Treasured Secrets (The Coveted Saga 1)

I was tired of being hunted down by the Dramians... Yes. I called them Dramians. It wasn't comforting to feel like a trophy someone wished to hang above a mantle.

I wanted to go to the one place that made sense. I wanted to go home.

I knew everyone would be worried, but I was taking precautions. I had grabbed some of the talismans that helped to block my scent for the times I wasn't in my car. I also grabbed the vial of stripping potion.

Iris told me once that it was a special concoction that would strip you of your scent for up to four days. I would wait until I got to the airport before I took it.

She said it couldn't be made anymore because the main ingredient was extinct. It was for emergency purposes only. I felt bad for taking it, but I had to go. As far as I was concerned, this was an emergency.

I'd left a note telling them where I'd gone, and told them I would be back before the four days were up. I knew they'd still be worried, but I had to go. I needed to feel peace again. And I couldn't get that anywhere but my rainforest.

I reached the airport with two hours to spare. I turned up the protective concoction and cringed as I drank it down - or forced it down, rather.

"Oh my damn!" I coughed out. "That's disgusting."

It was a slimy, wretched, foul tasting monstrosity, and it lingered, refusing to leave my mouth completely. The slimy film covered my tongue, my teeth, and my gums. I wanted a toothbrush.

"It sure as hell better work after going through that," I murmured to myself while grabbing my bag. I locked my car and headed inside the airport, ready to escape.

Chapter 16

Home to Haluali

Sometimes you spend your whole life looking back, and then you stop moving forward until it is too late.

"Now boarding flight 151 to Brazil."

The loudspeaker snapped me out of the catnap I had been taking. I got up and wheeled my small bag over to the stand to hand in my ticket. The lady warily examined my stolen identification and my ticket, skeptically glancing from the photo to me.

I knew Ash and I favored, but we didn't look a lot a like. I was only seventeen though. I would have needed parental consent. I'm sure Jaslene wouldn't have agreed to that. Alvin either.

She handed me back my things, still regarding me skeptically, but a whoosh of air left my lungs when she motioned for me to board.

It worked.

The flight was long, but I slept for the majority of it, so I didn't mind it much. I woke up when I felt the plane landing. I looked out the window to see the sun was just peeking out. I didn't have long to be there, but I was going to soak up every bit of warmth I could.

I was going to take in every radiant color I could see. Most importantly, I was going to breathe in the freshness of my rainforest and let it calm me.

I paid a cheesy local tour guide to drive me to my favorite spot. Then I paid him more to drive faster, feeling rushed to start enjoying the few days I had.

I planned to go to the village after I visited my hideaway.

I almost giggled nervously when we neared. "Stop," I said, deciding that was close enough.

As soon as the car stopped, I got out of the jeep and tossed my bag on the side of the trail. I pulled out my sketch book and started walking down to my favorite spot. I could hear the falling water getting closer.

I sat down on my sitting rock that had gathered more moss in my absence. I stared up at my peaceful giants, all of them looking different. I appraised them, regarding them with more appreciation than I had before.

The waterfall glistened with reflective specks from the radiance of the sunlight. It seemed excited to have me back, and I smiled a true and genuine smile, though it was brief. My pain hadn't left me the way I had hoped.

I started sketching, trying not to think. Unfortunately, I was thousands of miles away from Tallis, and still, his face was all I could draw. I studied as I shaded in each line. My drawings never gave his beauty true justice.

I shook my head. Heartbreak wasn't easy at all. A harsh breath entered my lungs as an unwelcome realization came to light. Haluali was no longer my home. It wasn't the cozy hut I had grown up in. It wasn't the forest I had marveled at for so long. It wasn't my serene hideaway I had come to for peace. It wasn't even anything at all in South America. I thought I had left Grayford to run home. I abruptly assessed I actually ran away from home. Tallis. Tallis was now my home. My broken, screwed up home.

I started shouting at the treetops as the excruciating pain in my voice echoed through the forest. "I think they're all idiots! They're all wrong! I know I love him. I know he's the only person in the world for me! Why can't that just be okay? I hate magic and all of its stupid plans and stupid rules! It's not fair! It's not fair! It's. Not. Fair. Dammit!"

Tears ran from my eyes in such a relentless flow that they rivaled the gushing waterfall behind me. I was weak and wounded. I thought being here would make things easier, but it didn't. I was still in pain - too much pain.