Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ The Final Chance ❯ Chapter Ten: Startling Discoveries ( Chapter 11 )

Disclaimer: I'm sorrrrrryyyyy! I didn't mean to take so long to update again! I've just been a bit stressed lately and really couldn't get myself to write very much so… yah. Anyways, I'm happy not, `cause I got a DWARF HAMSTER!!!!! X3! She's sooo cute! *squeal* *cough* Well, anyways, on with the chapter! XD

 

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Chapter Ten: Startling Discoveries

 

Three days later, Ryleigh stood in the middle of one of Zade's father's vast mansions hallways, looking around in frustration. Once more, for the seemingly millionth time since she had arrived there, she was lost. Sighing, the blonde brought her hand up to push her blonde locks from her face, thinking back on what had occurred since she and Zade had arrived at the mansion. Andrew had been ecstatic to have Zade and his friend staying with them for the holidays, causing both young adults to blush when he'd asked why they weren't dating.

 

Lorie had been anything but welcoming. The brown haired teen had immediately latched on to her older brother's arm, shooting Ryleigh a death glare as soon as she had noticed the blonde woman. To Ryleigh, it almost seemed like Lorie liked her older brother, which was fairly disturbing. Andrew, noticing this, had laughed quietly and pulled Ryleigh away into another room, explaining that Lorie was simply over protective of her brother, having always been the only girl he really cared about, and felt threatened by the appearance of a new woman.

 

Though this had gotten rid of Ryleigh's initial disturbed feeling, it didn't stop her from being annoyed at Lorie's animosity towards her. So maybe the blonde did have a small crush on Zade, so what? She kept it well hidden, and it wasn't like she was about to make a move on him anyways. Besides this, apart from the occasional sighting of the red head throughout the mansion, Ryleigh really hadn't seen Zade much in three days.

 

She'd found ways to amuse herself, however, and had decided on a dip in the indoor pool would be a nice way to relax when Ryleigh had no idea how to find Zade. So, changing into a bikini and pulling a big t-shirt on over it, Ryleigh had set out only to end up where she was now. Lost.

 

Sighing, Ryleigh hung her head in shame. She'd never been the best with directions.

 

`It would help if someone were to come along… yah… anytime now…' Head snapping up when footsteps stopped just a bit away from her, Ryleigh's smile faltered when she saw that the one who had found her was Lorie.

 

The brunette regarded her with the same honey brown eyes Zade had, but hers were much colder.

 

“Get lost?” Ryleigh felt herself flush.

 

“Yah…” Lorie rolled her eyes, turning and beginning to walk.

 

“Judging by what you're wearing, I'm assuming you were heading for the pool; follow me, I'll show you how to get there.” Blinking, Ryleigh simply followed after the teenager, eventually finding herself in front of the door marked `pool'.

 

“Uh, thanks Lorie-” Ryleigh stopped and blinked when she saw that the teen was already gone, shrugging and pushing the door open, stepping in and freezing, eyes wide.

 

A shirtless, trunks clad Zade was pulling himself out of the pool, drenched, hair and face dripping with water droplets. Ryleigh felt her mouth go dry, watching him silently, cheeks heating up for no reason when he licked a few droplets from his lips, not noticing the blonde until he finally looked up. Catching her stare, Zade smirked, causing Ryleigh to snap out of her trance and blush more, looking away.

 

“Like what you see?”

 

“Jackass.” Zade chuckled at her reply, crossing the distance between them swiftly and tilting her chin up with his hand, brushing his thumb across her bottom lift. The blonde turned even redder.

 

“Sorry for, well, ignoring you,” he spoke quietly, eyes never leaving her lips, “I've been looking up some stuff, and you seemed to be fine…”

 

“It's no big deal,” Ryleigh replied, stepping away from and around Zade, hands going to the bottom of her t-shirt, “I've managed, and if you were busy then you had a reason.” Lifting the shirt up and over her head and shaking her hair out, Ryleigh turned to look at Zade again and was surprised to see him staring at her; one eyebrow lifted automatically.

 

“What're you staring at?” she murmured, blushing under his heated gaze. She hadn't when people looked at her body; this was why she tended to wear shorts and t-shirts swimming…

 

“Is that a tattoo?” his question surprising her, Ryleigh blinked at him stupidly.

 

“Wha?” It was Zade's turn to raise an eyebrow, and he pointed just under her left breast. Realizing what he was talking about immediately, and mentally slapped herself for being so stupid.

