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Chapter 24 - The Weight of a Crown

Jamelet sighed tiredly as she walked into the apartment, collapsing immediately on the couch. AJ returned from the kitchen a few short minutes later, and curled up on the floor next to the couch. He eagerly began to munch on the popcorn he had just made. Jamelet listened to him chewing, and became annoyed. She immediately passed him a look of displeasure.

A few popcorn kernels fell from his chin as he stared in shock. “What did I do?” he asked innocently.

“You’re driving me crazy,” she told him flatly.

“Don’t I usually do that?”

“Yes, you do, but we had a long night with those blasted twins, and it’s getting on my very last nerve,” Jamelet sighed, finally sitting up. AJ pushed his popcorn aside and jumped onto the couch. He reached out and took Jamelet’s hands. He gently let his thumbs circle the tops of Jamelet’s hands.

“Let’s talk. We’ll lay all our cards out on the tables.”

“Fine.”

“First off, the twins are fine. They’re both fast asleep at Brian and Alison’s house. Kevin and Kimberly are there to watch out for them. They’ll probably have their problems solved before the morning is over with. They both have broken ankles, and Brian says he’ll send them to the emergency room in the morning, also. So, their problems are fixed. Now what else is plaguing you, Babe?” AJ asked softly.

“You blew your car up, and I made a tree burst into flames,” Jamelet told him softly. “That’s just crazy, and it scares me. Something is happening in our bodies, and I have no clue what.”

“I don’t know either,” AJ agreed.

“Then Rose and Nick said there’s something about our past that links us to them, Brian, Alison, Kimberly, Kevin, and those paramedics. They never told us the story, and I know it is important. I’m just frustrated that we never got to hear the story.”

“We’ll get hold of the twins today, and sort that out.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Anything else?”

“I keep having visions of us when we were younger. We’re in a whole different universe. There’s something so right about it. This place doesn’t feel like my home. I want to go somewhere else. I’m always looking up at the stars, feeling like I need to leave.”

“Me, too,” AJ whispered softly.

“Then finally… There’s the Paramedic – Ana. There’s something different about her. There’s something that connects her with those twins, I can feel it. Whatever it is, I can also see it in her eyes. She knows exactly why the twins are hounding her, but she doesn’t want to admit it. She practically ran off that plane. She never looked back, either. It stresses me.”

“We could try to locate her?”

“Yes, we could,” Jamelet answered thoughtfully as her small computer vibrated in her pocket. Jamelet reached into her pocket, withdrawing the phone and computer. She lazily clicked open her mailbox, scanning down the contents. She located the symbol that Nick was tormenting the Paramedic with. She clicked upon it, drawing up a mysterious letter. “Aje, listen to this:”

Jamelet Sanchez & Alexander McLean,

I know that you have no recollection of who I am, but it is important that you absorb the contents of this message. You are involved in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. The enemy draws near to you. They are searching for something that you hold fond or will soon hold fond. The twins have already learned some of the most inner secrets to this problem, but alas, they know only a small portion.

You also need to realize the importance of your beings in the lives of the twins. You are their mentors from Venus. You are the children of the Sanchez family and the McLean family, the mentors to the royal family of Venus. You are to guide the twins through their triumph back to the imperial court of Venus. That is right, Rose and Nicholas are the given heirs to the throne. You need to watch the twins as if they were your own children, because I cannot do this deed any longer.

Many things will begin to restore in your memory in the following days. You will remember bits and pieces, and this message will release the dam in your blocked memory. The powers you two have established are real. You have the abilities of Fire and Heat. The twins have the powers of Ice and Water. The cousins each possess a power from Courage, Doubt, Air, and Wind. These powers make you the most prized in the Venus life, but use them wisely once you discover how to manipulate these powers. The evils know of these powers, and will use them against you.

The final thing I must warn you about is the final part to your group of ten. I know that you have seen her before, and her partner: Howard Dorough and Anastacia Lord-Carter. Anastacia Lord-Carter is the sister of the twins, and informed on the most deadly tactics of warfare and hand-to-hand combat. She is a firecracker, and should be regarded in the highest form. However, it must be known the dangers of her and her partner. These two have been thrown away from the group in a certain promise. Anastacia is the most dangerous of you ten, be wary of her reactions and personality. She is not what she seems. Keep her close, but never think she will not betray you.

These revelations will be quite new to you, and mind blowing. However, don’t let that distract you. You have much to do and not much time to complete it. Get the group together, and never let one stray from the other. Be wary of the obvious, and more wary of the mysterious. Keep that in mind. Evil is always around, and may God be with you.

