When War Calls(172)

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As the world disappeared before Kobin, Jaden slipped out of the crystal’s realm and returned to the darkness of his chamber. He remained still in the silence for the coming minutes, thinking over all that he had just witnessed. The memories that he had forgotten were now firmly in his mind once more, and he understood some of what had led to the destruction of the world and him being sealed away here in the darkness.

‘That is a past I would prefer to forget,’ he said aloud.

Michael did not laugh, his strangely content mood no longer apparent after so long spent showing Jaden his history.

‘It is important that you remember,’ he said.

‘There is so much I still don’t understand.’

‘That is because there is much more to your story.’

‘Then why have you stopped showing me? Why did we leave the crystal?’ asked Jaden.

Michael paused, causing Jaden to become impatient and try to stand up. He fell almost immediately and Michael spoke, ‘because you have journeyed far enough for now, you need rest.’

Jaden held his head, as if trying to keep it from exploding.

‘So the Daijuar are not the protectors first thought,’ he said slowly, ‘they have their own agendas.’

‘As all do,’ Michael agreed.

‘And Alyssa, I was right about her, she is something more.’

‘She is like you.’

‘What about Raquel?’ asked Jaden. ‘You said you had the crystal given to me, but it was given to me by her. Who is she?’

‘She is my sister.’

Jaden waited a moment, wondering if he wanted to know the answer to his next question. ‘Is she still alive?’

‘Yes,’ said Michael.

‘Then there is hope,’ Jaden concluded.

‘There is.’

Jaden felt something close to excitement build in his chest. It made him want to get up, break free of this chamber and find Raquel, but as before, as he tried to stand, he fell back down again, clutching his head.

‘Why are we here? Why can’t we go to her now?’ he asked.

‘In time,’ said Michael. ‘You will rest now. I will show you more when you wake.’

Jaden was readying to stand up yet another time, to defy Michael and do as he wished, but almost as if by command, his eyes became heavy and he slumped down onto the cold, hard floor. The chamber became as dark as it was silent as the crystal lost all its glow, and the last thought that went through his mind was of the one he loved, and whether or not he would ever see her again.

Michael left him, knowing that Jaden would not dream or wake for the coming months.