The Regret

By K. Newman

Back to where she started, Jessa, is in Water Land. She is consumed with worry over Tristan. He has not woken from his mission to save her. Huck interrupts her worries with another issue of severe importance . . . Cleo is in danger.

Cade continues to stir up trouble, especially with Jessa. Difficulties arise when he is asked to help with a mission involving Cleo. Roxy, has not been able to put Cade out of her mind during all the chaos. Jessa pleads with Roxy to not entertain thoughts of being with him until after they are able to bring peace to the Lands. Roxy could not make any promises. In the meantime Jessa gets to meet up with her brother, Micah and in the process learns the reason behind the storms just as they are picking up again in the Lands. Will Jessa be able to help save the Lands? Will Cleo be saved
in time?

• Language: English
• Publisher: K. Newman
• Release date: Mar 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370937318

Book preview

The Regret

K. Newman

The Regret

Copyright © 2016 K. Newman

Smashwords Edition.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Michelle Huffman, my mother, for

taking the time and effort to create

the talented work on the front cover art, the hands.

Thank you to my friends and family for the

encouragement and inspiration

to keep going!

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

About the Author

Prologue

Her icy stare disarmed him, sending chills to the bone. Huck had many things he wanted to say, but he drew up short as he was faced with an older, more adult looking, version of Cleo. The hands-on-hips with the accompanying attitude was the only givea-way. He narrowed his eyes as he examined the maturity in hers. She was closer to his height and definitely older than the child he knew before she was brutally murdered. It appeared she had just reached adulthood. This is impossible, Huck thought to himself.

The cold reunion was not the response he expected after going through the Gile, whispering his request into a beautiful ornate box—what the villagers had come to name Minerva—only to have Cleo’s willowy frame standing angrily in front of him. Ordinari-ly, a person would be surprised to have the dead come alive, but that was the intention of going through what he did; it was beyond his capability. Those from Mythical Land knew if a person got through the Gile it would grant their deepest desire.

It was the worst kind of nightmare coming to life, and Huck made the choice to do it. He couldn’t handle the grief of losing that young, innocent spitfire, Cleo. He was sup-posed to keep her safe, he promised Cleo’s parents before they died. His only solution to not feeling the deep despair on a near constant basis was to go through the Gile and hope it would grant his deepest desire, to bring her back. And it worked, at least in part.

Cleo’s voice was deeper, huskier—the voice of a woman. What have you done, Huck?

Huck opened his mouth and promptly closed it, realizing he didn’t have an an-swer.

Cleo raised her eyebrows in response to his silence.

Huck shrugged.

That’s just great! You don’t know what or why, and your only response is lifting your shoulders!

Cleo . . .

Huck . . . I can’t begin to explain what this will do. I have to go.

Wait! Why are you leaving?

I have things to take care of. You can’t mess with the balance, Huck!

What? Cleo, wait! Let me help!

By the time his words echoed through the bright, colorful forest of Mythical Land, Cleo was long gone. He thought he was correcting a heinous wrong, a nightmare that no little girl should witness, let alone experience. He could not believe the condition of Cleo’s body after that evil group tortured and killed her, and he wanted to right that wrong. Now it seemed, based on her reaction, he did this for himself—and it was hard to admit.

He remembered the moment he became a family friend. Cleo looked up to him and believed he was her hero. It killed him that he couldn’t be her hero at the worst mo-ment of her life. He wanted to make up for failing her. The guilt roiled in his gut and would not be put to rest until the moment he decided to go through the Gile.

Running through the forest did not get him any closer to finding her. She was gone. He’d failed her again and had very little control to try to fix it. Then he remem-bered the person he got advice from the last time he didn’t know how to help Cleo. Cade.

The sharp change in direction landed him a branch in the face. He shoved it out of his way forcefully and continued his sprint toward Cade’s home.

Cade!

Huck stood at the bottom of Cade’s tree house, hoping to get a response. When the sounds of the critters in the forest were the only response, it became obvious Cade was not there. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he could not do this alone. Even if he did find Cleo, he wouldn’t know how to keep her safe anymore. Now he had to figure out where Cade was.

He exhaled. Back to the Gile, he thought, knowing that would be the quickest way to find Cade. Returning there landed him right outside the village in Water Land, just in time to crash into Jessa. He did not waste time once he saw Cade was with her, but when Cleo’s name escaped his lips, Jessa pounced.

Huck, what about Cleo? What happened?

I went to the Gile to see if I could bring Cleo back. I wasn’t sure if it would work, Huck said.

Okay. Jessa tried to urge him on, trying to think as he fumbled with words, the very words she was hanging on to. The pain of Cleo’s death swallowed her breath as if it had just happened.

Well . . .

All of the sudden, Huck did not know how to explain everything. When he looked at Jessa and Cade, he became even more confused. What brought them to Water Land? Something was off with Cade.

Well, get to it, man; we are aging here, Cade pushed.

Huck cleared his throat. It worked, but not the way I thought or hoped. It may have caused more damage than good . . . at least, that is what I fear.

That’s incredibly evasive, and not at all what I was thinking when I said ‘get to it.’ Cade narrowed his eyes.