Sincerely,

Your Queen

Jamelet felt her heart begin to pound as her mind instantly poured against her confused soul. Everything became so clear, and it scared her. She jumped up with fright. She tugged heavily at her curls. So many things had gone wrong. Nick and Rose were to inherit Venus, which had been attacked a thousand years ago. Ana was to travel to another world in search of revenge against the twins’ and her father. Kimberly and Kevin trying to reconcile the broken alliances with past worlds. Her and AJ were trying to usher to twins into hiding with their aunt. Jamelet screamed out as she fell backward.

“J!” AJ cried out, instantly falling to the floor and gathering her into his arms. He kissed her forehead as she pushed back her blinding tears. His own tears pooled and mixed with hers. So many things had happened while they were in deep slumber. So many lives lost. Their parents were hiding. Everything was known in his mind, nothing had been hidden. “J, c’mon. Don’t do this now. We need to go get the twins. Come on, let’s go. Sweetheart, don’t do this now.”

“Oh, AJ…” Jamelet sniffled, reaching up and pulling herself into his arms.

“Calm down, please.”

“We have so much to correct.”

“We need to gather our thoughts before we try.”

“No, no, no! I have to go get Ana,” Jamelet blurted, jumping up from AJ’s arms. She ran toward the hallway, grabbing her coat and keys. She fumbled with the buttons on her suede jacket. Her fingers trembled as she struggled to think of how to explain things to Ana. The child had always been stubborn. She went to grab the door, but AJ immediately braced himself against the door. Jamelet glanced upward and ran her hand against his roughened cheek affectionately. “Ana and Howie can’t be by themselves anymore.”

“Then let me take you.”

*~*~*

Ana hummed softly to herself while her personal CD player blasted music within her ears. She contented herself with cleaning the bunks for the afternoon while Howie did some record searching. He had promised her to find out some information on the twins. Ana decided to at least stay at home, with Howie’s insistence, because he wanted her to rest from the exhausting battlefields. Ana found the soothing rhythm of ancient lyrics pleasing to her soul. Music was always Ana’s release from the stresses of life. She found herself traveling to another place as she danced to the rhythms with the mechanical broom that circled the place by a twitch of her hands (which were slipped into the gloves that monitored the progress of the broom).

Ana never noticed Howie slip inside the bunks as she danced merrily around the room. Relief relaxed Howie’s facial features as he absorbed Ana’s character. Her body moved seductively to the beats playing against her ears. The softness of her gentle movements made Howie’s eyes water with hunger. Her hips swirled in a circular pattern, beckoning Howie. Her soft flaxen curls flowed about her like a halo that kissed her crowning glory. Her voice called upon his attentions, soothing his soul. The smooth and soft vocals called him into a place of pure ecstasy. It was as if she were a siren beckoning men into the misty sea nights with her melodious songs. Her voice called upon him softly with the ancient lyrics: “When they push, when they pull / Tell me can you hold on / When they say you should change / Can you lift your head high and stay strong / Will you give up, give in / When your heart’s crying out that is wrong / Will you love you for you at the end of it all?”

Howie felt the impish nature swirl about his soul. His mischievous side perking while he set the folders against the soft bed – he knew how to get Ana. He sunk down to his knees, carefully creeping across the floor. The soft scent of roses splashed against the room, beckoning him closer to her being. He wanted to gather her into his arms and never let go. Temptation created havoc within his soul while he listened to her voice call out to his heart. Familiar entities called upon him, as if this were second nature. The quietness of his breathing startled him as he crouched down further, preparing to pounce.

Ana let her hips swing faster as the beat increased. Her heart thumped with the energetic movements. Her pale cheeks flushed with color as she did a twirl, letting the broom finish the job. She jumped up onto a single bed, dancing merrily. Her soul moved her to become crazy. Before she could complete her solo, a force encircled her waist. Ana screeched while she was drawn onto the floor. Her back slammed downward as something crawled on top of her. She fought with the force until she gazed into a pair of simmering chocolate eyes. “HOWIE!” she squealed.

“I love it when you sing to me,” he cooed, kissing her cheeks as he sat on top of her.

“You scared me!” she hissed in laughter.

“You know you love me.”

“You know I wasn’t singing to you.”

“Who else would you sing to?” he asked with hurt.

“MY BUTT!” Ana declared childishly as she pushed Howie off her chest. He fell backward with surprise as Ana jumped up. She grabbed the wet sponge that lay in a cold bucket of water and held it tightly in her hands. Howie scrambled off the floor, knowing all too well what she was planning. He shrieked as she chased him crazily through the winding hallways of the station. “HOWIE! YOU LITTLE IMP! GET BACK HERE!”

