I stared at my phone as I texted Ethan. I told him I was going to take a nap and probably wouldn't text back until we got to wherever we were going. We’d been texting back and forth with Junho stealing his phone occasionally to text me cute images made up of text. It was my entertainment for the long quiet car ride.
I glanced at Michael in the back seat. He was fast asleep, his head resting against the window of our new Range Rover Junho had bought to replace the last one. I thought I'd have issues sitting in the passenger seat after what happened, but after two hours, everything was still good.
I lowered my gaze to Moonlight, who looked half asleep on Michael's lap. His tail was moving back and forth occasionally and his Nighty doll was in his hold.
I returned my gaze to the front, sliding my phone into my little purse and putting on my sunglasses. At least with them on, I could take sneaky peeks of Jaxson without him noticing.
I did just that, taking a quick side look at Jaxson, who was driving. He wore black shades and his black short hair blew lightly from the wind that crept in through the gap in the window on his side.
When I arrived at Jaxon’s place last night with Michael, we didn't talk much. Jaxson simply hugged me, and that was enough to make me cry like a little baby. I'd fallen asleep in his hold and woke up sandwiched between him and Michael.
Moonlight was relaxing at the end of the bed. After we woke up and got dressed, Jaxson said he had somewhere he wanted to go and asked if we could come along.
So we were heading somewhere, and Michael and I had no clue as to the destination. But I wasn't overly concerned. Even though Jaxson had apologized, we hadn't been talking. Rarely anyways.
I glanced down at his hand that rested next to the gear shift. I looked down to my left hand, which was only inches away. I wanted to hold his hand, even if we were upset with one another, but I couldn't find the courage to do it.
After staring at his hand for what seemed to be minutes, I gave up. I closed my window so I could rest my head against it, shutting my eyes to take a nap.
I waited for sleep to come, but then a hint of fear went through me. If I fell asleep, would the car get hit? Would I lose Jax, Michael, and Moonlight?
I opened my eyes again, feeling exhausted and desperate to snooze for the remaining two hour drive, or so the GPS stated, but the fear didn't dissipate. I could feel my hand tremble, but I didn't move, not wanting Jaxson to realize I was still awake.
I tried again, longing to sleep, but then I worried I might have nightmares about the incident. I felt I was dealing with an emotional, jet-lagged reactions to everything regarding the car accident, and now was unsure how to tackle them.
I felt something warm wrap around my hand and squeezed it gently. I didn't move, but I knew it was Jaxson's hand, my hand always feeling so small in his.
"You're okay, Scar. Nothing will happen," Jaxson whispered.
I didn't know if he figured out I was awake this whole time, but the warmth of his hand seemed to rid my mind of the fear that had been building. It was like he was the cure for my anxiety at this moment. The relief that ran through me was hard to express in words.
All I knew was I was thankful for his observant nature and I squeezed his hand back as I finally relaxed. In less than a minute, I was fast asleep.
"Ugh. Moonlight, give me the keys!" Michael shouted. He chased after Moonlight, who kept running around the outside of the house, with his Nighty doll and the set of keys for the house before us in his mouth.
I watched Moonlight dash off to the back of the house and Michael groaned. "Scar, help."
I yawned before rubbing my eyes. "He won't give them back until you catch him," I revealed.
"Ugh. Moonlight!" Michael huffed and ran off to the back. I smiled before my attention shifted to the gorgeous vintage looking house before me. We were in the countryside and the single house was surrounded by acres of land, with a forest on the outskirts of the property.
When I woke up, I realized I had been resting on Jaxson's shoulder, his arm holding me in place. I didn't mind one bit and shyly thanked him for it before we'd gotten out of the car. Risuki had told me within my mind that I had been whimpering in my sleep. That’s when Jaxson stopped the car momentarily to reposition me so I could rest on him. I'd stopped whimpering after that apparently. It made me happy that even if we weren't 100% back to normal, he still cared about my well being.
Jaxson walked up next to me, taking the little neon pink duffle bag from my hand. "You can go inside and rest. I'll bring our stuff inside."
"But the keys," I protested, pointing to Michael, who was now in the field chasing after Moonlight who was clearly having the time of his life.
Jaxson grinned. "There's a spare under the doormat."
