The Isle (Chronicles of the Irish Princess Book 1)

When I opened my eyes I knew I wasn’t really awake. It was like a dream everything was to detailed to be real. The plants were brighter than normal and very colorful. Standing a few yards away from me was a woman with long blonde hair and big green eyes. Taking a risk I walked up to her.

“Hello my child,” the woman spoke.

“Hello…. Who are you? Why am I here?”

“All in good time, your answers will come.” She took my arm and we began to walk. “This is what the world looked like when I roamed it. Since the colors have become less radiant, which for your sensitive human vision is good. But that is not why I brought you here. My sister is on the rise, but she is hiding in the shadows, don’t trust anyone you don’t know. You are going to stop her and save our people.”

“How will I know who I can trust? My father is sick, his people are corrupted because of his illness. What do I do great mother?”

“My child, I will guide you. As I have all these years. Your father is dying, his fall will mark the rise of my sister. You and your brother must be ready to take the thrones.”

“Thrones? What about King Oran? He’s healthy, isn’t he?”

“Yes, but after your father dies he will step down so that your people may be saved. He knows he cannot rule forever, he knows that it will soon be time. He is ready to retire. Though it is not normal to retire, his retirement will be a step against Aideen. One that you will need in order to win.”

“How long?”

“Prepare yourself, but you do have time.”

“How long great mother?”

“Maybe a few months. I cannot be sure; his condition is progressing but it is slow as his magic is fighting back.” She stopped us and faced me. “My child, you are brave and smart and strong. You will win this. Trust your heart. It knows.”

I sat up and threw my arms around my father crying. He held on to me tightly waiting for me to calm down. I held on knowing that he only had a handful of months left with us. We only had so much time to prepare. Aideen was coming and she would she come looking like my mother; hiding behind her as a protective shell. That much I knew. I didn’t need the great mother to tell me who Aideen had taken over, that was apparent before we left the states. But now, we had to hold on to each other and to prepare for the worst war the world had ever seen.

“What did the great mother show you?”

“War, death, The rise of evil.”

“Aideen, How?”

“Mother. There’s a lot we need to discuss. But not right now. We can’t let the people know, not just yet. Let them live in peace a while longer.”

“How long?”

“Maybe a few months. Father we need to have a private conversation about your health. Can we go somewhere?”

He looked around. “My dear we are in your room. It’s not going to get any more private.”

“Get my brother, Malakai, Oran and Emilia.”

“Leah…. Look around, we’re all here.”

I looked to Kai, who spoke. I took his hand and pulled him closer. Luca and Sarah were off to the side and Emilia, Oran and uncle Don were at the side of the bed.

“Leah, what is it.”

“Father, you’re dying.”

“I know.”

“You know you have cancer?” I stared at him. “How long have you known?”

“Since you broke down. I knew there was something wrong. I wasn’t sure what, but your dreams have been prophetic since you were a child.”

“They have?”

He nodded. “I kept it from you because of your mother. I never told her about who I really was. I couldn’t trust her. Although I loved her once after you were born, things changed within her.”

“Father…. your.. death. It marks… it marks her beginning.”

“You will be a great Queen. Your brother a great king, this much the Great Mother has shown me. I only wish I would be around to see it in person.” He sighed, “We need to do everything in our power to keep me alive longer. Prolong this threat for as long as possible. After Friday I will step down from my post informally, allowing Luca to step up and “train” under the eyes of Oran. In four months, you and Kai will marry… stronger together than apart. That’s what I’ve always taught you. Kai has learned much from Oran and I doubt my death will include his own. Allowing him to advise you all.”

I looked at my father and he saw my fear.

“I know that this isn’t the outcome you always hoped for. That you would have longer to explore things before tying it all up. But we don’t have that luxury. For that I am sorry.”

“I know Papa.” I stood next to him in the doorway of my room. “Go and rest. You will need your strength. We have a hard journey ahead of us.”

He smiled at me, the same old smile I used to know. I smiled back knowing that he was fighting with all he had and hoping that human medicine would make him stronger.

After everyone had gone Kai lay in bed with me tucked into his side. He was staring at the ceiling thinking about everything that had happened.

“We are getting married,” I blurted. “And you haven’t even asked me to be your wife.” Silence. “Kai, are you listening?”

He nodded. “I know Luna. I know it isn’t perfect. I know your probably upset. But regardless I love you like I have since the day we met. You were made for me and I for you. We belong to each other. Do I really need to propose?”

I sat up astonished. “Malakai Lee Jeffers you most certainly have to ask me.”

“Hmmmm…..”

“Seriously?”

“Let’s take a walk in the gardens after lunch tomorrow.”

“A walk?”

“Yes, the fresh air will do us good.”

I rolled my eyes. “Alright then a walk.”

He slowly played with my hair making me sleepy. “You need to rest. Nothing can be done tonight. The medication will be here in the morning. He will become stronger. Just you wait. Alright. Now close your eyes and rest.”

“Sing to me.”

He began to sing in a foreign tongue. I knew it to be Gaelic and that it was of peace and protection. But I didn’t understand the words. His sweet voice pulled me to a deep sleep shortly after.

I awoke sometime in the night to the sounds of a storm. Getting out of bed I walked over to the window to take a closer look at it. Waves crashed against the shoreline and cliffs with brutal blows. The wind howled and whipped around the trees, bending them to the point they could break. Lightning cracked and streaked across the sky trying to reach the ground and the thunder rolled in protest.

"Leah..." I heard Kai's voice, he wasn't awake. "No, don't go with her. WAIT. STOP."

He shot up in bed breathing heavy. His eyes bugged out like he had seen something bad. I ran to his side of the bed and sat down.

“Kai, I’m here, it was only a dream. You’re okay.”

“I…it was so real Leah. I thought I lost you to her.”

“To who?”

He swallowed the lump in his throat and looked at me with sad eyes, “Aideen…. She was disguised as your mother and was saying a whole bunch of believable lies.”

“Well it was just a dream. But I’d like to talk to father about this in the morning. Maybe it has something to do with our bond.”

Kai nodded and lay back down pulling me with him and tucking me into his side. “Please don’t let go.”

“Never, you’re stuck with me Malakai Lee. For life.”

He hummed the sounds of sleep beginning to take him again. Not me, I was wide awake now. Wondering if my abilities of prophetic dreaming had transferred to him through our bond. I wondered about what she had said that was so convincing. If I had begun to walk to her. Or if she saw that it wasn’t working and had killed me instead. Slowly I was beginning to see that this force was going to test us, long before she were to join the people. Before she stood on the isle. Before we would meet face to face.

Knowing I was no good to my people exhausted, I sent a silent prayer up to the Great Mother asking for peace as we slept the rest of the night. After that I joined Kai I’m sleep awaiting the morning light.