“I DIDN’T MEAN IT!” he called out.

“And I’m not going to mean anything when I catch you, so get back here!” Ana shouted as Howie scrambled up the stairs for a place to hide. He could hear her feet trampling against the metal stairs. Howie swerved into the bathroom, glancing around for a spot to hide. His mind jumped with confusion as he jumped into the shower. He tried to imagine himself blending into the bright blue tiles. His mind fumbled with confusion as a coldness swept against his body.

“Howie!” Ana called out as she burst into the bathroom. She glanced about the small room, a smile curving against her lips. She immediately yanked the curtain to the shower backward. Her mouth fell open in shock. The only thing that stared back was the thick bright blue tile. She frowned, rethinking where Howie could run. She turned her back just as Howie burst from the tiles. They fell against the floor in a tumble of screams, shouts, and tangled flaxen curls.

Before Ana could react, they were laying on the floor next to all the ambulances. Her chest heaved as she stared down at Howie. Her eyes grew wide in shock. “WHERE THE HECK WERE YOU HIDING IN THERE?!” she screeched.

“Stop being a smartass, you looked right at me!” he declared, tugging hard on her blonde locks.

“I’m not being a smartass!” Ana huffed, grabbing his hands. She stared at him, noting a small smudge of blue on his right cheek. She reached and rubbed his cheek and the blue instantly disappeared. She held in a small squeak of shock as she stared intensely at his skin. Something wasn’t right. “Where were you hiding?” she asked again.

“In the shower stall, stupid!” Howie answered, rolling his eyes.

“You weren’t in that shower stall!”

“You were looking right at me!”

“All I saw was—”

“Excuse me?” a voice called out. Ana immediately jumped up from Howie’s body. He stumbled to his feet in the same blur. Ana wiped her wet hands against her jean capris. She glanced at the source of the voice, her mouth immediately forming into a frown. The woman of the voice stepped forward, her arms out in innocence. Her dark hair was plaited into a French braid as her kind eyes searched Ana’s face. Her soft tan skin contrasted greatly against Ana’s light skin. “I just want to talk. Okay?”

“Didn’t you do enough of that on the plane with your little posse?” Ana asked with a curdled voice.

“No, it’s not that. I tried to get the twins to back off, but they wouldn’t. They’re just confused right now, and I’d like to talk to you about that. There are some weird things happening in our lives, and I need you to understand. I just ask for five minutes, and then you can throw me out.”

Ana felt Howie press his hands against her shoulders. She jumped with surprise, glancing back at him. His kind eyes immediately softened, absorbing her emotions instantly. It was as if Howie were reading her mind as their eyes connected. She could sense his fear for her safety and mental health. He didn’t want her to get hurt. Ana could feel his fears pressing against her subconscious. “Just talk with her, okay?” he suggested in the softest tone.

“Okay,” Ana decided. She turned back to the woman. She had forgotten her name immediately. Ana offered a nervous smile as she nodded toward the woman. “I’m sorry I’ve been rude. It’s just weird having those twins hounding me. I saved their lives once, and that’s all I usually deal with. I never have survivors suggest that I was related to them.”

“It’s quite alright, I’ve been confused myself,” Jamelet agreed. “I don’t think we’ve properly introduced ourselves.”

“Oh, yeah, sorry.” Ana wiped her right hand against her capris. She then extended it toward Jamelet. “My name is Anastacia Lord, but everyone calls me Ana.”

“My name is Jamelet,” the other woman laughed.

Their hands met, and a burst of energy erupted from the room.

*~*~*

Ana moaned while she blinked her eyes furiously. She moaned softly, sitting up. Confusion surrounded her as her eyes took in the grandness of her surroundings. Large scarlet willow trees draped against a red velvet sky. A soft breeze blew against her flaming skin, sending familiar scents of home into her nasal passages. Her eyes scanned a beautiful violet ocean of water as dolphins jumped out, beckoning her to play. Ana giggled while the four brilliant moons glistened against her skin, kissing her tenderly with their presence. She felt safe in this area.

Ana heard a small murmur of voices. She glanced to her side to see Jamelet standing there. Instantly, Jamelet offered a smile of comfort. Ana felt relief flood her system as Jamelet asked to sit down. Ana grasped at her bare knees, pulling her body into a tight package. Jamelet inclined and sat down before her. Jamelet’s words broke through Ana’s barrier of silence. “You were supposed to be training at this very moment.”

Ana felt surprise grip at her heart when she replied, “I’m tired of training.”