Huck looked at him for a moment. Is something wrong, Cade?

Lots. Mainly, the lack of details from your story.

Cade. Stop, Jessa intervened.

Huck looked at her, confused and questioning. She just shook her head in re-sponse.

We digress, Huck started again.

That’s for certain, Cade clipped.

Cleo is older, as in, about as old as you. I have no way of knowing her exact age now, but it seems she aged significantly and unexplainably.

Where is she? Jessa asked.

That’s just it. She got angry with me, saying something about messing with the balance. Then she said she had things to take care of and took off running. I don’t think she is even in Mythical Land anymore, but I’m not sure where she is.

That’s just perfect, Cade said bitingly.

Which is why I am here. Cade, I need your help to find Cleo.

Cade gave an almost imperceptible nod, indicating he would be there for him, which surprised Huck, given Cade’s current mood.

I want to help.

Jessa—

I want to help, and I think with Tristan we could find her quicker.

Tristan? Huck looked back and forth between Jessa and Cade.

Her mate. The sound of Cade’s emotionless voice sent chills down Jessa’s spine.

Cade’s folded arms, the angry glare gave away more than those two words had.

Understanding filled Huck’s eyes. Ah, that explains it.

Explains what? Cade snapped.

Never mind. Nothing.

Out with it, Huck.

Well, Cade, you are a bit on edge.

Cade didn’t flinch at Huck’s observation; knowing he was being so transparent only frustrated him more.

It actually sounds like you guys have this handled. I have things to do.

Wait! Aren’t you going to help? Huck asked.

It appears you have enough help with Jessa and Tristan.

We could still use you too, Jessa said.

You will find her. I have no doubt. After all, I know who trained you. Cade winked.

I came here for you, Cade, Huck addressed him.

There is no reason for me to be here.

I may be trained well, but I could use help in formulating a plan, Jessa pushed.

I was kind of in the middle of something with the Captain before I had to bring some strangers to their rescuer, Cade said.

Jessa blinked in surprise as the weight of Cade’s words registered. The Gile had sent her to Water Land, but it had also sent Cade to the ship, separating them. The only reason he was at Water Land was to help save the life of someone he didn’t know.

If only the Gile could separate with more than just distance, Jessa thought.

What did you say, exactly, at the Gile? Jessa asked.

Huck realized the conversation swiftly turned to a more personal level and took his cue to give them space to talk.

Nothing that would interest you, trust me, Cade answered with a stone-cold look on his face.

Discussing the journey through the Gile reminded him of the moment he watched Jessa climb the hundreds of stone steps to the top of the Gile’s silent hill. Seeing her at the top, he could only imagine what she whispered into the box, Minerva, and then she disappeared shortly after. Once she was gone, he made the same trek up those steps.

Try me, Jessa said.

Go back to your mate, Jessa, Cade said as he turned away.

Cade! Don’t leave, Jessa yelled before she could stop herself.

Cade whipped around. Why? What good would it do? It is obvious you are sup-posed to be here . . . with him.

Tears formed in her eyes; she could not explain what she was feeling or why she wanted him to stay. Isn’t this for the best? she wondered to herself. She did not move, did not say a word. He stared at her for a moment, then turned and walked away. She watched a breath longer and was about to go after him when Huck came up behind and gently held her back.

Let him go.

Chapter 1

What if your tears work; isn’t it worth a try? Grace argued.

I don’t know how it could work—there isn’t a wound, Jessa said.

She and Huck had entered the new home of Grace and Jonah. After Cade left so abruptly, it was all she could do to distract herself from the confusion. Roxy was at Pip-er’s side, who was sleeping deeply. Dax was also there, refusing to leave his mate. Tristan looked peaceful while he lay on the cot. Jessa knelt near him and brushed the hair away from his face. There was a softness forming in her face. She wished she knew what to do, but without knowing what had happened she did not know how to help.

It was odd with three strangers in the room. She did not know their stories, but when she first arrived, Cade impressed upon her a sense of urgency to save a petite blonde, Piper, who appeared to be dying. The male, Dax, seemed relieved now that his mate was better. Roxy was the one Jessa was most curious about; something was unset-tling about her. She stole a look at Roxy, who appeared to be doing the same. When their eyes connected, Jessa felt a warmth spread through her and became uncomfortable.

Fighting the odd sensation, Jessa asked, Is there anyone who knows more?

I don’t know what happened before Tristan got here. You could ask that one girl who came back with Teagan, Zeke, and Royce. Where is she, by the way? Grace inter-rupted herself.

Jessa just raised her eyebrows in response.

Just then Teagan stumbled into the home. I got them!

Grace jumped up. Thank goodness. Just in time.

Jessa looked over at Teagan and finally noticed she had a bandage around her arm. What happened? How come I didn’t notice that sooner?

There has been a lot going on. It’s a long story.

I will get you a vial of my tears as well. Jessa was determined to fix everyone in need of repair, hoping the tears would be able to mend the wound.

Royce filled the doorway behind Teagan, looked around, and asked, Where is Iris?

I was just wondering the same thing, Grace answered.

Great, Royce said sarcastically as he walked in.

