Chapter 27
"My hearing must be failing. I could have sworn you just said that you were going after your father," Hope said flatly to Kayla.
"I did. I am not going to live my life in the fear that he will somehow figure out who I am and to come after me. I saw Harry when he lived in the constant knowledge that there was someone out there who wanted him dead. When that threat disappeared, a weight was lifted off his shoulders; he became more carefree. I am not going to let what almost happened to him happen to me. I am not going to walk down the street, looking over my shoulder, wondering if the next person I pass is sent by my father to kill me. I refuse to let some f-ing prophecy ruin my life!" By the time Kayla had finished her little speech, she had stood up, her hands flailing about to emphasize her point.
"But why do you have to go find him? Couldn't you wait until he came? What is the rush? He might not even find out for years," Hope pleaded gently.
Breathing deeply so as not to lose control, Kayla began to pace as she responded, "If I wait until he finds me, he would have the upper hand. In a fair fight, I know I could beat him; no one has come even close in close to a year, not even the 'experts.' But, with the element of surprise on his side...I fear that I might not stand as good a chance. However, if I act before he does..." she let the statement drop off suggestively. Then, Kayla continued, "I want to get him before he gets me. And, for all we know, he might be planning my demise as we plan his. Ironic, huh?"
Hope watched her eighteen-year-old daughter pace back and forth across the wood floor. "I understand. It's just that I have only really known you for less than 4 years. It seems like I only got you recently; I don't want to have to give you up yet."
"Mom, really, I just said I was going to go after my father. You know, stop this madness once and for all. I will come back to you. I promise," Kayla responded, placing her hands on her mother's shoulder, staring into her eyes, before hugging her tightly. "I promise I'll come back." She couldn't see the look of despair that crossed Hope's face briefly; she knew that her daughter would not return to her, but she wasn't going to tell Kayla that. Releasing Hope, Kayla stepped back again. "Now, let's go round up the gang."
"Why?"
"Because I am not stupid enough to infiltrate Father's floating stronghold by myself."
- - - - -
"Everyone knows the plan?" Kayla asked, catching the eyes of everyone in the room. Besides the Musketeers and Hope, quite a few people who knew the truth (including all the Musketeers' parents, Harry, Hermione, the Weasley's, and Draco) had shown up when the Forests sent out the "call to arms." When everyone answered with affirmatives, Kayla continued, "Great. Phase one begins...now." With that, everyone teleported to their stations to await the fireworks.
Kayla and the other musketeers, along with their British friends, reappeared at the main gates to the floating castle. Jason pulled Kayla into a lingering, passionate kiss. As he let go, he whispered, "In case we don't have time later. Besides, it gave George the excuse to kiss Tori, and Ron and Harry to kiss their girls. Draco even kissed Keri. I didn't even know that they were involved. They must have done it behind our backs over the summers. I also think that Draco has been helping George in his store. Would you really want to deny any of them what we both know may be their last chance to kiss their loved ones alive? I wouldn't. And you know that none of them would have thought it acceptable unless we did it first. They already act like you are the queen."
She just smiled. "Let's go," Kayla said in a stage whisper. "Try to keep yourselves alive, guys. I'd hate to have to explain to anyone how you died." A soft, humorless chuckle made its way through the group assembled.
Confidently, Kayla grabbed Jason's hand and, using her telekinesis, opened the large, double doors. Scornfully, she thought, He really should have guards here. I mean, anyone could walk in unannounced. I thought we would meet more resistance. This is too easy.
"Spread out, everyone. Stay in groups of two. Incapacitate anyone you find, but try not to kill, or otherwise injure, anyone. I am going after my father. And, try not to get killed," she warned for the second time that evening. Then, without waiting to see if they had listened to her, Kayla strode purposefully through the long entrance hall towards the doors at the opposite end. To where her father was.
When she finally found him, he was sitting behind a large desk in what Kayla assumed was his study. He was tall and his black, unruly hair had not a trace of gray in it. He was well built and Kayla had no doubt that he could wield any of the weapons hung on the walls surrounding the room. He didn't even look up when he heard the door open. "Yes, yes, Mandara. Just leave the food on the table and I will get to it in a minute."
"I'm not Mandara," Kayla responded without moving.
"Who are you? Mandara is the only one allowed in these rooms. You should know that. Report to Galen immediately for punishment."
"I do not work here, so I will do no such thing."
"Who the hell are you, then? No one else ever comes here."
