The Lost Prince Read online

  Neka waited.

  Silence.

  “W—” The crunch of tires on gravel stopped her retort.

  “Go that way! Did you call her in?” Heavy steps on concrete.

  “Uh, yeah. I was just about to pursue her. She took off that way.”

  “Were you talking to somebody?” The gruff voice filled with contempt.

  “Yeah, this stupid phone! I got a text on my cell about a girl messin’ around under the bleachers. I wanted to sneak up on her, but she dodged me when you turned onto the gravel. She headed down toward the store.”

  “Well, forget pursuit. Get back in the car. We got orders to let her go, anyway. I’ll drop you off. I just hoped to bring one of them kids in, but he ordered us to leave it.”

  “Oh. Okay. Here I thought I was doing good.” The younger officer shrugged.

  “Eh, you can’t help it; orders changed. Let’s get a good night’s sleep. All we can do now is wait.” The older man turned back toward the car.

  “Yeah, okay.”

  Car doors closed.

  Tires on gravel.

  Neka waited until she was sure they were gone. Nashota resumed bouncing his foot, “Okay, what do you think?” He whispered anxiously. Neka held an index finger to her lips. They had fooled her once today.

  Would that guy fool her again?

  Were they just trying to catch her?

  She opened her hand and the paper unwrinkled in her palm.

  Was it a trap? The tip of her moist tongue touched her dry upper lip, then her bottom lip as she debated.

  Leave?

  Stay?

  He’d called me a common street girl! The nerve…

  She searched the shadows below the bleachers for an area in deep darkness. Squeezing her left hand closed around the paper, she was just about to ball it up and toss it when a small object slipped from the folds and landed on her foot. She brushed the top of her foot with her fingertips, located the object, and blindly rolled it between thumb and finger.

  Placing the object in her pocket, she unfolded the paper and held it facing a nearby streetlight, but it was no use. She couldn’t make out the writing. She pocketed the paper just as Nashota stood and disappeared beneath the shadow of the bleachers. He was headed for the other end, going the long way around the field. Maybe that would be safest, Neka thought, following his lead. Sometimes he wasn’t as dumb as he acted.

  Neka shivered, rubbing her bare arms to create friction. “You know, any guy but you would give me that jacket you have on!” She scowled at her whistling brother huddled beside her under the shadowing bleachers opposite their previous location.

  “I don’t think he’s coming back…” The whistling paused and returned.

  “Why would he tell me he was if he wasn’t, stupid?” Neka emphasized the last word.

  “You’re not supposed to say that!” Nashota scolded.

  “I can say it if I want. Stop pestering me. Just be ready with your… whatever it is you do.” Neka turned away.

  Silent nod.

  Nashota had always protected her. For as long as she could remember, he’d been by her side, pulling her out of trouble. Through all that had happened to them, he’d been there, with his ancestral power, getting her out of dangerous situations. Neka reminisced, casting a warm glance his way as the whistling stopped; a loving smile touched her lips, and he picked up the whistle, again.

  “Ugh!” Neka rose from her spot and turned into the chest of the young officer. His arms circled her waist briefly as she bounced backwards and his hands steadied her wobble. Looking into his shadowed face, his glistening blue eyes, her back straightened, and she moved into the embrace she imagined.

  Forcefully, he gripped her shoulders and pushed her to arm's length, “John,” he introduced himself sternly.

  “Me, Neka,” she playfully replied.

  “Don’t be an idiot! Where’s your brother?”

  “Right—” Neka glanced over her shoulder, “Ugh! I hate when he does that!

  Dawning darkened her features, “Wait! How’d you know about my brother? He slipped off when we met earlier...”

  John’s features softened, “I told you. I know who you are. I know you have a twin brother. I know you’re a Gifted One.” He gripped her elbow and guided her into the darkest area beneath the bleachers.

  “A what? I’m not gifted in anything, well, unless you count beauty. I’m certainly not a genius, or have magical powers like some books say my ancestors had, but for looks? Got those! I’m just… I don’t know, me.”

