Chapter 13 [Two Days Later]
[Talon]
Lana sifted through the orders and dished out the goodies accordingly. Her mind continued to spin itself around the Secret as her hands flew through the motions. Surprisingly or maybe not, she hadn't changed her views of Clark.
Her love was as strong as ever…in fact, it blazed brighter in her heart than ever.
I'mgladhetoldme.She smiled warmly at the thought of being honest. She didn't know what to expect but she'd agreed to meet him in Granville in an hour after her shift. Then she saw Byron walk up. "Good afternoon, Mr. Moore."
"You seem most cheery today," the poet assessed. "I trust a certain farm boy is behind it?"
"He is." She leaned close. "He opened up to me about everything."
He grinned. "Excellent! The knight needs his lady. It's about time he realized that. Cherish him, Lana. Clark is one of a kind."
"More so than you know," she concurred. "You should've seen the Christmas dinner we had. Wow! And my new present." She showed the beaded bracelet off for him while making his usual cappuccino.
"He's committed to you, hasn't he?" he presumed. "May you both have happiness in all things." He set the money down on the counter. "For you all are the friends of golden troth." He tipped the cup to her in salute before heading for his usual corner table.
He'scommittedtome!Her heart sang gladly at the sound of those words. She'd taken the super speed express in his arms on the previous day. It felt so exhilarating to zip through the streets; his rapid pace cutting the air like a hot knife through butter.
He was showing her what he could do. He was being honest with her.
And she loved everyminute of that…
Now he was hers.
No wait, they were eachother's.
She set the latest order down that she was working on. We'reeachother's.FINALLY!Nomoreliesorexcuses!Icansharehimforwhatheis.Hisparentsacceptthat.Thisisgreat!Seeing it was five, she walked to the back and punched out.
"Seeing the farm boy again?" Miranda asked. Although she was disappointed, she kept a stiff upper lip for her friend's sake.
"But of course!" Lana didn't understand why her friend would ask that. It wasn't like Miranda was in love or anything. "Mind the store. See you tomorrow."
"You bet!" Miranda watched Lana leave and shrugged. One day she would meet her fairy princess too. It just hurt right now….
Meantime she could be happy for her friend and keep the home fires burning.
[Granville—St. Matthias' Cemetery—About 25 Minutes Later]
Clark dusted off Kyla's stone and plucked the weeds from around it. He couldn't understand why her grandfather wasn't around to do that. After all, she'd been loyal to him and the Cowaches. Yet she was left to her devices buried and left in a necropolis separate from her tribe.
Yet Clark wasn't about to leave her unattended to. "I didn't forget, Kyla. I told Lana and we're so happy. Thank you. Kind of makes you wonder why it's so hard."
Because you make it so, Numan….
Kyla's spirit form appeared right next to him. "If you'd let yourself relax, it'd be all right. I think we've both had to learn that lesson." She held a small wooden box out to him. "It's time then."
He recognized it. "Kyla, that's yours."
She shrugged. "It's for your intended, Clark. We weren't meant to be. It belongs to Lana. Trust in that."
"What belongs to me?" Lana queried while walking up to them. "Kyla, I never had the chance to thank you."
"It's my pleasure, Lana. I was telling Clark to give you the bracelet," the deceased skinwalker told her.
"He already has," Lana insisted while holding up the beaded bracelet on her right wrist.
"It is very nice but that isn't the one I mean," Kyla clarified. "Numan."
Clark nodded and opened the box to reveal the shining silver bracelet with the jewel in its center.
"I…I can't…Kyla, that's beautiful!" Lana protested.
"The stories of my people tell of how it should pass to his intended. Clark is the protector of my people. Hence why we call him "Numan". Beware of Segith, Lana. You trust him too much. I would not have anything happen to either of you."
"Segith?" Lana asked him.
"She means Lex. We can watch him without alienating him," he countered.
"Whatever you believe," Kyla responded with a measure of disappointment. "Remember your decisions impact her and the others around us. You have responsibility to your people and mine…all of your people. As you walk the path, I'll be there to help. Remember me fondly." With that, she melted away into the late afternoon sunset.
"Wow." Lana stared incredulously at the grave.
"She's sacrificed for us. I guess that's what love is about," he presumed while holding the bracelet up. "Can you hold your hand out."
"Since she wants me to have it, okay," she relented with a smile.
"I want you at my side, Lana." He slid the jeweled piece onto her wrist and sealed the gesture with a kiss. "Whatever the road is, you'll make it smoother."
"I promise, Clark, to share it and to understand. I'm already feeling the weight of your Secret. I'm glad I'm not alone the way Pete was," she vowed. "But to have you, I'm willing to deal with it." She returned his kiss with a gentle feather brushing of her lips across his. "You're my greatest present, Clark Kent. This Christmas would be incomplete without you."
"You're my inspiration," he answered.
"And you're mine." She smiled and let a few happy tears streak her cheeks. "Let's not disappoint Kyla or the others."
"Never," he vowed. "Let's show the parents. Then tomorrow, I have something for you. Some further answers."
"Answers?" she wondered not getting his hint.
"You'll see," he replied cryptically as he led them toward his truck.
She leaned back and simply wondered what was up his sleeve at that point. She hoped it was good.
At that point, momentum was theirs. Why ruin it?