D. Dyllin - Broken Gates

We were at war. And just like in every war there were casualties. Jenna, Jeremy, Bryn, and myself were the last of our kind . . . Speaker, Gatekeeper, Guardian, and Seer . . . respectively. Only a short time ago our kind had been thriving, our numbers many, but then the alien Riders that were trying to take over our world had exterminated them . . . because of me. If not for my visions, theyd all still be alive. The revenge I yearned to mete out would one day . . . hopefully . . . help me to assuage my feelings of guilt. I just prayed that no one else would suffer because of me . . . Too bad I forgot to pray for myself.

I knew something was wrong only an instant before the bedroom door slammed open. But in life and death situations an instant can mean the difference between one and the other. Bryn! I gasped, sitting up in bed with a start. I barely had time to register the threatening shape outlined from the lights in the hallway before a gunshot exploded in our direction. I reacted without thinking and threw myself in the path of the bullet in a bid to save Bryn from being hit. Unfortunately for me, that meant I would be the one getting a slug buried in my flesh. A flash of white-hot searing pain ripped across my shoulder just before a blinding light erupted in my head. Everything went silent except for a ringing in my ears and the rasping sound of my own struggle to breathe. I found myself praying that Bryn was okay just as everything went dark.

I have foreseen the outcome of both choices, and it leaves us with only one course of action. As much as it pains me, you must do what I ask of you. I stood watching as a woman that I didnt know spoke to a man kneeling in front of her. He seemed to be in pain, if the way he clutched at her dress was any indication. She was tall and regal, with long white hair that hung halfway down her back. Despite her hair color, her face was young and completely unlined. The man kneeling in front of her had dark auburn hair burnished brighter by the flames in the nearby fireplace. His build was massive and I found myself thinking that he could quite possibly dwarf even Khol in size.

No, please. Youre asking me to betray you. The man sank down further, reaching up to wrap his arms around the womens legs as if she was the only thing keeping him anchored to this Earth.

She lifted her dainty hand as if she would stroke his hair, but let it fall back to her side before she actually made contact. If you do not do as I ask, that will be a betrayal to me. Her words were harsh, but there was no mistaking the anguish I saw in her glowing golden eyes.

Send another, the man said raggedly.

It must be you. I can trust no other with this task.

The man abruptly stood and rose up to his full height; the woman seemed almost childlike in comparison to his size. They just stood looking at each other for what seemed like an eternity to me, a battle of wills silently raging between them, until the man suddenly dropped to his knees again. As you wish, my Queen. And with those as his parting words, he disappeared.

She remained where he had left her, as if in shock, before she turned away and crumpled onto the nearby bed, sobbing as if she had just lost something very dear to her. And maybe she had.

I took a step toward her, drawn in by my own curiosity to know what I had just witnessed. Why was I being shown this particular scene? It didnt have the same feel as my normal visions, and yet, I couldnt come up with any other explanation.

The woman lifted her head and gazed into the flames of the fire, her tear-streaked face blotchy and yet still beautiful. Paige Joplin Stone, you are our first and last hope, she whispered.

My breath caught in my throat and I froze with surprise. Confusion about what was happening overtook me. Was this a vision after all, or something more? And if it was a vision, was it from the past, present, or future? Who was this woman and how did she know about me? She and her companion were obviously both dragons, as evidenced by his disappearing act and her glowing eyes butbut he had called her Queen, and her hair was white. I knew of no Dragon Queens, or factions of White Dragons.

My little Seer. Khols voice echoed inside of my head as I turned away from the woman and the scene I had been enthralled with.

What are you doing here? I asked, wondering if in fact, he was really here.

Khols iridescent green eyes blazed brighter than Id ever seen them do before. He reached out his hand toward me in an offering for me to take it. Come back to us. You cant stay here any longer.

I tilted my head to study him. There was desperation wound into every plane of his face. Wheres here? Whos she? I nodded in the direction of the once again sobbing woman.

Please. We cant lose you, he rasped as if I hadnt said anything at all. I cant lose you. The last part seemed to be said inside of my mind, as if I was reading Khols thoughts.

Im not going anywhere. No ones going to lose me, I stated, even though by that point I was completely confused as to what it was he was talking about.

Khols lips turned up in a grim smile. Thats where youre wrong, my little Seer; youre already here, which makes you lost, and you need to return to us. To me. His thoughts echoed in my head again.

But I started, but he didnt let me finish my protest.

Do you trust me?

I eyed him warily for a moment, wondering why he would ask me such a question at a time like this. Oh well, I suppose I could at least humor him. Yes, you know I do.

He offered me his hand again. Then come with me, now.

I rolled my eyes at him, but walked toward him anyways. I reached out my hand to intertwine my fingers with his and as I met his gaze, I seemed to fall into the depths of his eyes and everything washed out into a vivid green that blinded me.

Khol? I mumbled, my throat feeling scratchy and raw. Why were my eyelids so heavy? It felt like both of them were weighted down with fifty pounds each. Khol? What happened?

I heard a loud crash as if a chair had been thrown against the wall and some scuffling noises that I couldnt decipher. I told you to stay the hell away from her. I heard Bryns familiar voice growl with menace.

An answering growl reverberated off the walls, I just saved her.

I would havewas going to save her, Bryn snarled.

I gave you a month, Khol snarled back.

Hey, I grumbled. No fighting. My eyelids finally seemed to shed their excess weight and I blinked them open to a much too bright room. Bright lights, I muttered to myself, feeling like I imagined a Mogwai would . . . Just call me Gizmo.

Oh, my God, youre awake. I barely had time to focus in on Jennas elated face before she was on me, crushing me with a much too tight bear hug.

Cant breathe, I sputtered.

Oh, right, sorry, she said as she released me. Guysshes awake. Not just mumbling anymore, Jenna called out without breaking visuals with me.

Khol and Bryn seemed to just appear at my bedside, both of them wearing almost identical expressions of surprise intermingled with joy. I looked from face to face and couldnt figure out why everyone was just staring at me. What happened? I couldnt shake the feeling I was missing something pretty major.

Bryn dropped down beside me and took me in his arms, pressing his unshaved face into my hair. Twice. Ive almost lost you twice now. His voice cracked about half way through belying his strong emotions.

I looked over his shoulder and met Khols eyes with question. You were shot. Khol said. His gaze flicked away from me as if he couldnt bear to look at me when he said the rest. I healed you the best I could. I couldnt do it properly with you being so close to death . . . and unconscious . . . You slipped into a coma . . .