"Smart." I hummed and gave him a small smile. I moved towards the house, walking up the stairs and retrieved the gold key under the welcome mat.
I opened the door and sighed in awe at the beautiful interior. It made me feel like I'd walked into the 1900s. It was so different from our classy, space-conserving homes that were more technology dependent. Sure, a house could be welcoming, but old classic homes like these always warmed my heart. Maybe it was partly because it reminded me of my home when I was younger.
As I walked into the living room, the familiarity of the place triggered my memory: the vision of the burning home and the little boy's cries. I swallowed at the image in my mind.
"Scar?" Jaxson called out. I ignored him, closing my eyes and allowing my hand to run along the piece of smooth, white hardwood.
I felt a pull of energy from upstairs and could hear the little boy’s cries for his mother over and over again. Even though I knew the house wasn't really burning down, I could feel the heat of the flames from the vision and the feeling of hopelessness.
"Scarlet." Jaxson's voice was closer but again, I ignored it. I moved away from where I stood and followed the power tugging at me. It was almost as if my very heart could feel the gripping pull, like a rope reeling me in.
I moved up the oh so familiar stairs and walked down the hall towards the master bedroom. I slowly opened the door to a room that looked exactly like the one burning in my vision. I walked to where I had stood in my dream, just steps away from the little boy who held his dead mother in his arms.
I felt a hand land on my shoulder and slowly turned my head to meet Jaxson's worried gaze. His amber eyes reminded of the little boy’s, yet lacked the determination and rage that reflected in the child’s amber eyes.
"Scar...are you having a vision?" Jaxson asked. He seemed unsure and continued to give me a worried look.
"The little boy," I whispered, returning my gaze to the spot on the wooden floor where the kid had cradled his mother. "The house was burning. Piece by piece, everything was being engulfed by the flames, which I knew weren't caused by accident. Even with all the noise from the fire destroying the furniture and eating up the wood, the little boy's cries were still so loud."
I turned my head and gave him a sad smile. "Over and over he screamed for his mother, and I thought maybe I could help. He could have been trapped, so I made my way upstairs to where his cries came from. There he was. He had such bright amber eyes...yet, they were filled with tears as he held the woman in his arms. His poor mother, covered in wounds, with a pool of her blood beneath them. He kept crying, calling for help like someone could save her. Yet, she was already gone...not even a speck of life within her dull eyes."
I swallowed the lump in my throat, looking down at the floor as I blinked back my tears. "I wanted to help him, Jaxson. I wanted so badly to comfort and tell him none of this was his fault. I didn't know what had caused his mother's death, but I wanted justice for him. Then Kendrick arrived and carried his mother out, encouraging the little boy to follow. As he was about to leave, he paused and ran over to a drawer just like that one." I pointed to the white drawer.
"He takes...something...I can't really recall what. Then he’s about to leave the room again, but stalls, just to turn and look around the room. I don't normally cling to visions, yet this one spoke to my very soul. What struck me the most was his eyes."
I lifted my head up to look back into Jaxson's eyes. "Those glorious orange-gold eyes were filled with a level of determination I never thought possible. In that one glance, I knew that boy's innocence was gone and had been replaced with a new purpose. He was determined to get justice. He would find who did this and make them pay for ruining his once happy childhood. Such a wonderful home burned down to ash because of one selfish person. Maybe that's why I could never let it go. This place reminds me of that home...that exact vision...but I know what I saw wasn't a dream. Maybe I wanted it to be a figment of my imagination simply so I could hope that little boy never experienced such a tragedy. But my heart tells me that it really happened some time in the past. That little boy must still be trying to reclaim the justice his mother deserved."
He slowly nodded and reached out to pull me into a hug. "Do you think such a boy could live a good life? Would he be able to go to school or get a job? Do you think he'd be able to find love and look at the world without hate?" Jaxson asked.
I took a calming breath, closing my eyes to imagine the little boy in all those scenarios. It took me some time, but then I pulled back to smile up at him.
"Yes. What happened to him was unforgivable, but from the determination in his eyes...I know he'd get justice the proper way. He'd go to school, get amazing grades, graduate and get a good job that would help him get closer to finding the person who shattered his world. Even if his mom was a woman who he loved and cherished, I think he'd still have space in his heart to love, and to find a woman who will accept him, even if he was still hurting inside. He'd become someone far better than the person, or people who flipped his life upside down. He would be the better human being...and Mother Destiny and the Starlight gods would one day reward him with closure." I whispered the last part, feeling like it had to be said.
