<seven>

 

<jordayn>

 

As I watched Nick's sleeping form, I couldn't help but wonder what cruel fate had led him into this mess. I was afraid-afraid that his life was in danger. Brian and Kevin could not possibly handle this alone. Samantha Lynn seemed to radiate with power. If anything, she might be even more powerful than I judging from the fact that I still couldn't track her down.

But what was it that Samantha Lynn wanted with Nick? What could she possibly gain from following him around and trying to force him into a relationship with her? As these questions roamed my mind, I too began to feel the exhaustion and drifted off to a blissful sleep beside Nick.

But it had to be only an hour later when I was awoken by a strange vibe. I suddenly felt my whole body freeze up as a familiar force coursed its way through my blood. I bounced off the bed and scanned the room. As I realized that the strange force was coming from someone I knew, I began to relax and feel its source. It seemed to radiate from my room, I thought as I looked around to see that I was still in Nick's room.

After sneaking one last glance at Nick, I teleported myself back to my room and was surprised to see the hologram of Noel patiently waiting for me. Her eyes were twisted with fear and her expression seemed disturbing. "What's up, sis?" I asked her pleasantly, but at the same time, fearing her words.

"Jordayn, listen to me. Get out of that place now! Stay away from Nick. He's not who you think he is. Don't try any of that magic of yours on him anymore. It's dangerous!" Noel's words shot me like a cannon ball.

My first instinct was to argue. "Why? What's wrong? Why can't I be near Nick?" I grimaced at the thought.

"Look, I can't really tell you through this message, but I would never hurt you Jordayn. Nick is dangerous. There are some things about him that neither you nor Brian or Kevin know. For your own safety, stay away from him. He's not someone to mess with. Otherwise, it's not his life, but yours that are on the line."

"What are you talking about?" I shouted back at her defiantly. "I'm not going to listen to you. He needs me. He needs me to protect him from Samantha Lynn!"

"No!!!! He doesn't need you to protect him from Samantha Lynn. In fact, she has never tried any of her magic on him before and there's a good reason for that! She's afraid of the consequences. Look, Jordayn, Samantha is actually afraid of Nick. She won't hurt him. There's too much risk involved. As for you, Nick is off limits!!!! You're not to touch him anymore nor try anything on him, you understand!"

"But what about that thing that one of our people had inserted into his neck? Isn't that a warning sign?" I asked, frustrated about the whole issue.

"No, Samantha Lynn didn't place that on his neck. It's actually someone else. Look, Jordayn, I know you're upset, but Nick's not who you think he is, Jordayn. And get Brian and Kevin away from him as well! Get them back here."

"Well, who is he?" I demanded, feeling at the end of my patience.

"He's the love interest of one of our leaders 100 years ago," Noel bursted.

"What?! No way. He's very young. He can't be 100 years old!" I shrieked in my head.

Noel quickly corrected herself. "No! What I meant was that in his past life, Nick was the love interest of one of our leaders. After he died, he was reincarnated."

"So what?" I countered defiantly. "Who cares."

"Well, listen, damn it." Noel shot back.

I remained quiet.

Noel then began again. "In Nick's past life, one of our leaders tried to seduce him and she succeeded. He fell in love with her and she was ready to marry him. But our world found out. They made sure that Nick and that leader were to never consummate their love. So they sought out Nick and tried to kill him at all costs. However, the leader was powerful. She designed a plan so that she and Nick could be together. Basically, she stole the rose of immortality from the Exotic Gardens and sneaked it into Nick's food. Once he ate it, she made sure that the flower took it's effect. But the problem was, the rose of immortality only protected his soul, not his physical body. Therefore, the leader placed a marker on Nick's soul so that she could always locate him no matter what.

"You mean," I said weakly, "Nick is taken?"

"Yes, Jordayn. That leader still lives to this day. But she has been imprisoned for the past 100 years in the isle of destruction. No one has ever seen her ever since Nick's physical body died 100 years ago."

"So that means that she cannot get to Nick, right? That means I don't have to worry about anything!" I responded firmly, forcing myself to believe that everything will be all right.