Kayla smiled evilly before replying, "Are you telling me that you don't recognize me, Father?"
Charles Potter stared at the chit who was standing in front of him, claiming to be his daughter. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound issued from it. He racked his brain trying to figure out who this girl's mother was by guessing her age.
She smiled that familiar smile again, "My name is Kayleen Madison Forest. You broke my mother's heart. Prepare to die." With that she called in Blaze and Thunder (her two swords). However, she did not attack; she held them crossed in front of herself, in a defensive pose.
Charles, still in shock, stared into the girl's eyes. Finally, he got his mouth sort of under control and forced out, "Who...How...When?"
Kayla's lips pulled back in the same, evil smile. "How? I should hope you know how children are made. When? I was born just over eighteen years ago. As for whom...I assume you want to know who my mother is. Well, I am not sure you really deserve to know if you can't figure it out."
"Eighteen years ago, you say...the only woman I was with anytime near then was-"
He broke off suddenly, not wanting to believe the only possible answer he could come up with. "No. No, no, no. No! It can't be. Not her. She wouldn't have."
"Oh, yes. I can tell you know whom I mean. Yes, Hope Forest is my mother. You couldn't have been happy with the power you had. You just had to have this insane plot to take over the world and make the non-gifted live in perpetual fear. You broke her heart, dammit! I am here to stop you and to make you pay for all you have done. Guard yourself."
Kayla finally moved from her defensive stance in the doorway. She began to swing her swords in a complex attack designed to intimidate Charles. He barely managed to get his own swords ready, she had startled him so much with her declarations.
Across the room they fought. If someone had walked into the room, all they would have seen was a blur of swords, clothes, and body parts. They were teleporting from place to place across the room. Kayla didn't hold herself back. She knew what was at stake here. She even attacked his mind with mental blasts and memories she had picked up from others: all their painful and fear-filled memories. She even sent objects speeding at his body: books, pens, boxes, bookends, paperweights, furniture, and everything else in the room. Charles merely dodged what he could and deflected her attacks; he didn't try to attack himself. It frustrated Kayla to no end. After a few minutes, she screamed at him, "Fight, damn you. Fight!" When he still did nothing she shrieked, "What the hell is your problem? Why won't you attack me?"
"You are my daughter," he replied simply. "When you are through with this temper tantrum, we will talk. Together, we could rule. We could control everything."
"You megalomaniac! I want to do nothing more than finish what I came here to do!"
"I do not want to hurt you, Daughter. But you force my hand. You will come to heel. You will bow to my wishes. You will help me."
With that, the fighting started in earnest. Across the room they fought. Objects flew through the air. Kayla continued to bombard her father's mind with all of the horrible images she could access. In return, he tried to overpower her telepathically. No one was winning, until, somehow, Charles managed to hook a sword around Thunder and to pull it out of her hand. He skittered across the floor and Charles put a shield over it so that she couldn't call it to herself. She tripped backwards and fell on the floor, Blaze joining Thunder. He placed the tip of his right-hand sword's tip at her throat.
"You've got one last chance, child. Are you with me?" He smiled a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"I would rather die."
"That is...unfortunate."
Before he could even blink, Kayla slipped her wand out of its wrist sheath and into her hand. She was glad that she had trained in multiple fighting styles. "Petrificus Totalus!" she shouted, rolling out of the way so that if he fell forward, she would not be injured. She quickly stood up, replaced her wand, and rolled his stiff body onto his back. Then she retrieved Blaze and Thunder from the floor and slipped Thunder back into its sheath. She placed Blaze, tip first, over Charles' heart.
"I am sorry, Father. If only things had turned out differently. But, I have to stop you before you gain enough power to cause serious damage to the balance of the world. Too bad we will never get to know each other. And, here is a last, parting thought: although you broke my mother's heart with your megalomania, she has moved on. She is happy with her life and she has met someone else. No one will miss you. Your life has been worthless. Goodbye, Father." Then, Kayla plunged Blaze through Charles' heart.
She was just standing up when the body on the floor began to glow white. The glow coalesced into a ball at the center of the corpse and then floated up until it was level with Kayla's chest. She stared at it for a few breaths. Nothing happened.
Suddenly, the sphere flew into her body. Kayla screamed; the sound echoed throughout the walls of the room and spread throughout the entire palace. Her knees went weak, and her vision darkened. Finally, the scream ended as she collapsed on the floor.
