Shine

By Acacia Green

Dear Reader,

I’m on my own now. Trying to deal with the news that has sent my world into a tailspin, is consuming my existence.
The only highlight, was that Harland finally kissed me. Right after I was shot by my father. I doubt it was some foolish romantic last kiss, more like he was trying to save my life.

However, the excitement over Harland's first kiss, is overshadowed by the fact that now we have joined, Ambrosia will follow through on her threat to tear the Earth apart.
Right now, as I scrawl this on a scrap of paper, I just want you to know that I'm trying my hardest to solve this issue. Which involves doing some crazy stuff, that I would never have thought of before.
Anyway whenever you look at a picture of David Caspar, wish him all the best. If you should ever meet him, tell him that Nyssa loves him, regardless of where she is in the universe.

Storm Nyssa Navitas
PS: I truly hate my first name. But I guess that’s what I get for having new-age parents.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Acacia Green
• Release date: Nov 11, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311004062

Acacia Green

A single mum of one, Acacia Green has a passion for writing, spirituality and personal development.Lead by love, kindness and compassion, she is the change she wanted to see in this world. With a focus on developing light, love and power she has changed her inner landscape to one of peace, calm and serenity.Take care, remember to love your fellow humans.Love, light and power!

Book preview

Glossary

Binuit-Namri: A race of energy beings, who are attracted to the energy and vibrancy of life on Earth. Their actions are governed by a strict set of rules that must be followed.

Deva: Energy guardians of every plant.

Eluc: Binuit-Namri slang for King.

Empathist: A human who feels the emotions, pains and energy of humans. Often overwhelmed by these emotions and feelings, they live in social isolation.

Energy: The non physical energy that animates all living things.

Guardian Angels: An angel assigned to guide and protect a particular human. They do not mix with Binuit-Namri.

Humans: Either emit or consume energy. Both are fatal to Binuit-Namri in extreme circumstances.

Joining: The Binuit-Namri ceremony where energy is exchanged with a kiss. The union lasts for all eternity and is virtually impossible to reverse. The unions are pre-arranged by a Matchmaker and are based on complementary energy signatures.

The Realm: A transitional area between The Realm Proper and Earth where Binuit-Namri generate a human form and learn human behaviour before they travel to Earth. It is a simulation of life on Earth.

The Realm Proper: A pure energy dimension, where Binuit-Namri exist only as energy.

*~*~*~*~*

Prologue

Nyssa

Dear Mattie,

Writing to you feels like the only way I can put everything straight in my mind. My life is insane.

This is insane. A handful of weeks ago, I was struggling with a crazy schedule, trying to keep my high school grades up, so I could graduate, while I worked enough hours to leave my alcoholic father behind.

I started tutoring Harland Woods in maths. It was innocent enough at first, then he started to get into the habit of driving across town to drop me home, and before I knew it, I was confessing to him that I wanted more than friendship.

I fell hard. Unreasonably hard and he fell for me too. But I didn’t know then what he was, an energy being from another dimension.

Anyway, my controlling father, Moris had a psychotic break, caused by Wendy from school, phoning and telling him I was pregnant. Unless they have changed the rules on how you get knocked up, that was a total impossibility.

He held me and his girlfriend, Casey, hostage. I gave up my chance to escape to get Casey out of the house and then his sister arrived and all hell broke loose. For some stupid reason I thought he wouldn’t shoot me. Well how wrong was I? You know the rest.

I’m on my own now. Trying to deal with the news that I’m a billionaire thanks to the Fae bribing a great-relative, three hundred years ago, so they could slowly alter the families’ energy, and make me into some sort of bizarre energy experiment.

Whatever they did, to me, it allowed me to travel to a place called Last Blood. Violent and barbaric, Harland’s people spend eternity fighting each other, trying to forget their heartache.

That’s where I found Harland, and convinced him to come back to Earth. Unfortunately for us, we can never openly be together, because he’s promised to another Binuit-Namri called Ambrosia. She’s going to destroy life on Earth and The Realm if she finds out we joined. Yeah, he kissed me after I was shot. I doubt it was some foolish romantic last kiss, more like he was trying to save my life.

Ambrosia got all jealous and attacked me right after I got back to school. I left, determined to get a work around so I could ‘save the world’ and be with Harland. And that’s where I’m at right now. Trying to figure out a way to stop the Earth from being destroyed.

I don’t know for sure Mattie. I can only hope that if everything goes pearshaped, you’ll get this, and know that whatever happens, you were always my first true love and I’m eternally grateful for having you in my life.

Storm Nyssa Navitas

PS: I truly hate my first name. But I guess that’s what I get for having new-age parents.

*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 1

Mattie

After a long and exhausting filming schedule, I’m glad to be home and sleeping in my own bed.