  “You know the story? The one about the twelve teens? The princes and princesses? The kingdom?”

  Her eyes rose to meet his sincere gaze. “The story of Paradise? Yes. How’d you… where’d you… I don’t…”

  “I’m one of them, too. We’re like family, the Gifted Ones. The only family we have now. We need to get you and your brother to the farm, to safety, where the rest are staying.” John gripped her elbow.

  “My family is…” Neka’s voice quieted, “...Nashota.”

  “Come on, it’s quite a way to the farm, especially in the dark. We’ll have to be careful that we’re not spotted by police.” John tugged at her elbow.

  “But you’re a cop! And earlier you said somebody wanted us all together. Why should I go with you?”

  “Yeah, I am a cop, sort of. I’m working on the inside, that’s what we needed, what the faction needed. I’m not doing it by choice, though. It was the only way to save my life… and my sister’s. I let him think he turned me to his beliefs. I can’t be seen with you or any of the others. He doesn’t know I’m one of you. At least, I don’t think so.”

  “Where’s your brother? We have to get out of here.” He started around the back of the bleachers, his hand guiding her when she stopped suddenly and jerked away.

  “Why should I trust you? It doesn’t make sense to me. None of this does.”

  The cell phone in his pocket vibrated. “Damn!” He ripped it from the opening, careful to shield the lit screen. “Huh, something’s up.”

  She moved toward the light like a mammoth moth, “What is it?”

  The cold rain came quickly again, thundering straight down into the bleachers above and gushing down around them. He pocketed the cell phone before it was drenched and pulled two packages from his back pocket. “They just officially called off the statewide search. There’s only one reason he would do that.” John yelled over the rumbling above him. “Disposable rain slicker,” he said, handing her a pouch. “I have one for your brother, too. Where’d he go?”

  “Don’t worry about him. He’ll turn up. He always does.” She pulled the slicker over her head. “What search? Who texted you?”

  “My boss. The one who was with me earlier, at the barn. The man who took our families, stole our lives, led us here with his demented plan, he’s the one calling off the search for you, for us. First he orders us to let you go if we find you, now he’s completely calling off the search for the Gifted Ones. That might mean he’s found... or...”

  “Maybe he’s had a change of heart. I mean we all change our minds, right? Maybe something’s… “

  John stared through the rain at the distorted security light, “No! He would die first. Come on! We have to hurry!”

  A block away, John located an unlocked car and slid into the driver’s side. “Get in!” He motioned as he pushed the passenger door open.

  “Is this your car?” She winced at the torn interior, then at him as he bent forward feeling under the floor mat.

  “Ah, perfect. It’s nice to count on friends never changing their habits. No, I don’t have a car. It belongs to a friend. I wish your brother would turn up. I don’t want to leave him behind.” John raised up and glanced into the rearview mirror as he turned the key and revved the car.

  The silhouette of a head stared back at him through the mirror nodding toward his glance.

  “‘K, maybe I am paranoid. Good reason!” Carmen shrugged the st
rap free from one shoulder and slung it over the other. “I don’t want nobody touchin’ my stuff, okay?”

  “Sheez. Save a guy’s life and you still don’t trust him,” Simon grinned. “Carry it yourself.” He attempted to speed up.

  “Been carryin’ it myself since I took out, Jack! How’s your head? I didn’t mean to roll my head onto your bump earlier. I fell asleep.”

  “Simon, not Jack. My head’s fine. Yeah, you were moaning and whimpering the entire time you were asleep. Sounded like a little lost puppy. You okay?” he questioned, studying her silent profile. She was kind of cute for a kid. He was having fun at her expense. In all honesty, he would probably be laying back in that alley dying if not for her. Of course, he would have never been in that alley if it hadn’t been for…

  What exactly? He couldn’t remember how he got to the alley. He felt like he’d been running from something, away from something… someone… running away with a bump on his head.

  Now he needed to remember how or why. How did that cop know where Carmen was going? Did they know about the drawing in her cardboard shelter? In his pocket? What exactly was going on?

