Chapter 17

[ ] indicates inner dialogue.

Nyline's mind was pulled from her body and pushed in front of a floating river of sand. It only took her placing her hand into the current and sifting through it before she found the grain that she was looking for. Holding it to her eye, she was pulled inside of the memory.

Then, she was standing in a vast snow-covered forest. Allowing the memory to play with her inside the skin of the owner. Turning she watched the darkling that was running towards her as he slowly shifted back into his human form. It was Dashiner?

The knowledge of who this person was filled Nyline's mind. He was Dashiner Novak, mated to the female Adrenell Lockmore. The two of them together were all one needed to make a day better. Dashiner was always up for a prank, but when it came down to it, he had just a big of a heart as Adrenell. They made bets on just about everything and made a point to laugh at each other any time they were able.

"I didn't expect you to return so soon," The words spoke from her mouth. The owner of the memory had just sent Dashiner and Sigma out this morning when there had been a flux of aether. He'd expected him to be gone for at least a day or two.

"I found nothing," Dashiner's voice was monotone as his eyes unfocused looking directly at her.

"Are you okay?" She asked, worry taking over as her primary emotion as she stepped towards him. Dashiner was never monotone or spacy.

"I found nothing." He spoke again his face going slack.

"Come here." Her voice was strict as Dashiner walked over and she looked directly into his eyes. He knew there was something wrong, there was no other explanation. Depending on what happened to him would tell her what Dashiner had actually found on the other side of the fairy gate. She sifted, and sifted, and then she saw it. Sitting in the far back of his mind, there was a little something tucked away behind some mundane memories.

She reached for it and surprise filled her, both her own and the owner of the memory. In the memory, she was walking directly up to Dashiner in his darkling form. Her face was set and even when Dashiner lashed out at her, his fear spiking for being attacked by scouts in the human world. She didn't flinch, just continued to look at him her expression that of calm and collected.

Then the memory was overlapped with another memory. One that didn't make much since and she could tell that it was hastily copied from another memory and random scenes of trees and landscapes filled her mind. Then, to her surprise, she saw herself yet again only this time it was only a mind. One that she recognized, the familiar feeling of her own mind only in a different place. The owner of the memory grinned making Nyline's face pull up as well.

He'd found her… As much as the owner had hoped when they sent him towards the aether flux, part of them just didn't think that he would. It shocked the owner down to his core.

"Gabriel! Dashiner!" She didn't pull her mind from Dashiner's mind as she put pressure on the tether that had been created on accident when the girl had overlapped the memories. She hoped deep down that she hadn't hurt her.

"Gabriel, oh my stars!" She pulled her mind from Dashiner right as Adrenell came running into the clearing. "Dash, are you okay? Dash!" She had him by the shoulder and was screaming in his face. "You went black. I thought you'd died!" Tears ran down her face as she shook him slightly, as if she were trying to wake him up from a sleep.

"Adrenell, take Dashiner back to his room and have him rest for a little." She looked over at her with shock and confusion on her face.

"What happened?" A smile of pure joy covered her voice.

"He found what I was looking for. However, it seems there was a little interference. His memories have been altered, but he will be fine."

"I have altered memories?" Dashiner asked sounding concerned. "I--I was where you sent me." She held up a hand.

"You were, and you did your job. Adrenell have Delta call Sigma back. We will discuss what we want to do when she arrives." Her eyes went to Dashiner who looked as though someone had kicked his puppy.

"Dashiner, listen. An altered memory is better than loosing your life. Someone did a great deed for you today and it has allowed you to return to us. Do not fret over the lost of a single memory." His face slackened as he frowned.

"Thank you, Gabriel," Adrenell spoke shortly before she grabbed Dashiner around the waist and vanished.

Once they were gone, she turned back to the forest and looked up at the sky. Her mind went back to the girl that had saved Dashiner, who had looked at her through that memory. Her mind had been exquisite, her aether, everything… Now the only question was what were his next steps?

Should he follow the aether trail and find who was on the other end or stay in Vaccoon. She sat on a nearby rock and let a breath out. Would the girl even want her? What type of life did she live on the other side of the fairy gate? Would she even want to come back to Thaul and Vaccoon?