I snuggle into the blankets. I’ve found the ultimate comfortable position in bed and I’m never moving. Never.

The bed next to me moves. I freeze. There are no pets, and I most certainly didn’t bring anyone to my bed with me last night.

Do I roll over or stay still?

Davie, a tired voice whispers.

I leap out of bed. Tangled in the bed sheets, I trip, falling flat on my back. Pain shoots down my legs, as I scramble to cover myself in a pathetic bid to protect myself against the intruder.

I scoot along the floor on my behind, towards the door, wishing I’d listened to the security advisor who told me to get a panic button installed next to my bed.

A head of hair appears. The intruder tries to smooth it back, but even I can tell, they are grinning like a lunatic.

Then I see their face...Nyssa? I exclaim, before my world blacks out.

When I wake, she’s sitting cross-legged next to me, wearing one of my singlets and has tied her hair back with one of my long socks.

Hey-ya, she calls softly.

What? How did you knock me out? I mumble, rubbing my head. Pain shoots through my back. Oh shit, I’ll be out of action for weeks, waiting for it to settle down.

I can move between places just by thinking about them. Oh yeah, and I’m sorry about your wardrobe. I crash land a lot, she winces. Get Fitzgerald to pay for a new one.

I don’t care about the wardrobe. Where have you been? What have you been doing? Do you know I went and had a fist fight with that Woods guy over you?

Her eyes almost bug out of her face. Are you alright? He didn’t hurt you did he?

I shake my head. Why does she assume that he could hurt me? I can take care of myself. Don’t change the topic.

She closes her eyes. Can’t sweetie. Not yet. I don’t fully understand all this stuff. It didn’t come with an instruction manual and so much of it is up in the air, she mutters.

I put my hand out to touch her and she scurries away. "I really want you to, but not yet. I’m scared Mattie. I’ve changed and there are things happening that are so epically scary they should only be in horror movies.

I wanted to come and see you, to be somewhere safe for a little bit, but I didn’t consider that being with you would hurt you. I only want a few minutes with you. Please?

Well, I suppose so. But you have to tell me everything when you can. Promise?

Promise.

Can you at least tell me why you got into my bed? And what’s with the new nickname? Davie, is just plain terrible.

She looks bashful. Coz I wanted to be close to you, and sleeping next to you is the only time I get a good night’s sleep, she mumbles, twisting a loose lock of hair around her finger.

I slept with him. With Harland. It was all kinds of wonderful but it was different at the same time. And now, I think, it was made to be different...not natural... not the way it was fated to be, but I have no proof. And none of that makes any sense does it?

I fix my smile on my face. Bring me the awards now folks. If I can get through this without letting her know how much that hurt, I’ll be able to do anything.

What if he and I were never meant to be together? How do you know if you are meant to be with someone? How do you know if they are the right person or it’s just lust talking?

Nys, maybe-

It’s okay, she says dismissively, I was just going off on tangents, you know me and my randomness.

She leans over me and looks me straight in the face. I don’t ever want to hurt you Mattie, so I better go, she whispers. She starts to glow. Brighter and brighter until I can barely stand looking at her any more, then she’s gone.

Trouble is Nys, you have already broken my heart and you break it every time I see you. I whisper to the empty room.

I lay on the floor for a long time before I get up and survey the damage Nyssa has done to my wardrobe. She’s right. What a mess.

*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 2

Nyssa

The Council have barricaded themselves in the Council Hall with Ambrosia. They are trying to rally her numbers, to counter your coup, Antonio states, as I pace the room.

Major stuff up! It wasn’t supposed to be like this. It was all supposed to work out differently. How differently? I don’t know, maybe Ambrosia was supposed to roll over and just say Oh it looks too hard, I give up. Yeah, that would have been way too easy.

I should be back with Harland by now, trying to sneak in snogging sessions, whining about homework, and having wild parties at my apartment. Not dealing with Ambrosia and her feral megalomaniac ideas.

The Healers are taking too long to process the energy. My instincts are telling me something fishy is going on, but who’s going to listen to someone with an overactive imagination?

A bright light announces the arrival of a Healer. It nods at me, before going to Antonio.

When I used Antonio as a conduit – his idea not mine- his energy was severely damaged, leaving him with an almost daily visit from the Healers to try to find a miracle cure. He won’t tell me exactly how bad the damage is, but from the contorted look on his face, when he’s being healed, I’m guessing it’s bad.

How are you? I ask, when the Healer finally leaves.

You know I’m not going to tell you, he states firmly. And don’t bother trying to read my energy, because I was top of my class with energy blocks.

Is this a guy thing? Why won’t you just tell me what’s wrong?

Because it’s nothing for you to worry about!

Why don’t you tell me and let me decide whether to worry about it or not, I growl.

Oh. My. God. When did we become an old married couple? Scrub that, we aren’t married, but we sure as beanies argue like one.