A wide smile formed on Jaxson's face and his expression softened. He nodded in agreement. Then he pulled out of our hold, walking over to the desk I'd pointed to moments ago. He pulled opened the top drawer and retrieved a black box with a red ribbon. It wasn't like the one in my vision, but it looked expensive like it held something valuable inside.
My heart seemed to pulse faster and the tugging sensation returned. I focused on the box in Jaxson's hand as he walked back to where I stood. He took a deep breath and pulled the bow of the ribbon, releasing its hold around the box. He then lifted the lid. I gawked to see the final crystal, the ruby red gem with hints of gold and orange embedded in the silver bracelet.
It all made sense: the vision, Jaxson's reactions after my interaction with Xerxes and my death. This place that looked like a replica of that little boy’s home. I lifted my head in shock and whispered. "The little boy...was you?"
"Yup. I was dropped off by my grandparents after a play day and walked into the house before the fire started. My grandma had felt something was off, but told me to tell my mom to call her once dinner was made. I rushed inside as usual, running to the kitchen where my mom always was cooking dinner for us, but she wasn't there. That's when I noticed the fire burning in the living room. It was the curtains at first, then the couch. Soon, it was spreading fast and the one thing I could think of was to make sure my mom was safe. I grabbed the phone and dialed the first number on the recently called list. Kendrick picked up. I didn't know who he was at the time, but I told him I needed help because my house was on fire and we lived in the middle of nowhere. He ensured me he would get help and would be there as fast as he could. Then I told him I'd check on my mom and hung up," Jaxson explained.
He took another calming breath before he lifted the bracelet out of the box. "I ran upstairs, calling for my mom. Then I heard her scream. It...was the most heart-wrenching sound I'd ever heard and made me run so fast, I didn't even think it was possible. The moment I reached the bedroom...there she was. Her body fell in slow motion to the ground and the culprit stood there with a wide smile on his face."
"Xerxes..." I whispered.
Jaxson nodded. "The anger in my eyes only made him laugh. I tried to run towards him, to do anything to wipe that smirk off his lips, but it was as if an invisible barrier was blocking the entrance. All I could do was bang on it and cry for my mom.
“Her eyes...those...beautiful gems just stared at me with sadness as I watched her struggle to breathe. I could...I couldn't do anything. All I could do was cry and tell her how much I loved her. How much I wanted her to fight the evil man and live. How...I'd get stronger so I could protect her...and...she just smiled and nodded. She was dying...blood pooling underneath her…in who knows how much pain. Yet, she smiled and looked at me with such pride..." Jaxson sobbed. I blinked back my own tears, walking up to him to wipe away the tears that ran down his cheeks.
"Why was she proud of me when I couldn't even save her? How could she smile when she was in so much pain? Xerxes chose to leave then, and the barrier preventing me from getting into the room faded. I ran to my mom and held her in my arms, wishing I was an angel spirit so I could heal her. But one look into her eyes told me it didn't matter what I did at that moment. She was on the verge of death, and in a matter of minutes would be one with the stars."
He sniffed and took a few breaths before staring at the bracelet in his hand. "She told me that this bracelet was now mine to protect until it was bestowed upon me properly. She said this had to happen and I shouldn't blame myself, but I didn't understand. Why did my mom have to die? She was everything to me...so why was it okay?" He cried and I pulled him into my arms.
"Jaxson..." I whispered, rubbing his back as he wept, my own tears rolling down my cheeks as I sobbed.
"When she died...I thought I'd never feel whole again. Didn't matter who came in my life. Even the guys only helped heal a part of the gap that was there. Yet, one person was able to fill that void," he whispered, pulling back to stare down at me.
"When I saw you that night in the club...it was like my world clicked into place. As if I knew this woman HAD to be in my life. You were a burst of energy and I yearned to be in your presence.
“As we got to know each other, I realized that the pain in my heart was growing smaller and smaller...and that void I thought would never heal, slowly patched itself up. I felt like a new person, like I could finally live and maybe even put my past behind me, as long as I had you on my team," Jaxson confessed.