  A stupid fairytale couldn’t have brought them together, that’s for sure. He’d never believed in that crap, even though his mother kept telling him it was true. Was there more to that old story than his mother let on?

  “Yeah, I’m good. It was just a memory— the day I left. You okay?” Carmen slowed when his quickened pace brought a stumble. “Need some water or somethin’?” Simon stopped and held his hands out to counter a sudden burst of dizziness. “Yeah... I mean no. I’m fine.” He was trying to be strong, but he had gone three days without water before meeting Carmen.

  “Well, probably should drink a little water.” Carmen stopped, removed a bottle of water from her backpack and handed it to him as he sat down. She studied him while he sipped.

  “Don’t you be passin’ out on me, again! I ain’t totin’ your behind all the way to wherever.”

  He glanced at the football field to his right, catching a water drop on his chin with the back of his hand. How long had they been walking? How long had it been since they left that shack in the city with the cop? Light from the setting sun— barely visible over the horizon— turned the Western sky deep reddish purple. Maybe we better find a place to hang out until later, he thought.

  Maybe I can go a little farther.

  “Hey, there’s some woods over that way. We can hideout over there for a while so you can rest up, and we don’t have to worry about being seen.” Carmen steadied him by his elbow as he stumbled forward, nodding in agreement.

  Carmen glanced at him, concern filling her as he rested. What was his story? She wasn’t willing to tell him about her mother’s disappearance, so she wasn’t about to prod him into remembering his own story. Could she really trust this guy? What if— when he did remember— he learns he was actually sent to capture her? What if he was actually one of the kidnappers that took her mother? Maybe that’s how he got the lump on his head. But then, how did he know about the story? And if he couldn’t remember what happened to him, how could he remember the story?

  She’d dreamed of others who knew about the story, a gathering in Paradise. One of her school friends had heard the story, too, but she dismissed it as just another fairytale. Carmen remembered when her teacher read fairytales to them in class— oh, how Carmen loved hearing them— she compared each tale to her own; but how her friend would cringe, hating every magical word of the “fairy nonsense” the teacher read.

  Why did the story link her and Simon— and moreover, why did he have the same drawing? Why was the brown haired girl in her nightmare, too? Not only that girl, but the others in the dream as well. Who are they? Were they the Gifted Ones, as the brown haired girl had called them? Simon finished the water in the bottle as she contemplated the answers. He lay back in the damp leaves and grass, crossed his arms over his chest, and took deliberate, deep, calming breaths.

  “You need more water. I’m gonna go get ya’ some. Stay here.”

  “No! No, don’t leave me here, please!” He tried to push himself up from the ground, but he was too weak.

  “Stay here! I’ll be back. I promise.”

  The world spun as Simon raised his head. He laid back in the damp grass. “Fine, I’ll stay here.” He knew from anatomy class that a body would give out without proper nutrition and water. Weakness would set in and sleep would overtake the body. Simon closed his eyes, trying not to think about the hamburger and fries he’d eaten earlier as his stomach growled again. He felt his body giving in to the sweet temptation of nothingness. He’d longed to feel nothingness since his world changed forever. He opened his eyes, searching the sky above him. What changed? He thought. Where did that come from? Searching his memory for more information, he shut his eyes, relaxing into the darkness.

  Simon assumed the darkness of death was taking over, swallowing him up, luring him to nothingness, but nothingness became a dream.

  Simon stood smiling, facing a drummer, his fingers dancing over the bass guitar, head bobbing to the music. His best friends in the world were near, rehearsing the song they’d written together, the garage filled with the tune. A woman opened the garage door and announced dinner to the band.

  Her face was familiar to Simon. In the dream he smiled at her, nodded. When the song ended, she clapped. “Encore!” She grinned at the group.

  ”Be back in a minute, Mom!” Simon ran out to a car parked across the street. Pulling open the passenger door, he reached in for a bouquet of flowers, a gift for his mother on her special day. He’d saved for a month to buy her the dozen roses in the vase he now gripped in his hand. Through the driver side window he looked up as his world crumbled— the moment he lost his mom and his friends.

