His Angelic Love

[Seventeen] Xave's Message

[Part 2]

Chapter 17: Xave's Message

"Death is a challenge. It tells us not to waste time. It tells us to tell each other right now that we love each other."

-Leo F. Buscaglia

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I have loved the only person who gave me courage.

I have loved the only person who gave me passion.

And, I have loved the only person who loved me in return.

It's my job, to save them, and that's what I'm off to do.

"Skylar, are you sure about this?" My best friend, Jack, asked me for the thousandth time.

I zipped my backpack up, which contained food, water and the necessities to live life in this journey, for God knows how long. "Yes, Jack. I have to." I walked to the full-length mirror in my bedroom, adjusting my outfit once more.

Jack was leaning against the wall, his eyes watching me. "Xave wouldn't want you to."

I froze, my hands curling into fists. "You wouldn't know what he wanted." I said through clenched teeth. Just his name alone brought up the horrific memories that I swore to repress, and I refused to allow myself to dwell on such negative thoughts.

Jack pushed himself off the wall and walked towards me, placing his hands on my shoulders, "He wouldn't want you to risk your life because of some stupid theory."

"It's not a stupid theory, Jack!" I shouted, pushing his hands off my shoulders and turning to grab the bag off of the bed. "You wouldn't understand. You have Zora in one piece, she's been alive these past two months. So don't start spewing your bullshit around me, when you haven't even been through it."

These past two months have been hard. Not because I've been depressed, but because I've been working my butt off to learn how to fight. How to hold a sword properly, how to defeat my opponents, and how to defend myself.

All because this was needed to make sure I came back alive.

When I told Andrew of my plan, he urged me not to, but that never stopped me. I had gotten the deities approval, and by then they unanimously agreed to teach me what I needed to learn. I had refused to have company on my upcoming trip; I spent more time with Xave than anyone else really did. Besides, being alone me allows for me to focus on myself, rather than someone else - which is the key ingredient to staying alive.

Stupid? Maybe.

Pointless? Never.

I walked down the stairs, only to be graced by everyone hustling around the living room. It seemed ironic that my own living room held a magnificent piece of history; it was where the biggest battle between the Otherworlds had gone down. And now, the five elemental deities were sitting on my couch, drinking cups of tea and coffee. Andrew, the only sane member of heaven's council, was the first person to approach me.

"Skylar." He greeted me, smiling.

I smiled back, "Andrew."

He lifted a brown cardboard box and gave it to me, "You will need this, but do not open it unless you are in grave danger." He gave me a stern look, before placing the somewhat heavy box into my outstretched arms. I looked at the scribble writing on the top flap. "FRAGILE" was worded in red letters.

Each of the deities rewarded me with tight hugs and last minute advice for fighting techniques. Out of everyone, I was more than grateful for their help. Without them, this entire journey would not be possible. When I had been released from the last of them, I turned and faced the one person I dreaded saying goodbye to.

Jack looked at me solemnly, before pulling me into a bonecrushing hug. "Skylar, please be careful all right?"

"Of course." I managed to say, in between gasps of air. "If I manage to get myself killed, you'll kick my ass, remember?"

Jack didn't offer a laugh, like I had expected him to. Instead, he released me from his dangerous grip, and shook his head. I tried my best to ignore the tears that were streaking his cheeks, because I was not about to go down with that ship. I had planned this trip for two whole months, I wasn't about to let it go after some salty droplets.

When I finally made my way outside, a cab was waiting o take me to the airport.

Once we were a couple blocks away from my house, I opened up my map. According to Andrew, who generously gave me the map, the place I need to reach was close to the Canadian border. The red marker is where the plane will take me, and the blue lines showed me where I needed to walk on foot.

I knew the car ride would be an hour and a half, so I relaxed into the interior of the backseat, and soon enough I drifted off to sleep.

I landed on my butt ungracefully. The air left my lungs and I immediately tried to regain it; gasping on the grass like a fish out of water.

"Why are you doing this?" A smooth and recognizable voice said from in front of me. A voice I haven't heard in exactly two months, mainly because I never dream anymore, I have nightmares.

Looking up I saw him, with his fair hair that blew in the breeze, his completely white clothes that seemed to reflect the sunlight, making a bright aura around him. I had to place my hand over my eyes to keep myself from going blind.

"What?" I asked, breathlessly.

He sighed and frowned. "Do you like making me worry? Because I cannot be with you to make sure you do not go and kill yourself. Is that what you want, for me to worry about you?"

I stood up abruptly, my stupor and awe evaporating with his harsh words. "No, I don't." I rushed the words out, making them sound like one word. "I just need to do this. For me and you."

He gently touched my forearm, sending that trickle of electricity up my entire arm. "No, you do not. Skylar, I just want you happy."

"I will be! With you, and only you."

He grimaced, "Skylar, you cannot mean that."

"But I do!" I argued. "I need you and this is why I have to do this. For my own sanity."

Xave ripped his hand away, "For your sanity? Skylar, you are starting to talk crazy. I told you good things awaited you soon enough, but you just want to throw them all away for this stupid trip? You will do nothing but get yourself killed!"

"I won;t, I know how to fight now!" I urged.

"Until you slip up and find yourself dead beneath their feet." He shouted, silencing my comeback. He must have noticed my visible shock at his tone, because his next words were much softer.  "Skylar, do not follow through with this, please."

I slowly inched away from him, "No, I have to."

And then I pinched my arm, forcibly ripping myself away from him and this land.