"No!" Noel shrieked. I looked at her angrily as she continued. "You can't be with him. He's already possessed. And you might even end up like that leader did, in prison for all eternity. Plus . . . there's Samantha Lynn. . . "

I looked at her with surprise. "What about that devil?" I asked.

"She's the daughter of that leader. She's there to kill Nick."

I glared at Noel. "And you said that she wasn't a threat to Nick!" I cried out.

"No, listen. She can't do anything to him since the rose of immortality will always keep his soul alive. And if she kills his physical body, she will have to once again find him again in his next life in order to hurt him. She would just be circling around a useless cause. She can't do anything to hurt him."

"But why does she want to kill him?" I asked.

"Because, only with his death will her mother be free. That's the rule of our world. Otherwise, her mother will forever be a reminder of the consequences of breaking the rules. Jordayn, we are not to ever have a romantic relationship with any of the Earthlings. I don't want you to get hurt. Please, listen to me. Let Nick go. He's a lost cause. Let Samantha Lynn and him fight it out on their own."

"But how could he fight when he doesn't even know that she's trying to kill him?" I said worriedly. I wasn't going to let go.

Noel's expression changed to one of sudden determination. "You know, if you don't come here willingly, I have ways to make you leave Earth. I've tried to talk some sense into you, but I really don't have to waste all my time doing this. I can just as easily refer you to the Committee of the Elders and have you locked up over here."

I looked pleadingly at her, realizing the extent of her conviction. "Please, Noel. I love Nick. I don't want to see him hurt. Let me try to protect him. I can't leave, not without him safe. I won't pursue romance with him, I promise. Just let me stay."

"No," she said firmly. "Brian and Kevin can protect him. You don't need to help."

"Then I won't go!" I cried out defiantly.

Noel looked downcast. "I tried to warn you." With that, her image disappeared. I looked at the empty spot where her image was a while ago. Nothing.

I was ready to head back to Nick's room when suddenly, I felt myself being thrown to the floor. Chains lay strewn on my body as I was forced into the fetal position. I could feel the magic of the Elders working wonders on my body. And soon enough, I was contained. I tried to scream for Brian and Kevin, but my screams were silenced with the Elder's magic. I cried and cried and my only thoughts were of Nick. But it was too late. I would forever look back upon this day with sadness and regret for it was that night that the worst of my fears became reality. That night was the beginning of the death of Nick's soul. And neither I nor Brian or Kevin could have fixed it.

 

<nick>

 

I thought I heard Jordayn screaming from her room. I quickly jumped out of my bed to do something about it, but unfortunately, I felt something pin me down. At first, I just thought that my body was fatigued and couldn't move, but I started to become frightened when the forced exerted on me was real, and invisible.

I struggled in my bed, trying to squirm my way out, but whatever held my limbs in their positions didn't give way. I started to scream for Brian and Kevin, but my voice came out as a hoarse whisper. Someone was grabbing at my throat. It was as if 10,000 pounds of pressure were shoved against me. I felt like exploding, but I didn't.

And soon, Jordayn's screams disappeared. The force that held me in my bed slowly disintegrated. I tried to get off my bed, but only managed to crawl off due to the exhaustion. My eyes were heavy. Sweat was dripping down my forehead. Images of this beautiful, mysterious lady began to appear in my mind. She was motioning me to follow her. Funny, I thought I had met her before. Her face seemed familiar, as if I had known her before, in a past life. I was drawn into her eyes, which were so beautiful.

I followed her image as she seemed to float over this stream of cool, blue water. Across from the stream were trees and rocks. I smiled at her as she sat down on one of the bigger rocks. I quickly made my way to her and she laughed. I sat down next to her and simply stared into her eyes. She quickly placed a hand on my chest and my body immediately responded. I moved my face forward and we kissed. Her lips were soft.

I didn't know how long the kiss lasted. Next thing I knew, I drifted off into a deep sleep. Thoughts of Jordayn's screams were forgotten as I thought of the kiss. And when I woke up, I found myself in my living room with a blanket around me. I turned to face the clock. It was 6:00 a.m. That was some exotic dream!

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