Chapter 31

Truth and Love

Justin knocked on the door and waited for only a moment before Aradon opened it. The butler smiled and bowed him inside.

“Would you like me to take your jacket, Master Justin?” He asked politely.

“That won’t be necessary, Aradon. He’ll need it.” Kiliki spoke, appearing in the doorway of the parlor.

Aradon nodded and left the hallway, closing the front door.

Justin looked at Kiliki and waited. Obviously, she knew something he didn’t.

Kiliki studied him for a moment and grinned. “I’m glad, Justin. She’s by the pond.”

“Glad?” Justin asked, but Kiliki had already disappeared back into the parlor. Justin shook his head in amazement. He had only stepped in the door. How could she have known? Yet, somehow, he was sure she did know he had given his life to God.

He decided not to question her, but to head to the pond immediately to find Dabria. She was the one he needed to speak to. His horse seemed to sense his urgency and moved at a quick pace towards the clear blue water. It was a relief to finally see the top of the large tree that stood at its edge finally come into view. Justin frowned as he approached. There was only one horse tethered to the tree, happily munching on the grass. They hadn’t left Dabria alone. Where was Salena?

He pulled his horse to a walk and approached the pond more slowly, not wanting to startle her. A quick flash back took him to the last time he had met Dabria in this very spot. The meeting had ended far differently than he planned. He could only pray this time would be a happier ending. He smiled at how easily it was to think of praying for a good result. Still, that would depend on Dabria’s health and what she could understand. If there was only one horse, perhaps she was better? Or was Salena simply giving her a little space?

Justin jumped down off his horse and scanned the area. He had brought his own steed next to the tethered one and he quickly did the same to his. Stepping around the horse, he saw Dabria, completely absorbed, at the water’s edge. She looked to be playing with the water, letting it lap at her hand gently. She made quite the picture with her light blue dress contrasting against the deep blue green of the water. Her white blond hair pushed back from her face slightly on the side facing him and hanging down freely on the other. A small smile played with her lips as if whatever she was thinking created a small moment of joy for her. From here, Justin couldn’t see if her eyes were clear or not, but the scene gave him hope.

“Dabria?” He called gently.

The girl’s hand movements still and she glanced slowly up. Her smile broadened and lit up her face. “Justin.” She stood and for a moment looked as if she would run to him, but seemed to catch herself. Instead, she walked towards him and he met her half way. “It’s been a long time.”

“Not as long for me has it has been for you,” Justin replied smiling. “You’re better.”

Dabria nodded. “For a few days now. We’ve been waiting for you to get back. The others will be pleased.”

The others? Justin almost questioned out loud. What about her? “I already saw Kiliki. I’m sure she will let them know. She told me where to find you.”

“That does sound like my sister. Did she even say hello to you?”

Justin frowned for a moment then laughed. “Actually, no.”

Dabria smiled and shrugged. “She has her priorities.”

An awkward silence filled the space between them. It had been so long and the last time they had parted it had not been on good terms. Justin was surprised though that the pain could seem to last and take away their once easy conversation.

“It’s been a long time since we last stood here,” Justin finally said.

“Yes,” Dabria whispered, her eyes not leaving Justin’s face.

He shifted uncomfortably. How was he supposed to say this? He shot up a quick prayer to his new Father and the answer seemed to grow in his heart. “Dabria, I was a fool then. I’m sorry.”

“A fool? Why do you think that?” Dabria asked, curious, but not denying the validity of his statement.

“I was so full of myself, my pride, it seems to be my downfall,” Justin admitted. “I was angry at you for not fighting, for giving in so easily, but what I offered in return wasn’t really an answer, just a delay tactic. I should have realized before I even asked that you would have to tell me no.”

Dabria still didn’t move and Justin swallowed. She wasn’t going to make this easy at all.

“Are you going to say anything?” Justin finally asked.

“What would you like me to say?” Dabria questioned, crossing her arms.

“Something besides just staring at me!”

“I accept your apology,” she finally answered.

Justin frowned. He was glad of that, but something was drastically wrong with her. Dabria was much too closed off. As if she was refusing to get emotional about anything, which was highly unlike her.