"But that phone call...to hear Xerxes’ voice and that sinister laugh while you screamed and called for me...I felt like I was back here, banging on the invisible wall that blocked me from saving my mom. When I had nightmares, instead of seeing my mother, I saw you. The woman I adored for her strength and independence. The woman whose beauty made my heart skip a beat and made me question whether to leave for work because I just wanted to be around you all the time. My Scarlet that entered our lives and made everyone on my team the best they had ever been...including me, lay there in a pool of blood...dead...because I couldn't save you."
He reached out for my right hand, turning it over so my palm faced up. He placed the bracelet in it. "The reason I snapped at you the night of the cage fight was that I knew this would happen. A part of my mind knew about this bracelet, and as we continued to collect each crystal, I wanted so badly to forget about its existence. This gem is known as the Crystal of Forgotten Memories, and it did just that. Whenever I tried to remember where it was, it seemed like I had forgotten, so I gave up on it. But when I slept, I'd have the same nightmare, with you in my Mother’s place. Kendrick would come and pick you up and I'd run to retrieve this from the drawer."
He nodded his head a few times as he bit his lip. "I snapped because I knew I wouldn't be able to keep running from Destiny. I thought if I pushed you away...I could keep you and the others safe. If I broke up the team and took the final crystal and faced Xerxes on my own, at least the people I cared dearly for wouldn't get hurt. Even if it made me look like a bad guy...at least you'd live."
"Jaxson...but...you know how much that would hurt us? Sure, we wouldn't get physical wounds, but...fuck, I love you. Michael loves you! All the others think of you as a brother and you're the leader of our team. Without you...there is no Team Seven. I couldn't live without you. We're a team...and I love having all of you in my life," I confessed, tearing up yet again.
He pressed his forehead against mine, lifting his free hand to brush my tear stained cheek.
"I know, baby. I know. That's...why I'm sorry. I realized my mistake, but I didn't know what to do to fix it. I fucked everything up...I made you cry and the others hate my guts. I must have hurt Michael too...especially now that he’s confessed his feelings for me," Jaxson whispered, closing his eyes.
"I just didn't want history to repeat itself. I didn't want my nightmares to become reality. It was selfish of me...and that's why I decided it was time to stop running and face my fears. Be the determined boy I was all those years ago and work towards fighting Xerxes, not on my own, but as a team."
I gave him a wide smile and used my free hand to press his left hand over the crystal in my grasp. "Close your eyes," I whispered, not sure why I wanted him to, but letting my mind take control of my actions.
He did as I asked. I closed my own, focusing on calming my breathing as I felt the crystal grow hot in our joined hands.
"The hardest challenge one can endure is accepting their flaws."
I opened my eyes and turned to see Akoya with a wide smile on her face. I looked to see Jaxson, who looked at the woman in her green dress. But then his gaze drifted to the person standing on Akoya’s left. His eyes widened before they pooled with tears.
"Mom..."
I followed his gaze and I gaped at the woman standing next to Akoya. Her appearance was stunning. Her hair was bright red that shifted to orange and gold, her roots jet black that reminded me Jaxson's hair. Her amber eyes were radiant and her tanned skin suited her perfectly. Her plump lips were glossed with red lipstick with hints of gold, and her cheeks had a hint of rosy pink.
She was 6'5” and wore a maxi dress with different colored flowers that seemed to glitter. She didn't look older than 40, and was so full of life compared to the vision I’d seen of her dead self.
"Oh, my little Jax. You've grown into such a wonderful man without me."
I looked to Jaxson, who tried to speak. His lip trembled as his eyes filled with tears, which spilled down his cheeks as he began to sob. I kept his left hand in my right, but moved back so his mother could approach. She smiled in thanks, lifting her hand to press against Jaxson's cheek as if she was right there in the flesh.
"Don't cry, Jaxson. I never left your side. You just can't see me,” she confessed, pulling him into a hug. Jaxson lost it and he cried hard into his mother's shoulder as she held him tightly. I glanced at Akoya, who let her tears flow, but held a proud smile.
"My challenge was to test your love for your team, as well as yourself,” she announced, coming to stand next to me.
"My team and myself?" I whispered.
"The one thing I recall about the previous Elemental that stood out the most was her selflessness. It was almost like it was a requirement for her to be the Elemental, and she fulfilled the role marvellously. You've have proven just the same, but I wanted you to realize that it's okay to express what's bothering you. That's one thing the previous Elemental lacked," Akoya explained.