Maybe… just maybe, she could meet the girl and if she was rejected, then she would simply return home. Happy that they had at least managed to meet. Or maybe she would be lucky, and she would want to come back to Vaccoon with her…

Nyline pulled her mind from the memory as the inner dialog continued. Holding the grain of sand to her eye she focused on it before she lifted her other hand and took the copy away. Placing the original back into the river, and the other into her mouth. Then her hand went back into the river as it looked for the grain she wanted.

["There is a single scout approaching the compound. Middle aged, male, black hair."] The inner voice spoke directly into her mind causing her to jolt, ripping her mind from the sleep that she had been in. There was a second where she shot straight up to find Gabriel looking at her slightly shocked before she used her movement and landed several feet away.

["Awaiting orders…"]

"Are you alright? Did you have a nightmare?" Gabriel's voice was full of concern as he stood slowly and looked at her. Nyline's eyes were drawn to the scout that was behind Gabriel. She had a pixy cut and bright yellow eyes that were looking at her wide, shocked with her movement.

"Were you touching me while I was sleeping?" Nyline asked as she rubbed one side of her face, her anger bubbling just under the surface. Gabriel looked confused.

"Well, yes, you had your head in my lap. I didn't touch your skin though." Nyline cursed softly as she turned away from him looking at the wall. The memory that she had just seen. It had been Gabriel's, and that Darkling was Dashiner- the cocky scout that she had heard earlier.

["Target is in the castle, heading towards the throne room.]" Awake now, she knew that it was Dashiner's voice reporting.

"Are you feeling better?" Gabriel spoke softly and she looked at him and focused.

["Target is currently positioned in the throne room."] Her head shot up as she realized what exactly was going on.

"John?" She whispered before she took off out the door. John was back. She was going to be able to go back home. Back to her old life. As she ran through the castle, she felt a map of the place filter in and she turned and sprinted up a set of steps that were set into the wall.

["The princess has left the drawing room. Location unknown."] The voice that spoke, it was the main one that was always giving the commands. Delta Ward. Main commander in Gabriel's scout team.

["I'm following her,"] Adrenell spoke and without looking Nyline knew she was behind her.

["Engaging target in twenty seconds."]

"No, no, no, no." Nyline spoke quickly. "Adrenell, tell Gabriel to call Dashiner off."

["You heard her."]

["Does the scout belong to her?"]

["Engaging in ten seconds."]

"Gabriel you stupid is showing." Nyline sprinted down the hallway and slid through the small opening.

Her uncle was standing in the middle of the throne room and to an untrained eye, he looked relaxed, but she knew better. The countless times that she had trained with her uncle, she could tell that he was about to move by how his foot had pivoted every so slightly.

Dashiner was moving silently towards John, and right when he got within striking distance. Nyline used her movement and slammed into Dashiner right as John moved. His knife sliced through the air right where Dashiner's neck would have been and caught her arm instead.

"Nyline," He growled, flicking his blade back into its sheath, eyes were hard. "You know better."

"Stand down." Her voice was hard as she stood in front of Dashiner who was baring his teeth.

"Nyline." John's voice was even harder this time. "You know better than to jump in front of my blade. Your arm. Now." Nyline let out a breath as she rotated so that he had view of the small cut. "You're lucky it isn't deeper; I could have cut your bone. I just sharpened my blade." Nyline cracked a small smile as she twisted her fingers together.

["Report."]

["The scout belongs to her."]

["We're coming up."]

"I couldn't let you kill him," Her voice was soft, and he moved his face so that their eyes were connected.

"That's a darkling that you just protected, are you aware?"

"Yes, I am." Her voice was hard, as her face tightened at his reaction.

"So, you know?" He raised his brow and she paused, not sure how to respond in this situation.

"Yes."

"Nyline? Is that your scout." She turned and looked at Gabriel.

"No, I have no scouts. This is my uncle however, Jonathan Neverwell and closest thing I have to a father."

["A scout that's outlived his master?"] Her eyes went to Dashiner before Adrenell responded.