“Okay, what’s wrong? What did I do this time?” Justin asked frustrated.

Dabria blinked. “Wrong? Nothing.”

“Then why are you staring at me like a statue? Where is all that Dabria emotion?”

“Maybe it’s all been spent,” Dabria said quietly.

“Spent?”

Dabria uncrossed her arms and turned her back to him walking back to the edge of the lake. Justin followed quietly, unsure what else to do.

“It has been a long time,” Dabria muttered. “So much has changed and yet, here it seems like nothing has. I feel so drained at times. Out here, I feel just a little more alive, like God is still smiling and things can work out.”

“You don’t think that at the house?” Justin asked.

“Sometimes. But it can be hard to think at all in there.”

Justin nodded, knowing that feeling quite well.

“I survived a kidnapping, managed to close my mind off from all contact, was rescued, and yet, it was all a side adventure. The truth still remains that per my parents’ orders, I am engaged to be married to Leon at the appropriate time. Everything has changed and yet it all remains the same.”

“No, Pixie, nothing remains the same, not anymore,” Justin corrected softly.

Dabria turned to him. “What do you mean?”

“That’s what I’ve come to tell you. I found another option, but this time I offer it humbly and I will hold no resentment against you if you should tell me no,” Justin spoke firmly, but he could feel his stomach tightening at that possibility. What would he do then? Perhaps leave for foreign lands and never return.

“Um, all right,” Dabria replied, nervously.

Justin took a step forward and gathered her hands in his. Then took a deep breath and spoke, “I stood here months ago and offered to find you the perfect guy. I wanted you to have someone who would understand you and your spirit. To know you are the one that matters above all others and he never wants to leave your side, but to help you follow all your dreams. I was young and foolish to ask you to go and look for such a man.”

“Why?” Dabria whispered, her voice sounding like she might cry.

“I was so mad at you for not wanting to fight for what you deserved,” Justin continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “I couldn’t see past that. You accused me of abandoning you and that was exactly what I was doing again. I just didn’t know it.”

“I shouldn’t have made you feel that way. You did come for me faithfully. I was just hurt and…” Dabria had to stop when Justin dropped one of her hands to move his fingers to her mouth.

“You were right. I did think about you when you weren’t on my ship, I always thought of you, but I never went to your house unless it was time to bring you here. I could easily have stopped and yet I didn’t. While you were never far from my thoughts, in that way I did abandon you. I was furious with myself and yet last time we stood here, I let it happen again. I didn’t think I had a choice after you chose him.” Justin said ‘him’ like it was a filthy word. “But it was my turn to fight and I didn’t.”

“I hurt you and I did it on purpose,” Dabria whispered.

“What?” Justin asked, surprised.

“I was so angry at you. You said all the right things but in all the wrong ways. I wanted you to understand me, to understand what I felt, but you never did. I was so angry and hurt; I agreed to marry Leon out of frustration. I should never have done that. It has caused so much pain, but I was desperate and thinking with my heart instead of my head. Your problem may be pride, but that is mine,” Dabria admitted.

“I guess we both made some big mistakes.” Justin dropped her other hand from his and Dabria only nodded.

“We are both strong willed and hot tempered as Aunt Jada would say,” Dabria said a few moments later.

“Aunt Jada usually gets it right,” Justin agreed.

“It’s because of that we let this get so far out of hand,” Dabria muttered.

“When we should have trusted each other, we hurt each other instead.”

“I’ve always trusted you, Justin. I know you’ve always wanted what’s best for me, but your actions to that end aren’t always… the best,” Dabria finally finished.

Justin laughed. “I know. I’ve let my pride and my need for control take up to much of my life. I think I was holding on so tightly that I lost what I could have had because of it.” He paused and turned to her, “Like you.”

Dabria’s face stilled and slowly she turned to look up at him. “Me?” She whispered.

“You asked me long ago to understand. I couldn’t then. But I thought long and hard about what you were trying to tell me that day. You said you wanted the man I described, but it took me a long time to realize I should have been that man.”

“You?” Dabria squeaked.