  Shards of shingles and splinters of wood showered down on him, on the top of his car, in the yards next to and across the street.

  “Noooooo!” He rose, his scream filling the starlit sky. Then… then… he woke up in the alley with a lump on his head.

  “Is he dead?” Through his dream state, Simon felt a poke in his side.

  “Stevie, that’s a horrible thing to say and do! Stop poking him this instant!”

  “But Ma, he looks dead. Think somebody killed him and left him here?” Poke. Poke.

  “I didn’t kill him, but I left him here! Now get away from him!” Carmen pushed Stevie aside and peered into Simon’s face.

  Slap! Slap! Slap!

  “Wake up, dang it! You can’t give up now! We’re too close!” Carmen yelled inches from Simon’s nose.

  “Can we help? We’re actually looking for some friends that might be able to help you. I’m pretty sure they can, but if not, I will be happy to help you.” The woman knelt next to Simon and gripped Carmen’s wrist as the young girl raised it to slap Simon a fourth time.

  “Thank you.” Simon smiled weakly, squinting into the face of the woman.

  “Oh!” Relieved, Carmen sat back on her heels, “Thank God! I thought you were dead!”

  “Not yet. However, if you want to torture me some more…” The woman glanced at him, then at Carmen.

  “He’s jokin’, Ma’am. I only just met him this morning.”

  “You wouldn’t by any chance know about a fairytale, a fiery dream and Paradise?” The woman asked them.

  Simon and Carmen glanced at each other then back at her.

  “Yup. I told you Momma! They are two of ‘em. We need to get a message to those others, a message from Maive. Are you goin’ to see them?”

  “Stevie! You don’t know these people! You don’t know if they are…”

  “Oh, yes! They are Momma. No other kids their age would be wonderin’ around in areas like this. Or be in such poor shape. They’d be with friends or at home or someplace else with friends or maybe at school, I guess. Teenagers don’t hang out in the woods these days! I know, because that’s where I hang out.”

  The mother smiled and gently touched h
er boy’s cool cheek.

  “So you know about the fairytale, the others? There really are others?” Carmen’s hopeful gaze turned to Stevie.

  “Oh, yes ma’am and they changed our lives forever, just like they’re gonna change yours… well, when we find ‘em, any ways. They’re here in Paradise somewhere.”

  “We’re in Paradise?” A sigh and smile of peace spread over Simon’s face. His eyes fell closed, again. “I did die,” he joked weakly.

  “Yes, you are and no you don’t. He ain’t gon’ make it to see them others if you don’t give him more water. I’ll get some,” Stevie left the wooded area, opened the car door, and reached for a bag. He returned with two more bottles of water.

  “As soon as he feels up to it, let’s get him to the car. We’ll find the others together. I have some directions, but they aren’t very clear.” The woman fluttered over Simon, checked his forehead with her palm, his heart rate with her fingers. “He’s just restin’.”

  “I’ll get ‘im up!” Carmen slid her arms beneath his shoulders.

  “I can help!” Stevie moved to Simon’s other side.

  “No…” Simon moaned in protest.

  “Drink some water and shut up!” Carmen ordered.

  “Oooh, Momma, she said somethin’ bad!” Stevie’s eyes rounded waiting for the correction his mother normally provided. His mother looked at Carmen, and both stifled their giggles behind thinly veiled smiles.

  “That’s better!” Jamie hopped off the last stair holding his arms out as darkness reached through the blinds. “No ears. No cape. No mask. Now I won’t stand out as much.”

  “Aw, no more Batman? Oh, well. At least I got to hang out with the Black Knight for a little while,” Lena joked.

  “Yeah, that was kind of comforting, seeing Batman. I felt like he might be coming to the rescue,” Cheater grinned. “Though, I’m more a Spiderman fan.”

  “I ain’t seen you climb nothin’,” Jaz teased. Cheater wrinkled her nose at him.

  “Is there anything to eat around here? I’m starving!” Jamie glanced toward the kitchen.