers snippily, reaching for the family picture on the mantel. “Plus, Prince Timber has taken to her more than I’d like.” Frustrated, he places the picture of Jewel back down. “In your note, you said ‘the darkness will find her’. What does that mean?”
His eyes search mine. Guilt floods me for lying to him all these years.
So much more needs to fall into place. According to Matthew’s vision, King Destine will show up tonight and take Jewel, thereby saving her from King Gus. I can’t tell him much, or it may alter his vision.
Dreading this moment, I begin, “Ash, Jewel isn’t the only one who’s been left in the dark. There’s a lot at stake where she is concerned.” Taking a deep breath, I continue. “Do you remember when I told you that I’d made a deal with King Gus?” He nods his head. “Well, the deal stated he could have Jewel on her eighteenth birthday.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Ash vaults himself at me, his fists raised and ready to inflict maximum damage. Deflecting his blows, I shove him onto the couch. “Let me finish!” Ash’s arm shoots out but fails to make contact. I quickly duck to the right and grab his arm, twisting it behind his back. “Calm down!”
Continuing to struggle, he hisses, “How could you?”
“Look – you don’t understand! King Gus knew I had the stone, and he could’ve easily killed me for it.” His struggles lessen, realizing that Jewel could have died long ago without it. “Instead, he told me I had until her eighteenth birthday to find a cure for her sickness, or else he would get the stone and Jewel would be my interest payment.”
The boy struggles again, but we are almost evenly matched. I know he could break through if he wanted to, but I also know he doesn’t want to hurt me. He wants to hurt King Gus. The instant I release him, he whips towards me with his fist raised.
“Stop!” I demand before he can attack again. “I’ve managed to prolong him getting the stone and Jewel for as long as I could.”
The hope in Ash’s eyes shatters me when he asks, “Did you find a cure?”
I have tried since her birth seventeen years ago. It seems I’ve failed Jewel in many ways.
“No. I have failed at every attempt.” Regret fills my heart. “Have I ever told you the story of how I met Jewel”s mother, Katherine?”
Ash shakes his head, so I continue. I told him how Jewel”s mother lived in Georgia, which was where I met her all those years ago. Though beautiful, she was severely sick and in labor. I stayed with her until Jewel finally arrived in the world, but by that time, I was smitten with them both. I explained how I checked in with Jewel and her mother every few weeks and grew concerned when Jewel’s mother said her birth weight and development wasn’t what it should be at seven months old. That was when I knew Jewel was a half-breed; part human and something else. Jewel’s mom got better within a couple days of delivery, but her daughter remained sickly. Because Jewel”s mom wasn’t aware of the existence of different realms, the only thing she knew was that she met a man, fell in love in a whirlwind courtship, and Jewel was conceived.
“So you see, she isn’t part troll, she’s something else entirely.”
Ash just stares as if he’s in shock. Silently, I wait for him to put the pieces together. I knew I had to stay and help Jewel’s mother once I saw the love she shared for her daughter.
“So she’s not part troll?” Ash stands and starts to pace the small cabin.
I look up at him and follow his movements. “No. Although I don’t know what realm her father was from, I think I’m getting closer to finding the answers.”
I pray my son’s visions will come true and King Gus will not get her.
“Jewel isn’t part troll,” Ash says again, as if testing the validity of the statement.
I stand and grab his shoulders. “That part shouldn’t matter. Do you still love her, Ash?”
He looks up and stares into my eyes. “You know I do,” he confirms.
“Then I need you to return to your kingdom and insist that Prince Timber take you with him. You’ll know why the minute you find Jewel.” He starts to say something, but I interrupt him. “I can’t give you any more information, Ash. There are other lives at stake.”
Including my wife and our son, Matthew.
“Go with him where?” Ash asks dumbly.
I hesitate, wondering if telling him the destination will change the course of the visions. “King Destine took Jewel at the Festival of Woods.”
He gasps and steps toward me. “How? I was just there!”
“Ash, I honestly wish I could tell you everything, but I can’t. You must trust me the same way I trust you to keep her safe.” I place my hand on his shoulder. “I think of you as family.”
Ash shakes his head, grumbling, “I don’t like this, John.”
“Neither do I. Now, do you promise to do as I’ve asked?” I need his cooperation in order for the visions to work. If not, the guided calculations Matthew and I have been working on to save Jewel from King Gus will have gone to waste.
“I will guard her with my life, always,” Ash proclaims solemnly.
“Good. You must go before it’s too late.” I walk him to the door where he hesitates, turning to look back at me with eyes filled with sadness. “Everything will be fine, Ash. This isn’t goodbye.”
Not this time, anyway. But if King Gus learns of my plans, this will be my final goodbye.