Zeke and Jonah filed into the room shortly after. Jonah asked for an update, but Grace did not have anything good to report. With all the commotion and the people in the room, Piper began to stir. Roxy used her ability to relax her, and she sank back into a deep slumber.

Huck tilted his head to the side, finding the situation very interesting. With the ability to read intentions and subtle differences between people, he was able to observe at least five others with abilities of their own. He just was not sure what their abilities were. As he continued to watch, he was also able to pick out the ones who were mated. It was obvious how Cade felt about Jessa, which explained his earlier irrita-ble behavior; Huck had just learned Jessa was mated to someone else. He felt for Cade. That had to hurt, even if Cade did not want to admit it.

It is good you are back, Jessa. We were just about to do another search for you. Jonah smiled.

Jessa wanted to argue with Jonah about not teaching her to fashion a weapon, as it would have been helpful when Cade took her so long ago. She remembered the moment as if it happened just a moment ago. She watched him work on a piece of material un-known to her into a sharp weapon, and at that time he refused to teach her how to make one for herself.

She did not give into the urge, I appreciate your efforts to find me.

Jessa turned her attention to Royce when he started to explain what happened to Tristan when they were in Colors Land, and how it was a random series of events with no explanation for the symptoms. Jessa listened intently, wondering what could have caused Tristan’s present condition. He still seemed unable to respond to anything as he lay un-conscious on the cot. Jonah explained Tristan’s theory of absorbing Jessa’s pain, even though she was in a different Land at the time. Jessa thought back to the different events in the Gile and how they may have lined up with what they described.

How is that possible? Jessa asked.

It’s just a theory, Jonah explained.

He came to after he drank your tears, but then after a struggle he went uncon-scious again, Teagan said.

What? He drank them? Jessa’s face scrunched up.

Teagan nodded.

Well, I don’t have any more tears right now. We can try again when I have more.

Jonah came up to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. I think you also need a break. You have been through so much.

Yeah! Where is this Cade guy so I can kick his butt? Teagan chimed in.

Smiling at Teagan’s loyalty, she turned to Jonah and said, Perhaps I should go for a walk.

Jessa grabbed her most beloved and long-missed satchel and left the home just as Royce said, Anyone else get nervous when she leaves? I’m not exactly looking forward to another quest to find her.

Jessa’s feet took her right to Lake Avery. She was lulled by the sound of the water plunging into the pool. Eventually, she lay back and closed her eyes. She wondered if Jo-nah’s theory could actually be true. It wouldn’t be abnormal for the Lands—where every-thing was abnormal—but it appeared this was the first anyone here had heard of it. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense the Gile would require order. Some-thing had to happen to restore balance to an otherwise impossible situation. There was no way she should have been able to make it out of the Gile in relatively good condition, let alone alive, but if Tristan were taking the brunt of her pain and damage then it would be a completely different story. The words Cleo said to Huck echoed through Jessa’s mind: You can’t mess with the balance. Jessa shuddered at the thought of what the cost of bring-ing Cleo back would be, and what it would take to restore the balance of bringing some-one from the dead. Her mind drifted.

It was surprising when her breathing became a deep, calming rhythm. Her dreams were riddled with images of Cleo and the pain she endured before she was killed. The dreams continued to draw her away from normal as she wondered if Cleo’s death was an-other effort to restore balance. The hollow echo of the energetic, bouncy redhead rever-berated through Jessa’s heart; even in the dreams it seared deep. The snap of twigs under-foot brought Jessa back from her dreams with a shot of adrenaline. Her training kicked in and she was on full alert, lying still and pretending to be asleep but ready to disarm her potential assailant.

You can relax. You won’t need to use your training on me, Cade said from the growing shadows.

How did you know? Jessa asked.

You still stiffen just a little, giving yourself away, Cade explained.

I thought you were leaving. Jessa sat up.

Cade shrugged. Guess I can’t resist trouble when I see it.

Yes; when Tristan wakes up, he will take you out for sure.

Is it bad that I hope he doesn’t wake up? Cade asked in a whisper.

I don’t know how to answer that. The Gile was quite clear on where we are meant to be.

I have a theory on that, Cade started, leaned back, and continued. I think the Gile brought us to where we needed to be in that moment, because we were both needed in those places at those times.

Jessa stared at him with a look of confusion; she was frustrated with theories. She wondered why the Gile wouldn’t just put her right in front of the girls, if that were the case. She recalled what she said I want what is right for me. If saving those girls was the right thing for her to do, it only made sense she would be there on the ship where the dy-ing girl was.

Think about it. The girl would have died if I had not taken her to you. Since you weren’t with me, I knew where you would be, so you needed to be here to save her. If you were anywhere else, I doubt I would have found you in time, Cade explained.

Sounds very complicated and messy. Jessa looked back at the water.

You might be right, Cade answered.

What did you say at the Gile? Jessa asked again.

Jessa . . . don’t.

Don’t what? Jessa pressed.

It won’t help anything if I tell you, Cade said as he got up.

What if it does?

This isn’t my world anymore. Cade picked up a stone and tossed it in the water.

"Why don’t you just tell Tristan your side of the story? I’m sure he will listen.