“I love you, Dabria. I need you as much as I think you need me.” Once again, he gathered her hand in his and tugged gently, pulling her close. “I want to be that man for you, Dabria. I want to show you the world in a way you have never seen, to take you on adventures where your spirit is free. My world crashed when I thought I had lost you, first to Leon and then to Walton. All I could think of was finding and protecting you. I wanted to feel you in my arms, to know you were safe, and never let you go. I love you so much. You are so amazing, my Pixie, I’ve watched you grow into a woman that any man would be glad to call his wife. But I don’t want you to be in the arms of just any man. I want you in mine.”

“Justin…” Dabria tried to speak, but her eyes were teary and her thoughts jumbled.

“I know, I know I’m not really worthy of you, but I’ve learned that I’m not worthy of anything without God. I gave my life to Him, Dabria, only a few nights ago. He has been teaching me hard lessons and I’m not so sure I’ve learned them all, but I’m willing to try. Kiliki said that until I learned to love the God you serve, I’d never be able to love you the way you deserved. I’m still not sure I can, but I know God will help me every day to be a man worthy of being called your husband.”

“Husband…” Dabria was having issues getting more than one word out at a time.

“I think we can follow Him better together than we can apart. We can be the couple He wants us to be. I have no idea what that looks like or where He might take us, but I’d really like to find out. What do you say, Dabria, will you marry me?” Justin held his breath.

Dabria laid her head on his chest for a moment and seemed to breathe deeply, so Justin released her hands to wrap his arms around her and hold her. He took a deep breath and prayed for patience and an answer he could live with.

“That night, so long ago,” Dabria murmured against his chest and Justin had to strain slightly to hear her, “I knew you were outside my window. I wanted so badly to go to you and make you understand. When you described the perfect husband for me, Justin, all I wanted in that moment was for that man to be you.”

Justin’s heart leapt and he moved her back slightly, so he could raise her chin to allow their eyes to meet. “That’s what you wanted? I wish I had known then!”

“You weren’t ready and, I guess, neither was I. But I knew. I had been fighting it for so long. When I was just a child on your boat, I developed such a crush on you. But I always thought it would go away and then when I heard you speak that night, I knew it was hopeless. At some point over the years, I had fallen in love with you.”

Dabria’s admission made Justin react without thinking. Slowly, his head came down and hers rose to meet him. In an instant, their lips met in love’s first kiss. It started in a way that was gentle and sweet and yet in moments it was filled with passion and desire. A promise of a life they had both been waiting for, a kiss in its purest form.

It was a long time before either of them lifted their heads. They breathed together for a moment, basking in the knowledge that they belonged to each other.

“That is a yes then?” Justin asked, with a knowing smile.

“Yes, my love,” Dabria paused, frowning.

“What is it?” Justin asked, concern flowing through him.

“Leon. We can’t make it official until I break off the engagement with him. My parents will not be happy,” Dabria sighed.

“Can we tell the family?” Justin almost pleaded.

Dabria laughed. “I’m not so sure we are going to have to!”

“True. Kiliki’s probably already told them it’s coming anyway.”

“Which means Aunt Jada is planning a celebration. But Leon...that’s cruel to him,” Dabria fretted.

“Don’t worry, love, we will nicely force her to keep it quiet until you can break it off. As for your parents, once you are married, there is nothing they can do, except perhaps cut you off.”

Dabria tilted her head, thinking. “They might. But I’m their only true daughter. I don’t think it will last.”

“Then it’s all settled?” Justin asked, cautiously.

“I guess so. But, what will we do? Where will we live?” Dabria’s question kept coming.

Justin laughed and kissed her silent. “We will live on The Guardian Star for now. As for what we will do, we will know when God tells us.”

“Living on The Guardian Star… we have some adjustments to make in that cabin of yours!” Dabria warned, but Justin just laughed.

“Make all the adjustments you want, Pixie. Would you be happy living on The Guardian Star? It is far different then only spending a couple of weeks on it at a time.”

“Of course, I love being on the sea and your ship has always been my home. Can we stop and see all the different places in Zerlinda?” Dabria asked, her excitement causing her to bounce a little.