- - - - -
Jason and the others stared at Kayla's retreating back for a moment before following her orders. Stealthily, Jason and Harry crept through the hallways. Whenever they came across somebody, either Harry would stun them or Jason would telepathically cause them to fall asleep. Then, they would bind them. The two used a variety of different methods so that no one person would be able to free them all.
They had just finished up their wing of the palace and were heading back, when a bloodcurdling screech seemed to pour from the stone walls. The two boys fell to their knees on the floor, hands over their ears. "Kayla!" Jason cried, fighting to stand up. Stumbling slightly, he ran as fast as he could back towards the entrance hall and down the hallway where Kayla had disappeared down, not too long ago.
He barreled down the hall towards the door at the end. He jerked it open and rushed inside, stopping at the bloody scene that he stumbled upon. Blaze (Kayla's sword) was plunged into the chest of a man, who was lying on the floor. But, his sight focused on what was behind the man: Kayla was lying in a pool of blood. Jason fell to his knees next to her. She was so pale. He laid his head on her chest. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally felt her breathe.
"C'mon, Kayla," he whispered desperately through tears. "I love you. You can't leave me now. I know I haven't asked you yet, but I was waiting until this was all over. As soon as this whole thing ended, I was going to propose. We would both go to college before we got married, though. We will be so happy. You can't leave me now."
Soft footsteps sounded behind him, but Jason didn't move. A hand was placed on his shoulder and a gentle voice spoke, "She'll be fine, boy. A lot of magical energy was just transferred into her body. It will take some time before her body adjusts. Let's just get her to a nice, warm bed. You'll have to carry her though, I am not strong enough." With that, she turned and walked towards the door, stopping only long enough to make sure that Jason, with Kayla, was following her. After a short trip, the woman opened another door and motioned Jason to set Kayla down on the bed.
"My name is Mandara, and I am the Healer for this compound. Maybe I should explain things to you. When she finally wakes up, she will understand what has happened, is happening, and will happen.
"As the heir to her father, when Charles was killed, Kayleen inherited the responsibility and right to rule this place and control the magical forces on the planet below. This is all transferred from person to person via a magical sphere just as we gain total knowledge of her. But, that process isn't important to understanding the story. Along with this inheritance, comes the loyalty of everyone who serves here. No one would betray her, and she will receive trained, experienced help. She will be safe here. And, while we were all loyal to Charles, we will follow Kayleen willingly since what she will do is what is right.
"One more thing...the two of you can no longer see each other. She must remain here, while you need to return home. I am sorry, boy. It would be best if you pretended she was dead. You and all your friends must return to the world below and go about your lives."
Jason stared at her in disbelief. "She is my life! You are telling me that I should leave my right arm, my heart, my life here and just go about my meaningless existence as best I can without her! Well, I am telling you that I just can't do that!"
"Do not make me remove you by force. Kayleen will understand when she awakens. I will give you five minutes to say goodbye. Do not argue, or I won't even give you that. It is not like she will be able to hear you." Mandara turned on her heel and walked out of the room, closing the door behind herself.
Jason leaned down to kiss Kayla one, last time. Then, he called in a small, black box. Opening it, he made sure that the ring was still inside. Closing it, he placed the box on the bedside table. Then, he added a thought bubble above the box: Kayla, I love you. I was waiting until this whole thing was over, but I was planning on proposing. I am leaving you the ring since I will always love you. I am told I can never see you again, but I hope you will watch down on me and remember me with as much love as I will remember you. Goodbye forever. I love you, for now and always.
He walked to the door, and with one last, lingering look at Kayla, Jason left the room. Without speaking to Mandara, who he never would forgive because it was she who told him that he could never see Kayla again, Jason returned to the main hall where the rest of their group was congregating, even those who had not been inside the palace to begin with. Everyone was startled to see him alone. Hope was the only one who dared ask, "Where is Kayla?"
His response of "She is as good as dead. Let's go home." prevented anyone else from asking him anything further. No one even said anything about the tears coursing down his face.
When they returned to Hope's house, Jason explained what had happened to the best of his knowledge. Through crying and tears the group decided that they would never speak of what happened to anyone else. They agreed to pretend Kayla died. It would be easier than believing she was alive and knowing that they could never see her again. By the time everyone left except the immediate friends and family, they were all too tired to do anything but collapse on the couches and floor. When they would awake in the morning, they would be sad but would go about their lives as normally as possible. They would get up, get dressed, eat, go to work. In the fall, the teenagers would return to school (for some it would be the start of college). The broken musketeers would talk about her once a year on the anniversary of her "death."