"Mother..." I whispered.
Akoya nodded. "Marilyn was a person who would give up everything to make someone else happy. Whether it was her family, her friends, or her precious daughter who lit up her world. By the time she realized how unhappy she was, her time was already limited. She realized that she spent all her time trying to make the world happy, but by doing so, had buried her own insecurities and things that bothered her the most. It wasn't until she had you that she realized if she stayed within the royal walls, you'd follow the same path."
I glanced to Jaxson, who was still crying, and his mother continued to comfort him. She whispered something in his ear and patted his back soothingly.
"Sometimes sacrifices have to be made so that change can come and a new path can be created. The loss of a life will always leave a wound and hurt both the individuals left behind, and Mother Destiny who watches all of us. When a soul is lost, a seed of them is left behind and it comes down to those left behind from that individual’s life to help nurture that seed to grow and blossom into something positive, or ignore it and allow it be at a standstill. You are on the right path, Scarlet. All you need is to realize that unity is the key to conquering any obstacle," Akoya concluded.
I nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Akoya." She took a step forward and gave me a hug before we turned back to Jaxson and his mother. Jax had calmed down and his mother smiled at him, wiping away his tears.
"Jaxson White. My sweet little boy. You have grown into a spectacular man who has such a big heart. I know you regret not being able to save me, but everything happens for a reason. My death was inevitable and though I wish you never had to witness it, you've become the man standing before me because of it." She turned her gaze to me.
"You also would have never met Scarlet otherwise,” she revealed.
"He wouldn't?" I asked, looking at Jaxson, who met my stare.
"No. A slight change in the past would have changed everything. Even though Scarlet's destiny was written in the stars way before her creation, your team of men, which includes my son, was not. Everything that has happened, from your individual struggles to what you've dealt with together as a team, was a path created by Mother Destiny and was set into a new set of paths upon Marilyn's death," Jaxson's mother revealed.
"Monako, Esmeralda, Aqua, Allison, and myself were the guardians of the crystals. Once our time was up, our power was sealed in the crystals in preparation for the new Elemental, which was initiated when Marilyn gave you the Stone of Awakening the night of her death," Akoya acknowledged.
I looked at Jaxson's mother, who smiled at the mention of her name. "Allison White. Previous guardian of the Crystal of Forgotten Memories. A pleasure to meet you, Scarlet, the Visionary Elemental of this time." She bowed her head slightly.
"It's nice to meet you," I whispered, feeling a little shy suddenly.
She giggled, the sound so soft and gentle, reminding me of my mom's melodic laughter. "Our roles in this world are done. We shall be moving on once the final crystal has been assigned to its rightful owner." Allison looked to Jaxson, who looked taken back by her words.
"Meaning..." he whispered.
Allison nodded. "I won't be able to stay by your side forever, my son, but I'm confident that you will be just fine without me. You have someone else to make sure you don't do anything stupid." She ruffled his hair and looked to me, giving me a wink.
"I didn't do anything stupid," Jaxson huffed and the three of us ladies laughed.
"Scarlet, one time when Jaxson was sixteen, he thought it was a smart idea to jump off a building because he thought Agni could help him fly, and-" Allison began, but Jaxson interrupted.
"Mom! How...ugh. Don't tell her about that,” he whined and we laughed even harder.
Akoya sighed, walking back to stand parallel to us. I watched in awe as the others guardians appeared, all of them looking youthful.
Allison placed her hand on our joined one and took a moment to glance between the both of us. "I won't say there won't be hardships in your relationship and in the path you're destined to walk, but love can conquer anything. Trust in one another, be confident in each other's strengths, and do not be afraid to share your weaknesses. Everyone has flaws and struggles, but sharing them with the people you trust will help you to overcome them. And if you can't, you'll have the same individuals help you face that struggle together."
Jaxson and I smiled, looking at one another. "I understand," Jaxson whispered.
"Me too," I replied. We both turned to Allison, who looked satisfied and turned her attention to Jaxson.
"I will always love you, my son. Make sure you don't screw things up with Scarlet, or I'll have to come back and knock some sense into you,” she declared. Jaxson chuckled while I blushed.