Justin wrapped his arms around her tightly and picking her up, spun her in circles, until they were both laughing so hard he had to set her down. “As long as we are together, we can go anywhere you want and have whatever adventures you want to try. As long, as you aren’t in real danger,” Justin amended quickly, as he thought out loud. “I think God will change my current mission on the sea as The Falconer. Perhaps, only my motivation has changed, but until God points us in the direction He wants us to follow, we may do whatever you like.”

“I like the sound of that!” Dabria agreed promptly. She sighed and snuggled in close to Justin. “To think, dreams do come true.”

Justin hugged her close. “Yes, if you’re not too stubborn to let God work. We are going to have a wonderful life, Dabria, with God has our Guardian Star.”

“I cannot wait to begin it, my love.”

They shared a smile and Justin kissed his bride to be with the promise of tomorrow.

>~>~>~><~<~<~<

Chapter 31

Answered Prayer

Justin stood on the deck of The Guardian Star and stared up at the stars above him. There was no better view of the majestic bodies than out on the sea where even their reflections glittered off of the sea’s glossy surface. But it wasn’t those stars that held his attention at the moment. Instead, he saw his life in them. It had been a long journey to this point. If someone had told him while he was on the streets that he would one day take over for the Black Panther, he would have enjoyed a good laugh then tried to rob them. This was a life he could only dream about and yet he had spent the last years of his life watching it come true. The only thing he had wanted was to seize that power and dignity that had always been denied him on the streets, to know that he was in control of his own fate and commanded the respect of those who had once mocked him.

Yet, now as he gazed up at the stars it seemed to be that he had missed the point for all those years. Despite his hard work, his climb in the ranks of his peers, it meant so little to him now. He was indeed among the most feared on the ocean. Pirates of all ages hated his name and still hated the name of his ship. But it meant nothing to him now.

In the last few months, he had been tested as never before and he had been found wanting. In all of his power, he had no control over the fate of Dabria and her family. When she had needed him most, he had failed her. He felt as if he had control of the entire sea and yet he had control of nothing. How was this possible? Was his pathway in life so defined as to move where God willed it rather than himself? The more he tried to hold onto his hard won control the more he felt it slip through his fingers.

“God,” Justin heard himself whisper, “what do you want with a man such as myself? What am I missing? I have heard the arguments for you and I have wielded arguments against you. Yet, in the last months, my strength has slipped. I failed when I should have been at my strongest. You sent in a different champion to finish my task. I know that. What is it you want from me so badly? What am I missing to truly understand what it is I should do?”

Justin closed his eyes and bowed his head, aching to know the truth.

“Give up,” the male voice came from behind him.

Justin spun around, knowing there had been no one around when he had taken his place at the railing. He smiled wearily to see Maath and Namid standing there.

“We are sorry, Captain,” Namid apologized. “We know you wanted time to yourself, yet a few moments ago we each felt a strong urge that we needed to come to you.”

Justin could only nod. “Did one of you say ‘give up?’”

“Aye,” Maath responded quietly.

“Give up what?” Justin questioned.

“Your pride. Your control,” Maath answered.

“Is that what He really wants?” Justin asked, looking up at the stars again.

“It is what He requires, my young Captain. In order for His salvation, your heart must be humble and your motives pure.” Namid’s voice was calm assurance.

“Salvation? From what?” Justin asked.

“From yourself and the sins you commit, like the pride you hold onto so strongly. We are all sinners, Justin. It is what keeps up from spending eternity with God the Father as He wishes us too. In order to be accepted into His heaven, we must be purified of sin,” Namid explained patiently.

“How am I suppose to do that?” Justin asked.

“You can do no such thing. It is only by humbly admitting you are a sinner and that you need Christ to save you from those sins can you truly be forgiven,” Namid answered.

“And that’s it? Nothing more than that?” Justin’s voice held his disbelief that the entirety of his struggle for so long could so quickly be forgiven, just by requesting it to be so.

Namid smiled and shook his head no.

“But there must be more after that. What does He want me to do then?” Justin’s voice held a note of frustration.