Suddenly there’s a brilliant flash of light. I shield my eyes. It’s too bright to be a Healer –if it’s not one of them, then who is it?

Antonio takes a defensive position, pulling out his sword, although I’m not entirely sure that a Binuit-Namri energy sword would do any good against something that powerful.

Miss Navitas, the familiar voice calls.

Turn it down. The light.

The light fades. Archangel Michael is standing in the middle of the room, giving me a warm familiar smile. I’m not into old men, but he’s seriously cute. Maybe it’s not so much him, but his persona, or the way he carries himself, or the whole angel thing. Oh shit Navitas, he’s smiling, bet he’s reading your thoughts.

It’s all good, Antonio, he’s a sort of friend.

Sort of friend? That’s almost entertaining. Unfortunately, I’m here to talk business. Come with me for a moment.

No, Antonio snaps, rushing to put himself in front.

I won’t hurt her. She needs to know the truth, he replies, holding my eyes. Suddenly, I know I have to go. Somewhere, some little part of me still trusts this guy.

Chill Antonio. I’ll be right back, I state, stepping around him and going to Michael.

I slip my hand into his. Brilliant white light engulfs us.

Angel light. The awesome way to travel!

*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 3

Nyssa

If I had a preferred method of travel, it would be angel power. It’s so much more graceful and gentle than glimmering, which feels like I’m being sanded with an electric sander as my eyeballs are about to burst before I'm knocked silly for a few seconds.

I’m lying on grass. It feels real. I glance around the cottage garden, filled with beautiful flowers and heavenly scents. This is what my garden back at home looked like before my mother got sick. It was loved and cherished. Like me.

Is this Heaven?

Michael laughs. No, I thought you’d like this place.

I do. Very much. Distracted by the actual scent of flowers, I roll over to smell one. So beautiful, and perfect. Wish I could be a flower. It would be so much easier. So what’s the goss?

He sits near me. I’ve discovered something disturbing Nyssa. You remember the Queen of the Fae and the tale of the five beings who decided to test the energy containment theory?

You mean the test of whether humans were strong enough to contain the energy of the Water and Land Binuit-Namri, Angels, Devas and Demon energy?

He nods.

And the fact that I am that test subject? It suddenly clicks. You’ve found the beings who did this to me? I whisper.

He nods.

I’m angry. No, I’m madder than that. The demon energy tugs at my controls, wanting out. I can’t believe they did this to me? They randomly chose someone three hundred years ago, killed off the rest of my family tree, and think they can buy me off with unlimited money? As if that would make up for only living for twenty years.

What did they think that the money would compensate me for the brevity of my life? I don’t want money, I want to graduate high school, travel, meet a boy, have a busload of kids and be a good person.

I’m not letting them get away with that. No siree. I want them to pay for using me as their lab rat.

I want revenge, I blurt.

He pauses, weighing up my words, and I bet wondering if trying to talk me out of this is even an option.

First you need help.

Help?

He nods. There is one last piece of energy you need. It is the only thing that can help you glimmer properly, since you don’t have enough angel energy to travel via light corridors.

Okay, how do I get more energy? I mutter. Flamin’ monkeys. Haven’t I already got enough energy inside? I'm already lit up like a neon sign.

You need the energy of the Queen of the Binuit-Namri Nation.

I shake my head. He simply isn’t getting it. Look Mike. I’ve got all the energy I can handle. Six different energy blends, plus all the crap from energy tuning with almost the entire population of Last Blood...anyway I don’t want to be a Queen.

He slowly nods his head. I know Nyssa, but your human body is wearing out. You must have the energy if you want to continue on this path. If revenge is what you seek, then the Queen’s energy will help you continue. There are complications to blended energy-

Epic headaches, total body tremors and feeling like I’m being shredded every time I glimmer?

Silence. Shit, I know this is something I have to put up with, but seriously? At least you’d think that he’d be able to give me some comfort. Make something up to make me feel better about my fated future, but no.

And the voices?

What voices? Is that the added bonus round? Is he trying to tell me I’m going to go insane? Or maybe I already am, and I’m in denial. Actually, that would answer a lot of the questions I have. Fuck, I mutter, under my breath. I didn’t want any of this. I don’t want the money, or any of that, stuff. All I want-

Is to graduate high school and be human.

I sigh. Now I’m stuck. I have to continue with this coup. If I pull out now, nothing will have changed. Ambrosia will win, most likely tearing the Binuit-Namri nation apart, and destroying Earth. Aw, crap.

Well you better get to it then.

I sigh again, taking a few moments to take one final look around the garden before I glimmer back to The Realm.

Landing on the throne in Last Blood, it shatters it into a million pieces. Well at least I know I still can't stick the landing.

Antonio hasn’t moved.