****PARADISE SAGAS:  BOOK 2:  HEAVENFIRE****

 

Chapter 1

 

            He sat down with a sigh as he looked down the cliff, to the ocean.  The red sun reflected off the water as the giant orb began to sink.  Kevin Dosh tuned out all the voices, except one.

            His best friend, David Charrm, sat down beside him.  He hadn’t even heard the black-haired boy’s motorcycle pull up.  To lost in thought, he figured.

            Kevin spared his friend a smile, as they both listened to the soft voice, echoing through the wind.  As the sun sank ½ way below the horizon, her words changed to song

 

            Cry out in the dark

            Those secrets that you keep

            Take my soul into you and

            Forever I’ll be with thee.”

 

            Her words never made sense when she sang.

            But Kevin didn’t care, as long as it was her.  He reclined, so that he rested on his elbows.  As the sun sank beneath the horizon, one final, warm rush of air came as her voice faded.  Then, the normal, cold air returned to the area.

            He looked at David, and then left his friend, to be alone.

            Like all those times before.

~*~*~*~

            As Kevin left, David stood.  It was still painful to know she was gone.  But he knew he could always come here and listen.

            It’d been almost two months since she…left.  He shook his head.  No, he wouldn’t think like that.  He had to come to terms.  She was gone.  Alexa Burklin was dead.  He quietly blew a kiss to the wind, before he turned and left without looking back.

~*~*~*~

            He pulled the long sword out of his closet, right after he closed his door.  It made a ‘click’ing sound as he pulled it from it’s sheath, a simple brown leather one that he had found in a pawn shop.

            The familiar, yet strange, runes carved into the blade shined in his bedroom light.  They had appeared, after Lexa had died, when he had picked it up.  They were small, three lines, written over one side of the blade.  He traced the first few with his index finger.

            There was a knock on the door.  He tossed the sword under his bedspread and called out, “Come in!”

            “Kevin?”  A small voice asked as the door was pushed open, “What are you doing?”

            Kevin sighed in relief.  “Nothing.  C’mon.  You can come in.”

            A small boy, about seven years old, walked in.  He had sun-blonde hair and pale green eyes.  He walked cautiously up to the bed.

            “You had the sword out, right?”  The boy reached for the lump in the bed.

            “Careful!”  Kevin swatted away the boy’s hand, “Go close the door and I’ll let you see it.”

            “Really?”  The boy smiled.

            ‘Yes, Jo.”

            Jo raced to the door, slammed it shut and ran back to Kevin.  Kevin tenderly handled the sword so his brother could see it.

            “Who did it belong to, again?”

            “A girl named Lexa.”

            “A girl owned it?”  The boy asked in a defiant tone.

            Kevin couldn’t help but laugh, “Yes.  She never seemed to look quite right without it after she—got it.”

            “But she didn’t but it?”

            “Jo!  We’ve been through this a million times!  You know the story!”  Kevin began to put the sword away.

            “Why are there words on the blade?”

            Kevin paused and looked at the runes, “I don’t know.”

            “Maybe they’re a code.”  Jo leaned in and whispered, “Maybe only spies can read them.”

            Kevin stood and put the sword away, “Well, little spy, it’s your bedtime.”  Kevin picked the boy up and slung him over his shoulder, taking him to his room.

            When he returned, Kevin turned off the light and collapsed on his bed.

~*~*~*~

            Daenna Anlla fell lower into her bath, taking a deep breath of the jasmine-scented bath salts.  The dark bathroom was illuminated only by 5 candles.  A red one on the side of the bath, a blue one on the floor, near the door, a green one near the left wall and a gold one near the right.  A white one sat on the counter.

            *As close to a triangle as I’ll get in here.*  She smiled, sadly.  She drained the tub before she blew out her candles.  She walked to the mirror.

            She left the white one burning.  As she stared into it’s flame, Daenna couldn’t help remembering Lexa.  Her long silver hair and violet eyes.  Just as she had before, during the battle, Daenna longed to hear the other girl’s voice.

            She shook her head, as a single tear rolled down her cheek.  She didn’t want to admit to anyone, not even herself, that she was scared.

            Scared that she’d forget everything.

~*~*~*~

            Kendra closed her chemistry book as she slid off the couch in the Front room.  She had to get out of the apartment.  Even just for a little while.

            Why was this feeling of needing Lexa around so strong lately?  Maybe the shock was wearing off.  Maybe there was something only Lexa could do.  Maybe…She just wanted Lexa there…

            She went up to the bedroom.  In the walk-in closet, she reached for the side where all of Lexa’s clothes were hung.  She took down a white button-down shirt.  She had seen Lexa wear it once.  The Wednesday after their first meeting.

            Kendra realized that she was clutching the shirt.  She buried her head into the shirt and cried.

 

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1