“To live for Him instead of for yourself,” Maath responded this time.

“He wants to call the shots and tell me what course I have to follow.” Bitterness crept into Justin’s voice. It was the catch he hated, but knew was there. “I am no longer my own person, but His.”

“A bondservant to Christ, yes. You make it sound as if that is a bad thing, Justin,” Maath pointed out.

“Isn’t it?” Justin yelled, frustration overflowing. “He wants everything from me, even a future I can only begin to see now.”

“Exactly,” Maath smiled as Justin frowned.

“What you cannot see, Justin, is that He is planning all the time. He can see your past, present, and future and He has plans for you to prosper as His child. It is so promised in the Good Book.” Namid paused and put a hand on Justin’s shoulder. “You believe that handing your life over to God to control will ultimately be worse for you, but it is the opposite of that. As you have seen, your life is not guaranteed to be easy, but you will have God on your side to fight your battles with you. He will never give you more than you can handle. You will have the life He plans for you, the best life you can have while you live, another of His promises.”

“After what I’ve seen, I don’t know how to believe that.” Justin’s shoulders’ slumped.

“Trust not in what you can see,” Namid said, as his hand slipped from Justin’s shoulder, “but have faith in what you cannot see. Despite their ordeal, neither the Brent’s nor the Solon’s have lost their faith in God, indeed I believe if you were to ask them, it is stronger than before.”

“Which doesn’t make sense,” Justin pointed out.

“To you,” Maath corrected. “It doesn’t make sense to you because you do not yet know the God they serve. You can only understand so much without the Holy Spirit’s help.”

“I want to believe, but to give up so much…” Justin turned and leaned on the railing again.

“You must give up much to gain much,” Maath’s low voice said behind him.

“I think you will find that you have given up little and gained much in return if you truly wish to make that decision, Justin,” Namid amended.

“Guardian Star, what would you have me do?” Justin whispered impulsively.

In the quiet of the moment, Justin’s heart and mind stilled. He heard nothing but the gentle lapping of the sea against his mighty ship and he felt the wind wrap gently around him. Something soft and warm, a peace he would never be able to describe settled onto his shoulders. A still small voice seemed to come from outside of him and as he felt his heart beat again, with it came the words; trust me with your burden.

Justin swallowed, unsure how he could hear the words so clearly and yet he knew he had. Without moving, Justin replied to the words as he had heard them, in his heart. I do.

In that moment, Justin saw much of his past flash before him, he saw a future he had not dared to dream of, and yet he saw nothing at all, except a peace he could now claim as his own. His breath came out of him in a rush as if he had been holding it his whole life. With its expulsion, he felt the weight of trying to please everyone, the terror of failure, the fear of being forgotten, the compulsion of power and pride flee as well. In its place, he knew the gift of freedom. He gripped the railing as if he might fall over and allowed the feeling of freedom to center around his heart. He heard Maath and Namid behind him, yet they made no move towards their captain. He was grateful. The moment was his and God’s.

Slowly, his breathing steadied and his heart beat at a normal rate. The rush of emotions faded away and he was left standing on the deck of The Guardian Star a very different man than only moments before. He whispered a thank you and then turned to his friends.

“I didn’t realize.” Justin shook his head in wonder. “I was holding on so tightly to what I knew that I had no idea I had to give up what was already in me to gain everything.”

Maath and Namid grinned.

“It is an impossible concept until you truly know God,” Maath replied.

Justin nodded. “Yes. I was afraid to give up what I thought was my freedom to a God I couldn’t understand and yet, when I gave Him my burden…” Justin shook his head. “I had no idea what true freedom was.”

“So what will you do now?” Maath asked.

“I’m not sure. I guess I need to learn more about God if I am going to serve him. But I’m not even sure I know what that looks like,” Justin admitted.

“You will. In time, He will let you know,” Namid promised. “We follow the map He has given us in the Good Book. When we stay on its course, we are able to truly be His servants.”

“I guess it’s back to the old lessons again,” Justin smiled.

Maath and Namid laughed. “But this time, it will not be on ships!”

“No, this is even more important,” Justin responded seriously.