"My hearing must be failing. I could have sworn you just said that you were going after your father," Hope said flatly to Kayla.
"I did. I am not going to live my life in the fear that he will somehow figure out who I am and to come after me. I saw Harry when he lived in the constant knowledge that there was someone out there who wanted him dead. When that threat disappeared, a weight was lifted off his shoulders; he became more carefree. I am not going to let what almost happened to him happen to me. I am not going to walk down the street, looking over my shoulder, wondering if the next person I pass is sent by my father to kill me. I refuse to let some f-ing prophecy ruin my life!" By the time Kayla had finished her little speech, she had stood up, her hands flailing about to emphasize her point.
"But why do you have to go find him? Couldn't you wait until he came? What is the rush? He might not even find out for years," Hope pleaded gently.
Breathing deeply so as not to lose control, Kayla began to pace as she responded, "If I wait until he finds me, he would have the upper hand. In a fair fight, I know I could beat him; no one has come even close in close to a year, not even the 'experts.' But, with the element of surprise on his side...I fear that I might not stand as good a chance. However, if I act before he does..." she let the statement drop off suggestively. Then, Kayla continued, "I want to get him before he gets me. And, for all we know, he might be planning my demise as we plan his. Ironic, huh?"
Hope watched her eighteen-year-old daughter pace back and forth across the wood floor. "I understand. It's just that I have only really known you for less than 4 years. It seems like I only got you recently; I don't want to have to give you up yet."
"Mom, really, I just said I was going to go after my father. You know, stop this madness once and for all. I will come back to you. I promise," Kayla responded, placing her hands on her mother's shoulder, staring into her eyes, before hugging her tightly. "I promise I'll come back." She couldn't see the look of despair that crossed Hope's face briefly; she knew that her daughter would not return to her, but she wasn't going to tell Kayla that. Releasing Hope, Kayla stepped back again. "Now, let's go round up the gang."
"Why?"
"Because I am not stupid enough to infiltrate Father's floating stronghold by myself."
- - - - -
"Everyone knows the plan?" Kayla asked, catching the eyes of everyone in the room. Besides the Musketeers and Hope, quite a few people who knew the truth (including all the Musketeers' parents, Harry, Hermione, the Weasley's, and Draco) had shown up when the Forests sent out the "call to arms." When everyone answered with affirmatives, Kayla continued, "Great. Phase one begins...now." With that, everyone teleported to their stations to await the fireworks.
Kayla and the other musketeers, along with their British friends, reappeared at the main gates to the floating castle. Jason pulled Kayla into a lingering, passionate kiss. As he let go, he whispered, "In case we don't have time later. Besides, it gave George the excuse to kiss Tori, and Ron and Harry to kiss their girls. Draco even kissed Keri. I didn't even know that they were involved. They must have done it behind our backs over the summers. I also think that Draco has been helping George in his store. Would you really want to deny any of them what we both know may be their last chance to kiss their loved ones alive? I wouldn't. And you know that none of them would have thought it acceptable unless we did it first. They already act like you are the queen."
She just smiled. "Let's go," Kayla said in a stage whisper. "Try to keep yourselves alive, guys. I'd hate to have to explain to anyone how you died." A soft, humorless chuckle made its way through the group assembled.
Confidently, Kayla grabbed Jason's hand and, using her telekinesis, opened the large, double doors. Scornfully, she thought, He really should have guards here. I mean, anyone could walk in unannounced. I thought we would meet more resistance. This is too easy.
"Spread out, everyone. Stay in groups of two. Incapacitate anyone you find, but try not to kill, or otherwise injure, anyone. I am going after my father. And, try not to get killed," she warned for the second time that evening. Then, without waiting to see if they had listened to her, Kayla strode purposefully through the long entrance hall towards the doors at the opposite end. To where her father was.
When she finally found him, he was sitting behind a large desk in what Kayla assumed was his study. He was tall and his black, unruly hair had not a trace of gray in it. He was well built and Kayla had no doubt that he could wield any of the weapons hung on the walls surrounding the room. He didn't even look up when he heard the door open. "Yes, yes, Mandara. Just leave the food on the table and I will get to it in a minute."
"I'm not Mandara," Kayla responded without moving.
"Who are you? Mandara is the only one allowed in these rooms. You should know that. Report to Galen immediately for punishment."
"I do not work here, so I will do no such thing."
"Who the hell are you, then? No one else ever comes here."
Kayla smiled evilly before replying, "Are you telling me that you don't recognize me, Father?"