 

“No, it's a birthmark,” she replied, unconsciously brushing a hand over the marking, “I was born with it; the doctors said it looks like the kanji symbol for `light',” when Zade's look turned serious, Ryleigh cocked her head at him, “what?”

 

“Come with me,” he said suddenly, grabbing her hand and dragging her towards the door, “There's something I need to show you,”

 

“Hey!” the blonde yelped, clutching her t-shirt to her chest, “I didn't get to swim!”

 

“Screw your damn swim!” Zade snapped, causing the blonde to stare at him in surprise, “This is serious!”

 

Ryleigh fell silent as the red head dragged her through the hallways, staring at the back of his head. She hadn't heard him talk so seriously since…

 

Cheeks flushing red at the memory of that particular incident, where he'd cornered her in the art room and tried to steal a (her first!) kiss, she wondered what had made him so serious this time.

 

Bursting into the large library, Zade yanked Ryleigh in then closed the doors behind them, locking them tightly. Allowing the blonde to slip her t-shirt on over her swimsuit, Zade gently tugged her over to the nearby reading table and pushed on her shoulders to make her sit, rushing to grab a book and put it down in front of her, opening it to a certain page.

 

“What…?”

 

“Look,” Zade pointed to the beginning paragraph, and Ryleigh gasped, eyes going wide.

 

“That's…” Zade nodded.

 

“It's the story of the two we keep seeing in our visions and dreams; Preia Louinia, an elven noble, and Rye Netherdrake, a half demon, half neko-jin outcast,” Ryleigh skimmed through the page briefly, staring in disbelief.

 

“No way…” she breathed, sitting back in shock.

 

“I was shocked too,” Zade admitted, kneeling beside her to flip the page and point to a picture drawn on the back; one of the elf and the halfling, “I remembered, once we heard their names in that vision, reading something similar when I was younger; this is what I found,” Ryleigh leafed through the pages until she found the end of the story, frowning.

 

“It cuts off after the war though; there's no way that was the end,” Zade shrugged.

 

“Maybe well see what happened afterwards in visions,” he suggested, Ryleigh nodding. Looking at him, she gave a soft smile.

 

“Thank you for showing me these, Zade,” the red head returned her grin, cheeks flushing slightly.

 

“No problem.”

 

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Hours later, at roughly midnight, Ryleigh tossed around on her bed, whimpering, her face covered in sweat. She was having a nightmare, a nightmare that seemed so real she would swear she was awake. A sudden flash of lightning and roar of thunder filling the room, the blonde screamed, her eyes snapping open.

 

“Ryleigh!” Panting, the blonde realized it was Zade holding onto her arms once she had calmed down a bit, staring up at worried honey brown eyes.

 

“Zade… I'm sorry… did I wake you up?” she whispered quietly, shaking from the memory of the nightmare. Zade shook his head, frowning.

 

“No, I woke up about five minutes ago. I was having a nightmare and heard you scream, then heard you scream again just now,” he paused, “did you have a nightmare too?”

 

Ryleigh nodded, choking back a sob then crying out when another roar of thunder filled the room, clenching her eyes shut and clutching to Zade's arms.

 

“You're afraid of thunder?” Zade asked, breathless, watching the girl beneath him nod and whimper.

 

“My sister… died on the night of a thunderstorm,” she whispered quickly, “I've been terrified of them since…” she yelped again when another roar echoed through the room, Zade frowning.

 

Feeling him move, Ryleigh peaked an eye open and watched him move under the covers, beside her, but not touching her, “Zade?”

 

“What, you'd think I'd leave you alone? You're shaking,” he realized, reaching over and pulling the shivering girl into his arms, wrapping his own around her waist and tucking her head under his chin.

 

“Zade! What're you…!” she whispered frantically, face turning bright red. Another roar sounded, and the girl squeaked, instinctively burying her head in his chest and clinging to him tightly.

 

“Go to sleep, Ryleigh,” he whispered back, holding her tightly, “I won't let anything hurt you,”

 

Calmed by his voice and presence, Ryleigh nodded, feeling herself quickly drifting off.

 

“Hey, Ryleigh?” she heard him whisper again.

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Can you speak Spanish?”

 

“No…”

 

“Good,” Zade paused, waiting until he knew the blonde was asleep before leaning down and whispering in her ear,

 

“Te quiero, Ryleigh.”

 

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Yay, I got another one written! And I am NOT telling what that little bit at the end means, but feel free to translate it XD Just don't tell anyone else! Next chapters Christmas eve! Well… for these guys anyways! XD

 

Amariahellcat

 

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*fangirl squeal* OMG, that was so sweet! XD

 

~Snowy