“You will learn and you will grow, my Captain,” Namid promised.

“Meanwhile,” Maath broke in, “will our mission remain the same?”

“To steal from pirates and return it to those whom it belongs? I don’t know. I’ve enjoyed making a name for myself doing that. I love being the pirate that other pirates can’t stand. But my motives were purely selfish. I’m guessing that will need to change, but Tommy did the same mission and he felt no need to change it. I guess I’ll have to wait and see what God has in store.”

Namid nodded. “He will let you know.”

“For now though, we are a couple of days from Trigger. Let’s set a course for there. I promised I’d be back and I know they will be anxious to hear how I’ve changed.”

“How God has changed you,” Namid corrected, with a smile.

Justin laughed. “Hey, I’m new at this whole humble thing! Give me some time!”

“Oh don’t worry, Captain, we will help you all the way!” Maath cheered gleefully.

Justin could only groan.

>~>~>~><~<~<~<

A yawn escaped from her mouth and Dabria raised her hand to cover it and stretched. She felt so warm and good. She was safe here and everything felt so wonderful. She opened her eyes and smiled at all the clouds that surrounded her. It was so pretty. There was no one else in sight and yet she didn’t feel lonely at all. She was very content. She giggled and throwing her arms open wide made huge circles turning around and around and if she was ten again. She never wanted to leave this magical place.

“Yes, you do, Child.” The male voice came from behind her.

She swung around and smiled at the figure dressed in white. He was tall and handsome, but not particularly so. He had a kind face and a smile that assured her everything was all right.

“Why would I want to leave?” Dabria asked, smiling back. It was hard not to do so.

“Because you have a family waiting for you. It is time you woke from your hazy dream and stepped back into reality.”

Dabria frowned. “That doesn’t sound like fun. I like it here.”

“Yes, you should. This is the haven you created for yourself in your own mind.”

“My own mind?” Dabria looked around again at all the clouds. “That’s where we are.”

“Yes, Child. And now it is time to wake up. The danger is over. It is time to return.”

“I can’t!” Dabria protested, taking a step back and for the first time feeling fearful.

“Why not?” The man questioned.

“I’m not suppose too,” Dabria frowned, not understanding why, but spoke again anyway, “I’m waiting for something.”

“That which you are waiting for has already happened. Awaken and live again.”

The man raised his hand and touched it to Dabria’s forehead. Immediately, she felt herself begin to gently fall backwards towards the clouds. They parted, accepting her and folding her within their soft depths.

Dabria stretched and felt the blankets surrounding her. Slowly, she opened her eyes to the darkness of her bedroom. She had been dreaming, but the knowledge came and went quickly as she drifted back into a dreamless sleep.

The opening of the curtains and the light they allowed to spill onto her bed forced her awake yet again. A voice she thought she knew called her name and spoke gently to her. She felt herself being helped out of bed and getting dressed. A hand took hers and she followed as it led her down the steps. The smell of food deliciously prepared drifted up to her and she realized she was hunger.

As she ate, she could hear more voices surrounding her, talking and laughing. Soon, she heard voices begin to leave and someone tried to help her up, but she refused to move. She could still smell more food.

“I guess she’s not done eating!” One of the voices exclaimed.

“Well, let her eat as much as she wants. It’s a good sign,” another answered.

She couldn’t completely understand what they said, but she knew it was good when she was allowed to stay sitting and more food appeared. She ate until she could eat no more and then the gentle hand was back and guided her into another room.

The haze before her eyes had cleared some while she was eating and while she had never been blind, she felt like she could see better. The people sitting in the room were still talking and many had different projects out they were working on. She wasn’t sure what she was suppose to do, but the hand seemed to know and guided her to a seat.

“Dabria?” The voice asked. Dabria startled. She knew that name! It was her! “We are going to keep drawing. See, you hold the pencil like this. And then you move it across the paper.” The person beside her took her hand and Dabria felt the pencil placed into it. Her hand moved as described. It was a familiar feeling. She knew these motions. She liked to do this. The knowledge came from somewhere inside her.