Charles Potter stared at the chit who was standing in front of him, claiming to be his daughter. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound issued from it. He racked his brain trying to figure out who this girl's mother was by guessing her age.
She smiled that familiar smile again, "My name is Kayleen Madison Forest. You broke my mother's heart. Prepare to die." With that she called in Blaze and Thunder (her two swords). However, she did not attack; she held them crossed in front of herself, in a defensive pose.
Charles, still in shock, stared into the girl's eyes. Finally, he got his mouth sort of under control and forced out, "Who...How...When?"
Kayla's lips pulled back in the same, evil smile. "How? I should hope you know how children are made. When? I was born just over eighteen years ago. As for whom...I assume you want to know who my mother is. Well, I am not sure you really deserve to know if you can't figure it out."
"Eighteen years ago, you say...the only woman I was with anytime near then was-"
He broke off suddenly, not wanting to believe the only possible answer he could come up with. "No. No, no, no. No! It can't be. Not her. She wouldn't have."
"Oh, yes. I can tell you know whom I mean. Yes, Hope Forest is my mother. You couldn't have been happy with the power you had. You just had to have this insane plot to take over the world and make the non-gifted live in perpetual fear. You broke her heart, dammit! I am here to stop you and to make you pay for all you have done. Guard yourself."
Kayla finally moved from her defensive stance in the doorway. She began to swing her swords in a complex attack designed to intimidate Charles. He barely managed to get his own swords ready, she had startled him so much with her declarations.
Across the room they fought. If someone had walked into the room, all they would have seen was a blur of swords, clothes, and body parts. They were teleporting from place to place across the room. Kayla didn't hold herself back. She knew what was at stake here. She even attacked his mind with mental blasts and memories she had picked up from others: all their painful and fear-filled memories. She even sent objects speeding at his body: books, pens, boxes, bookends, paperweights, furniture, and everything else in the room. Charles merely dodged what he could and deflected her attacks; he didn't try to attack himself. It frustrated Kayla to no end. After a few minutes, she screamed at him, "Fight, damn you. Fight!" When he still did nothing she shrieked, "What the hell is your problem? Why won't you attack me?"
"You are my daughter," he replied simply. "When you are through with this temper tantrum, we will talk. Together, we could rule. We could control everything."
"You megalomaniac! I want to do nothing more than finish what I came here to do!"
"I do not want to hurt you, Daughter. But you force my hand. You will come to heel. You will bow to my wishes. You will help me."
With that, the fighting started in earnest. Across the room they fought. Objects flew through the air. Kayla continued to bombard her father's mind with all of the horrible images she could access. In return, he tried to overpower her telepathically. No one was winning, until, somehow, Charles managed to hook a sword around Thunder and to pull it out of her hand. He skittered across the floor and Charles put a shield over it so that she couldn't call it to herself. She tripped backwards and fell on the floor, Blaze joining Thunder. He placed the tip of his right-hand sword's tip at her throat.
"You've got one last chance, child. Are you with me?" He smiled a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"I would rather die."
"That is...unfortunate."
Before he could even blink, Kayla slipped her wand out of its wrist sheath and into her hand. She was glad that she had trained in multiple fighting styles. "Petrificus Totalus!" she shouted, rolling out of the way so that if he fell forward, she would not be injured. She quickly stood up, replaced her wand, and rolled his stiff body onto his back. Then she retrieved Blaze and Thunder from the floor and slipped Thunder back into its sheath. She placed Blaze, tip first, over Charles' heart.
"I am sorry, Father. If only things had turned out differently. But, I have to stop you before you gain enough power to cause serious damage to the balance of the world. Too bad we will never get to know each other. And, here is a last, parting thought: although you broke my mother's heart with your megalomania, she has moved on. She is happy with her life and she has met someone else. No one will miss you. Your life has been worthless. Goodbye, Father." Then, Kayla plunged Blaze through Charles' heart.
She was just standing up when the body on the floor began to glow white. The glow coalesced into a ball at the center of the corpse and then floated up until it was level with Kayla's chest. She stared at it for a few breaths. Nothing happened.
Suddenly, the sphere flew into her body. Kayla screamed; the sound echoed throughout the walls of the room and spread throughout the entire palace. Her knees went weak, and her vision darkened. Finally, the scream ended as she collapsed on the floor.