["How shameful."] Her heart clenched and she felt the words leave her mouth in a shout.

"Shut up!" She looked directly at Adrenell then Dashiner, "You know nothing. Don't you think for a second that you can speak about him that way."

"Out." Gabriel spoke in a sharp tone. Dashiner and Adrenell looked at Gabriel as he slapped Delta's hand away from his neck. "All of you, go back to the drawing room for a little while we talk."

"Nyline," John started but she just shook her head.

"It's so stupid about how scouts aren't supposed to outlive their masters."

"I apologize for my scouts being rude. They were trained very strictly by my parent's scouts and that is one thing that I cannot seem to get them to understand."

"Who is this?" John spoke from her shoulder.

"Another prince," She whispered, right as Gabriel stepped forward, holding up one gloved hand.

"Gabriel Danshmef, Prince of Vaccoon." John took it and shook twice.

"Its nice to meet you. Have you been around Nyline for long?" Nyline turned so they were looking at her profile.

"No." Nyline interjected before he could speak.

["Two scouts have appeared at the edge of the barrier and are moving inward."] Nyline paused as she rushed over to the window.

["What are our orders?"] There was a long pause.

["Unknown targets do not engage. Keep out of sight and observe."] Nyline rounded on John who crossed his arms and stared her down.

"Please tell me, that after everything that has happened, you didn't bring him and his scouts here."

"They weren't supposed to move." John shrugged.

["Targets have arrived in the courtyard under the throne room."] Her eyes went to Gabriel as his scouts caught sight of Damien's.

"Why didn't you just ditch him on the other side of the gate? Mated pair or no. I have nothing to give him." Her eyes connected with Gabriel's for just a second and she felt emotion there but chose not to look at it.

"You can't keep running from this. It was going to happen eventually."

"Did you know that I was going to get sent here on my birthday?"

"No, that is one thing I wasn't told." John sounded annoyed.

"I do not accept any mate. Especially one who is looking for a prim and proper princess." Gabriel snorted and she looked at him, he only gave her a lopsided smile as he watched the conversation.

"What?" His smile spread across his face, as his eyes glinted.

"Nothing."

["No sign of targets,"] Nyline paused as Rebecca's voice entered her head.

"John, please tell them to go away. I have already rejected him."

"They aren't going to listen to me, you could give him a chance." His eyes hardened.

"My scouts could remove them if that would make you happy?" She looked at him with a blank expression.

"I'll go talk to him." She turned and started from the room.

["Targets are moving further into the compound."] Nyline looked up and saw Adrenell blending in with the roof as she watched them. Her purple eyes turned onto Nyline before they looked away quickly.

"Enjoyed the last sixteen years?" Nyline heard Gabriel ask John faintly.

"For the most part," John confessed. Nyline stopped and unhooked the nearest window and slammed it open as they exited the throne room. "Nyline, would you stop jumping out of windows?" She only glared before she used her movement and landed in the snow-covered garden.

["Princess Nyline is near the targets,"] Adrenell's voice came into her mind, ]"Be ready to defend.]

["Unknown target on the move!"] Rebecca's voice rung out.

["Do not engage,"] Ryan's voice spoke from the other side of the wall.

"Rebecca!" Nyline shouted as everything went very quiet. "I can tell your inner voice from anywhere, get out here!" There was a pause.

["Nyline has shown up."] Rebecca whispered as quietly as she could. ["She may be with targets, be advised."] Nyline sighed as she rubbed her face, trying and failing to calm herself.

["Princess Nyline is trying to engage targets,"] Dashiner's voice wafted in, ["Be advised."]

"Damien!" Nyline shouted as she walked through the courtyard, "Get your butt out here!"

["All yours mate,]" Ryan spoke softly from somewhere to her right.

"Damien, recall your scouts and get out here." Nyline shouted at him. "Gabriel, you as well."

["Awaiting orders."] Echoed from all different directions as all the scouts passed that decision to their princes.

Nyline crossed her arms as Gabriel and John landed behind her. The main scout that was always with Gabriel jumped down and touched his neck. Gabriel whistled three times, his scouts moved from their position and landed softly in their human forms next to him.