“You do know the importance of this training. The guards will not be pleased that you skipped this time. They’re taking time out of guarding the twins to do this. It is all for you and your gift,” Jamelet countered.

“And you know how useless it is for me to do all this,” Ana called back. She could feel her mouth forming the words as she stared at Jamelet. Their eyes locked in a brief encounter. Ana felt knowing memories lapse back into her soul. “Why should I learn all these deadly arts if I will never have a country to defend with them?”

“Anastacia—”

“Don’t use my full name,” Ana snapped.

“Ana?” Jamelet suggested.

“Fine.”

“You are learning these dark arts so you can protect your brother and sister. They aren’t ready for such training, nor will their bodies endure the rigorous development. You are the strongest, and chosen to lead the military. Your father and mother blessed you with this gift. Embrace it, because God gave you this. You are nothing like your brother and sister. Your mind and body are suited for the art of defense. The twins are somewhat softer—”

“Leave me alone, Jam,” Ana retorted bitterly.

“Why such anger?”

“Because Aunt Jane is constantly telling me of this great war I must engage in to defeat the nation of darkness. These people that I’ve never heard of, and I have to kill them all? I know nothing of this journey. All I know is that I am supposed to avenge my father’s and mother’s deaths. That is all the information I’m given while I spend the entire day training and building my strength. I can defeat our whole entire army within an hour, but I still practice. And what do my younger siblings do all day? Play in the fields with their little lovers! They have no worry in the world, and are arrogant. They constantly remind me of my duties, and then tell me that they are destined to rule this planet. They will be the most powerful in all the planet. Those children that I have raised my entire life give me the most disrespect. I am a joke to this nation. I’m tired of the vagueness in my life.”

“I’m not privileged to give you this information, Anastacia,” Jamelet replied softly.

Ana stood to her feet. She tore a crown from her head. She thrust it into Jamelet’s view. The bright symbol of the world blazed among the jewels of sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds. Her initials blazed upon the emeralds as a dark siren clung to the rocks within the emerald. Her dark eyes blazed into shining emeralds. “And that is what you say every day, Jamelet! I am a part of this imperial court, yet I am in the dark! Sometimes I don’t even feel like I belong! There are memories that invade my soul during dreams. I feel wanted and drawn to darker voices. The heat of a thousand fires light my soul during these dreams. I speak another language. I am different, and I know this, but does anyone else? The only thing that ties me to this dreaded court is this crown!”

“Anastacia, please—”

“And if that is all that ties me to this court, then I have made my choice! May it burn in hell, because I no longer need its false comforts,” Ana declared as she threw the crown at Jamelet’s feet. Her eyes blinded with hot tears as she tore down the black sandy beach. Her mind swirled with torrent emotions as she pulled off the t-shirt that covered her bikini. Within a moments time she dove into the violet waters, praying that the dolphins might accept her.

*~*~*

Ana gasped for air when the haziness of darkness vanished from her eyes. She felt a strong pair of hands pull her upward. Ana coughed and sputtered as she buried her face into the warmth before her. She reached upward, running her hands along the smooth contours of a handsome face. She glanced upward, blinking back tears – Howie. She immediately curled her arms around his neck as he squeezed her tightly. “Ana, what happened?” he asked her as he kissed her forehead repeatedly. “Ana, Ace, C’mon! Tell me!”

“That was so weird!” Ana gasped.

“What was? You two passed out! I couldn’t revive you. Then this guy comes running in here, feeling something. I didn’t know what to do! What did you see?” Howie asked, drawing her against him tighter. He thought he might have actually lost her. Fear and desperation clung to him like a wet shirt. For once he couldn’t read Ana’s feelings or eyes.

Ana never answered Howie’s pleas, because she heard the same soothing repeated with another calm voice. She finally tore her gaze away from Howie, searching for the source. She looked down to see a man cradling Jamelet in his arms as she lay on the floor. Her eyes were blinded by tears as she quickly blinked them away. Ana and Jamelet gazed deeply into each others eyes. Ana knew something had happened that needed explaining. Somehow, Jamelet knew what it was. Ana clung to Howie as Jamelet was helped to a standing position.

“I’m sorry,” Jamelet whispered painfully.

“No, it’s not your fault.”

“I think we’ll go now,” the man suggested.

“No!” Ana blurted instantly. Ana couldn’t explain her emotions, but something drew her near to Jamelet. The vision scared her terribly. She felt Howie kiss the back of her neck, urging her on. “Howie and I are the only people here at the station tonight. Usually, we enjoy our privacy, but some things have changed. Howie makes a great dinner when I don’t screw with him. Would you like to stay for awhile?”