Chapter 11
The girl who fell from the sky
Puck's POV
Alex burst into the room. "What happened?"
"The Phoenix Gate took…" I frowned. Took who? I was right there, why can't I remember?
"We can't do anything about it, can we?" He asked.
"No…" I said.
"Wait, I think she's the girl who fell from the sky." Alex said, handing me a newspaper clipping.
I read it. A memory tugged at my brain, but I couldn't quite reach it. "She'll live."
"I guess we just have to have faith." Alex chewed his lip. I glared at him and he stopped. What was with these-this child and biting?
Puck's POV End
Talia's POV
Phoenix spit me out and I started speeding downward. It was raining and thundering. Fuck, fuck, fuck! What do I do?! I gotta slow down. I'll die at this speed. Um, what else… Adri showed me an article about cliff diving. What'd it say? Straighten out, point toes down, arms above head, right hand as a fist. Spread arms and legs and arch back when I hit the water.
I didn't hit the water how I was supposed to. A wave knocked me into the ocean and I coughed out the breath I was saving. The dark water tossed me around while I struggled to swim. I wasn't strong enough to get close to the surface. My lungs burned and I felt myself falling deeper into the ocean. Seawater entered my mouth as I gasped unwillingly.
I felt something smooth under my body. I grabbed it and held on. I wasn't going to last much longer. I felt rain on my skin and someone grabbing me as I lost the last bit of consciousness I had.
Talia's POV End
After the storm
Oberon's POV
Puck healed the child of her dangerous injuries and almost didn't notice me. He bowed.
"Puck, why did you save this child?" I asked.
"I don't know. I was compelled to." He told me, obviously disturbed. "The scent of the Phoenix Gate is strong on her, my lord. She is not from this time." He added.
"She is also… Avalon's princess." I furrowed my brows.
Puck shrugged and looked at the child again, petting her sea soaked hair. An unusual gesture. A fatherly gesture. "What do we do?"
I thought. "When she is free of Phoenix fire, you will remember the child you admire. Lest she be in grave danger, you are to remain a stranger."
My spell overtook Puck and I sent him away. I brushed her hair away from her face and I found her hair to be soft under the brine. She was the Puck's child. I smiled. He was not above it all. "I bid you a safe journey, future princess." I kissed her forehead and left.
Oberon's POV End
Talia's POV
I woke up and looked around. I was in a hospital. Grandpa was there, asleep in a chair. His black hair had a little gray in it. He stirred and looked at me.
"You're awake." He said.
"What happened?" I tried to remember, but my head hurt.
"Your plane exploded and you fell into the ocean. My crew pulled you out of the water. What's your name?" He asked.
"Um, Talia?" Fuck, shouldn't have done that.
"The doctor said you shouldn't have survived that fall and be as unharmed as you are. They stopped the bleeding. Your back may hurt from when you hit the water. You probably have a headache. Don't stand up without the nurse's help." He told me.
"Ok." I said.
The doctor came in and said I had to stay for a little longer. I nodded then I asked for water. I drank slowly. Grandpa asked if I had any more family members. I said no. It was a couple days before I was allowed to leave the hospital. Grandpa came back with some clothes for me. They were plain and made for the cold. I left with him and he took me to his house. It looked almost the same.
There were no pictures Alex, he wasn't born yet. But there were pictures of David and I think, his mom. She was where he got his brown hair and probably not much else.
"That's my son, David and my late wife, Maria." Grandpa told me.
"Where's David?" I asked.
"Off in the big city." He sighed.
I thought. I had nothing. "Can I go lie down now?"
"Of course. Let me show you to your room." He took me to the room Alex showed me. "I'll be here if you need me."
"Ok." I yawned.
I undressed and got under the covers, falling asleep.
Talia's POV End