["It seems that there are more scouts here,"] Rebecca spoke softly; ["I advise we listen to Nyline."] There was a long pause where no one spoke.

["We're coming."] Angelica's voice spoke softly. Jake and Nathan appeared first followed by Angelica with Damien next to her. Rebeca and Ryan materialized from the shadows and stood next to them.

Nyline opened her mouth to scold him once more but all of the inner voices started to press into her mind, and she took a step back holding the bridge of her nose.

"Here, you left this at home," John spoke into her ear as he placed her mp3 player into her hand.

["What is she doing?"] She heard Adrenell's voice ask.

["No idea…"] Dashiner responded.

Smirking she shoved the earbuds into her ears and turned the volume up. The music filled her mind, distracting her from the inner voices. She shoved it into her pocket and crossed her arms, her eyes on Damien. He looked embarrassed as he stopped and tried to smile. Nyline on the other hand only spoke to him in a low annoyed tone.

"I thought I told you that I had nothing for you?" Damien looked slightly crestfallen as he opened his mouth. Fresh snow started to fall around them as a cold wind blew through the courtyard.

"Could we at least talk? I would like to clear the air about somethings. I am aware that I was in the wrong in many ways and would like the chance to apologize." Nyline looked at him before she looked at John.

"Clear things up? Are you talking about how you came to the human world and turned my life upside down?" He nodded and she felt her stomach clench. "Please just return to your kingdom."

"I've spent my life searching for you," Damien pleaded, "Why can't we have one conversation? Why can't you at least give me a chance?" Nyline looked at him.

"You have a mated pair that is within seconds of yourself. Being mated means being with the other part of your soul, isn't that what the dream is? I'm not the other half of your soul. Why don't you understand that?"

"I don't think she wants you here," Gabriel spoke softly, "Maybe it would be wise just to leave?" Damien glared at him.

"So why do you get to stay?" Nyline looked at the two of them before she shook her head.

"Because she hasn't told me to leave yet?" Gabriel raised his brow.

"Do you two even know each other?" Nyline looked from Gabriel to Damien.

"No." They spoke at the same time. Nyline sighed.

"Nyline, come back with me and we can talk about this on the air ship." Damien took a couple steps forward making Nyline cross her arm.

"If I'm going anywhere, its not going to be with you or your scouts but back to the fairy gate so I can go home." When Damien's face still didn't waver, she turned to find her uncle standing a few feet away looking bored. "Please help me here." He walked over to her quickly, speaking into her ear.

"Both of your possible mates are right here; you're going to have to choose eventually. It just so happens that eventually is a lot sooner than we thought."

"No," She turned her frightful eyes onto him. "We need to go back home. Back through the fairy gate. To your job and my school. I can't stay here." John looked her directly in the eyes.

"You can't stay with me forever Nyline, you know that."

"You can't be serious." Her voice became softer. "It'll just be you and me, back at the house. Let's just go through the fairy gate and we can act like none of this ever happened."

"We never belonged there to begin with, and no one will miss us if we're gone." Nyline's face fell, and she reached up and pulled on the cord making her earbuds fall out.

"You used a meld skill?" Her voice hitched, "My entire life was just one huge meld skill? There's no way. I didn't ever see you casting one in your memories."

"There is a lot that you haven't seen in my memories." her face crumpled as she clutched the cord tightly against her chest.

"You're loud." Nyline muttered taking a step away from him, her eyes un-focusing.

"Don't be like that." He reached out to touch her, but she used her movement and was away from him in a second.

"It's too loud right now." She spoke into the silence before she turned and looked at the castle. Then used her movement towards the nearest set of double doors, then she walked inside and closed it behind her. She only took a single glance out the window to see Gabriel and Damien were now standing next to John as they spoke. Gabriel turned his head towards her, and she turned quickly, the tears running down her cheeks as she set off into the castle.

She wanted to hate them, hate them both. Not forgive them for showing up. For ruining the short amount of time that she had with Uncle John but… she couldn't. She couldn't find it in herself to dislike them simply because of her uncle's actions. It wasn't their fault and she knew that, but it didn't take any of the pain away.