- - - - -
Jason and the others stared at Kayla's retreating back for a moment before following her orders. Stealthily, Jason and Harry crept through the hallways. Whenever they came across somebody, either Harry would stun them or Jason would telepathically cause them to fall asleep. Then, they would bind them. The two used a variety of different methods so that no one person would be able to free them all.
They had just finished up their wing of the palace and were heading back, when a bloodcurdling screech seemed to pour from the stone walls. The two boys fell to their knees on the floor, hands over their ears. "Kayla!" Jason cried, fighting to stand up. Stumbling slightly, he ran as fast as he could back towards the entrance hall and down the hallway where Kayla had disappeared down, not too long ago.
He barreled down the hall towards the door at the end. He jerked it open and rushed inside, stopping at the bloody scene that he stumbled upon. Blaze (Kayla's sword) was plunged into the chest of a man, who was lying on the floor. But, his sight focused on what was behind the man: Kayla was lying in a pool of blood. Jason fell to his knees next to her. She was so pale. He laid his head on her chest. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally felt her breathe.
"C'mon, Kayla," he whispered desperately through tears. "I love you. You can't leave me now. I know I haven't asked you yet, but I was waiting until this was all over. As soon as this whole thing ended, I was going to propose. We would both go to college before we got married, though. We will be so happy. You can't leave me now."
Soft footsteps sounded behind him, but Jason didn't move. A hand was placed on his shoulder and a gentle voice spoke, "She'll be fine, boy. A lot of magical energy was just transferred into her body. It will take some time before her body adjusts. Let's just get her to a nice, warm bed. You'll have to carry her though, I am not strong enough." With that, she turned and walked towards the door, stopping only long enough to make sure that Jason, with Kayla, was following her. After a short trip, the woman opened another door and motioned Jason to set Kayla down on the bed.
"My name is Mandara, and I am the Healer for this compound. Maybe I should explain things to you. When she finally wakes up, she will understand what has happened, is happening, and will happen.
"As the heir to her father, when Charles was killed, Kayleen inherited the responsibility and right to rule this place and control the magical forces on the planet below. This is all transferred from person to person via a magical sphere just as we gain total knowledge of her. But, that process isn't important to understanding the story. Along with this inheritance, comes the loyalty of everyone who serves here. No one would betray her, and she will receive trained, experienced help. She will be safe here. And, while we were all loyal to Charles, we will follow Kayleen willingly since what she will do is what is right.
"One more thing...the two of you can no longer see each other. She must remain here, while you need to return home. I am sorry, boy. It would be best if you pretended she was dead. You and all your friends must return to the world below and go about your lives."
Jason stared at her in disbelief. "She is my life! You are telling me that I should leave my right arm, my heart, my life here and just go about my meaningless existence as best I can without her! Well, I am telling you that I just can't do that!"
"Do not make me remove you by force. Kayleen will understand when she awakens. I will give you five minutes to say goodbye. Do not argue, or I won't even give you that. It is not like she will be able to hear you." Mandara turned on her heel and walked out of the room, closing the door behind herself.
Jason leaned down to kiss Kayla one, last time. Then, he called in a small, black box. Opening it, he made sure that the ring was still inside. Closing it, he placed the box on the bedside table. Then, he added a thought bubble above the box: Kayla, I love you. I was waiting until this whole thing was over, but I was planning on proposing. I am leaving you the ring since I will always love you. I am told I can never see you again, but I hope you will watch down on me and remember me with as much love as I will remember you. Goodbye forever. I love you, for now and always.
He walked to the door, and with one last, lingering look at Kayla, Jason left the room. Without speaking to Mandara, who he never would forgive because it was she who told him that he could never see Kayla again, Jason returned to the main hall where the rest of their group was congregating, even those who had not been inside the palace to begin with. Everyone was startled to see him alone. Hope was the only one who dared ask, "Where is Kayla?"
His response of "She is as good as dead. Let's go home." prevented anyone else from asking him anything further. No one even said anything about the tears coursing down his face.
When they returned to Hope's house, Jason explained what had happened to the best of his knowledge. Through crying and tears the group decided that they would never speak of what happened to anyone else. They agreed to pretend Kayla died. It would be easier than believing she was alive and knowing that they could never see her again. By the time everyone left except the immediate friends and family, they were all too tired to do anything but collapse on the couches and floor. When they would awake in the morning, they would be sad but would go about their lives as normally as possible. They would get up, get dressed, eat, go to work. In the fall, the teenagers would return to school (for some it would be the start of college). The broken musketeers would talk about her once a year on the anniversary of her "death."