Something hit her leg. She startled, but the person beside her quickly put a hand on her and gently reassured her.

“I’m sorry, Aunt Bree. Tadi wasn’t supposed to do that,” a young guilty voice said in front of her.

Dabria smiled. She liked this boy. He was fun and he liked playing with her, but how did she know that and who was he? These answers did not come.

“I like how I’m responsible for your mess up!” Tadi, at least that seemed who it was, protested.

“Of course!” The young boy responded quickly.

“You have far too much of your uncle in you!” A new voice interjected, but she seemed more amused than unhappy.

Dabria started. She knew that voice! That voice meant everything to her! She hadn’t heard it in a long time. She thought it was gone. Who was this person?

“Adem, you shouldn’t be playing that inside anyways. You know better,” she spoke again.

Adem sighed. “Yes, Mom.”

Dabria scrunched her nose, thinking hard. She knew these voices! She knew these people! She cared about them! Why couldn’t she remember!

She felt her breathing begin to increase.

“She’s panicking!” The person beside her called out.

“She was fine seconds ago,” a new voice protested.

“Take her outside. Let her walk around. She doesn’t seem that bad. Get her some fresh air.” The person that she wanted to remember so desperately spoke again.

She felt herself being helped up. She just wanted to know. Why couldn’t she remember? What was wrong with her?

She felt the sun on her face, but it gave her no pleasure, the haze began to thicken around her and just as suddenly it was gone. A feeling of calm from somewhere inside her began to spread. With it came a reassurance that she would remember, it would take time, but she would remember.

The walk lasted for a long time and eventually, she found herself inside eating again. Afterwards, she was back in the sunlight, but this time, her constant friend was reading to her. The words were familiar ones. As if she could almost say them with her friend because they were written on her very heart. The words spoke of One who never abandoned and who always loved. The settled into Dabria’s heart and she felt their peace take hold. After the reading, they went for another walk, but this time it was to the stable. The sights, sounds, and smells all breaking up the haze.

After the evening meal, the people gathered in the same room from earlier. Dabria was given a cup with something warm in it and she held it as she listened to the different people talk. Their voices soothing as they discussed some things she could understand and others that she wasn’t quite sure of, still she listened.

“Why, I tell you if he ever so much as touches those again, I’ll send him right out on his ear!”

“Aunt Jada, you love your gardener and you would do no such thing,”

“You just wait and see if I won’t. Petunias! Why would he even think those would be acceptable in my garden!” Aunt Jada still fumed.

“Perhaps because they are pretty,” someone suggested.

“Hmmph,” was Aunt Jada’s reply. “Pretty is not good enough for my garden, Emalia! They have to be beautiful and amazing! I should get Justin to bring me some flowers from Retena! That would show that old gardener who’s boss!”

Laughter followed.

“Has Justin ever been out of Zerlinda?” The person whom Dabria most wanted to remember spoke.

“Not that I know of,” a male voice spoke. It was full of authority and commanded respect. Dabria knew his voice too. This person was important too.

“When is he coming back? It’s been days! He said it wouldn’t take long,” the young boy from earlier questioned.

“I’m not sure. Justin has a lot on his mind. Have you been praying for him, Adem?”

“Every night,” Adem answered proudly.

Dabria concentrated on the name. Justin. She knew that name. She knew that person. He was… what? Where was he? Suddenly, Dabria wanted him back too. She couldn’t quite remember him and yet she knew the emotions that were attached to him. She suddenly felt desperate to have him there.

“I don’t think we should talk about Justin anymore,” her friend said from her side.

“Why?” A new male voice asked.

“I’m not sure, but I think it’s upsetting Dabria,” her friend answered.

“Dabria?” The important voice asked, concerned. She saw the woman get up and move to her side, where she sat again. “Bree? Do you know Justin?” She seemed to wait for an answer, but Dabria wasn’t sure how to respond. “Do you know who I am?”

Dabria felt tears spring to her eyes. She only knew she cared! That she was important to her! But she couldn’t explain it! She wanted to understand so badly!