"Thanks for the approval, mom...and I know. I'll cherish and protect her, but will also give her the support she needs when she wants to do things on her own and kick ass," Jaxson reassured her.
Allison grinned and turned to me. "Take care of my baby, and never fear, Scarlet. You are a lot stronger than you think. Use the power within your heart, and the elements will come to your aid. You are the key to tremendous power. All you have to do is will it."
I nodded. "Thank you, Allison."
She gave us each a hug before she pulled back to join the line with the other women. Monako grinned. "Sisters, it has been a long time. We should bless them before we go up to see the gods," she suggested.
"I guess so," Aqua agreed.
"I think a song would be nice," Esmeralda decided.
"We haven't sung together in decades," Akoya added.
"We'll have plenty of singing time in the stars. We could make a choir group." Allison smiled.
They all exchanged looks and laughed. I wondered how they all seemed to be so close when they must have varied in age and life spans.
I turned to look at Allison one more time. She smiled and I looked back to Jaxson. "You have anything else you wanna say? This is the last time," I whispered.
Jaxson stared into my eyes for a long time before he glanced at his mom. "I love you, Mom and I'll be good. I'll fight alongside Scarlet and the others and obtain justice for you. I'll make you proud and...one day we'll meet again," he vowed.
"You already make me proud, my son. I love you too and thank you for choosing the right path," she said, blinking back tears.
Then the five of them began to sing, the melody slow yet held such power and weight. The different harmonies seemed to blend together perfectly, heightening their words about love and unity. They proclaimed that there's always darkness in the world, but light will always prevail. But to spread light means to love, and love is sharing yourself with others and the world.
I turned to face Jaxson and he met my gaze. "You ready?"
"Yes. Are you?" he asked. I turned to the women, seeing their joyful smiles as they continued to sing. My heart clenched to realize their souls would move on to the stars for judgment and our roles would officially be set in stone. But I could see the exhaustion they tried to hide in their eyes.
They had done their duties, some of them staying in this world for far too long. It was time for them to finally rest and go home to where they would be able to sing and rejoice. Not only would they be in a place of peace, they would be surrounded by their loved ones. I knew there would come a time they would welcome us home when our own time on this world came to a close.
"Thank you for everything. May your journey be smooth and welcoming as you enter paradise." I spoke the words with power, my body falling into a trance.
"Thank you Elemental," they said in unison, bowing their heads. "Our work here is done."
I turned my head to Jaxson, who looked a little stunned at first, but soon relaxed. I didn't know how I looked like at this point, but I felt the power of the Stone of Awakening pulse inside me. I noticed my orange strands of hair begin to shift to silver with hints of gold. I took a calming breath and smiled.
"I'm ready." I closed my eyes, allowing the words to flow into my mind and out of my mouth.
"May the Starlight gods bless you and grant you the powers within the Crystal of Forgotten Memories. May it give you the ability to forget the heartache one may cause yourself or others, and replace that pain with strength to strive towards implementing justice. May you forgive those who only want harm for you, but not forget the deeds that have been done. The dark memories that are forgotten will bring forth a wave of happy ones. May those motivate you to work harder to protect such happiness and spread the light throughout this world. I grant this role to you for as long as you shall live, until the day such power will be passed down to the next guardian. In stars, we trust."
"In stars, we trust," Jaxson whispered. I lifted my hand and placed the bracelet on his wrist, sealing his fate.
The ruby jewel glowed brightly and I felt the power course through Jaxson in delight.
In the blink of an eye, time resumed and we looked to see five balls of light.
Gold, green, blue, purple, and red balls floated where the women once stood. They began to move in a circle before shooting up through the roof and into the sky above.
I grinned, feeling the power leave me as I pulled out of my trance-like state. I felt wobbly and Jaxson immediately wrapped his arm around my waist, preventing me from falling back.
"Easy there. You okay?"
I nodded. "Ya. I think that took a little more energy than I thought." I smiled sheepishly, looking up at him with tired eyes.
He smiled back and leaned in to give me a tender kiss. "Thank you, Scarlet."
He lifted me up into his arms and I rested my head against his chest, allowing myself to relax. The five guardians of the Crystals of Mother Destiny had all been chosen.
All that was left now was to find out what Xerxes’ plans were and ensure he paid for his crimes.