“Bree! Don’t cry, honey.” She felt arms gather her close and being to rock gently. “Don’t cry. You’ll remember. I’m you sister, Bree. I’m Kiliki. I’m your sister. Remember, Little Sister,” she whispered as she rocked.

Dabria heard the words and felt the arms surround her. She clutched tightly to the woman’s clothes. They smelled like home. That’s why she knew them so well. She was home. Dabria felt the tears come harder. She was home.

This was Kiliki, her sister. Her sister had her in her arms. She was home and safe. Her family was safe. Everything she had been hiding from was over. She was with her sister and they were home. Kiliki squeezed her tighter.

“Don’t cry, Bree. It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re with your sister. I’m here, Bree. You’re okay.”

“I know,” Dabria whispered against her sisters clothing.

She felt Kiliki’s rocking slow down and then come to a stop.

“I know,” Dabria whispered again and she heard her sister catch her breath.

Dabria looked up and met her sister’s eyes through her tears. “I remember.”

“Dabria!” Kiliki cried out joyfully and squeezed her sister tighter.

Dabria laughed and squeezed back.

“How?” Kiliki managed to choke out.

“I don’t know,” Dabria answered, letting go of her sister with one hand to wipe away her tears. “I had a dream last night, I think. I remember being happy and being told it was safe now. And I’ve been remembering things, small things, all day. Then when I heard Justin’s name I felt like I knew him. And when you held me I knew I was home. I can’t really explain it more than that.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Kiliki shook her head. “You’re better again.”

Dabria smiled and turned to look over her family. “Thanks to all of you.”

“Thanks to God,” Aunt Jada clarified.

Dabria nodded. “Yes, Him too.”

Dabria felt two arms snake around her waist and give her a hug. She twisted to smile at Salena and hug her back.

“It’s good to see the real you again,” Salena smiled.

“It’s good to finally be home,” Dabria answered. “So, tell me what I’ve been missing. I don’t remember anything after…” Dabria paused as she felt a shudder go through her, but continued, “After I had to eat dinner with Walton.”

“We have no idea what happened to you, Dabria. We were hoping you would be able to tell us,” Tommy said from his place by the mantle.

Dabria shook her head. “Unfortunately, I don’t remember anything. He wanted me to believe that you had all deserted me, I think, to only depend on him. I guess I went inside myself to protect me from whatever he had planned. But that’s really all I know.”

“Well, we can tell you the rest,” Evyn said.

With that the tales from both sides were told and over an hour later, Dabria finally had the full story of their captivity and subsequent rescue. She was silent for a long moment after, taking in all the facts.

“Wow,” Dabria finally breathed. “I can’t even think of what to say. Adem, you were so brave!” She reached down out to her nephew a hug, though to congratulate him or reassure herself that he was all right, she wasn’t sure.

Adem accepted her hug and then stepped back and shrugged. “It wasn’t so bad. The angel kept me company. He said it would be all right. I just had to wait.”

“Angel?” Kiliki questioned, obviously never hearing this before.

Adem nodded firmly. “Yep.”

“Did this angel stay with you the whole time?” Kiliki asked, while Evyn spouted, “What did he look like?”

“Yep. He came after Walton put me in the room and he didn’t leave until Sheron came and got me. He looked like a nice man who wanted to be friends.” Adam stated it matter-of-factly as if there was nothing unusual at all in his words.

“An angel,” Emalia whispered, smiling. “No one will ever convince me we don’t have guardian angels. Isn’t that so, Kiliki?”

Kiliki shared a smile with her friend remembering a time when Emalia swore an angel stopped the sword that should have removed her head from her body. “Never.”

“So, Justin didn’t say when he was coming back?” Dabria asked the question that had really been on her mind.

“No, but he’ll be here when he is ready,” Tommy replied. “He said it would only be a few days and it has been almost a week.”

Dabria nodded and sent up a prayer for his quick return. She wanted nothing more than to see him right now, if nothing else to say thank you for coming after her. She allowed the conversation to swirl around her as she contemplated where he might be and what he was thinking. She only knew that he had told Kiliki and Tommy he had to take the time to process all that had happened. She hoped he processed it quickly and made the right decisions for both their sakes.

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