The Changeling Princess (19 page)

I fell to the ground completely exhausted. I morphed back to Janis French and crawled to Wade on my hands and knees. The first thing I did was dissolve the protective shield I had placed around him. I saw that he was still breathing, but I knew in my heart he was dying. I tried using a rejuvenation beam, but it had only a minimal effect. There was nothing more I could do. Wade looked up at me and smiled.

“I saw your wings, Janis. They were beautiful.”

“
Don’t talk, Wade, you’re hurt pretty bad.”

“
I know I’m not going to make it, but I have to tell you a couple of things while I still have the strength to say them.”

“
I’m listening.”

“
Do you know what I wished for at my last birthday party?”

“
You can tell me if it’s important to you.”

“
I wished we were normal teenagers and we were high school sweethearts. I’ve got to confess that I fell in love with you the first time I saw you. My only regret is that I’ve never been able to tell you before now.”

The tears were running down my cheeks as I lowered my head and whispered softly,
“I love you, too.”

“
You mustn’t cry, Janis. I’m going to a far better place and I know we’ll be together again someday. I see you’re still wearing my ring. Does that mean you’re still my girl?”

“
Yes, I’m still your girl and I always will be.”

Wade was still smiling as he closed his eyes. I could sense the life forces leaving his body as his heart stopped beating. I looked up at the sky and released an ear-splitting scream that shook the ground. The pain I felt was more unbearable than anything I had ever felt in my life. I suddenly felt a presence hovering above me.

You have done well my child. I am sorry this victory has caused you so much pain.

“
Couldn’t you have done something to save Wade?”

This is what I once referred to as free will. Wade made his choice and that
’s the way he chose to lead his life. He was pure of heart and he will receive his just rewards in the kingdom that awaits him. You, on the other hand, still have much work to do.

“
Are you saying I have more battles to fight?”

That is correct. Down through the centuries there have been many who have escaped into your world. It is your job to find these creatures and imprison them until they disintegrate.

“How long is that?”

The Demons that escaped from the parallel universe have an average life expectancy of five thousand years. You must make sure they are imprisoned for that length of time. I suggest you take Wade back to his home. It is time to mourn.

“I understand.”

I picked up Wade
’s shield and sword and prepared for the journey home. I broke into tears at the thought of facing his aunt. I hated to be the bearer of such bad news.

CHAPTER 34

I landed in Wade’s backyard and carried him to the back door. Miss Wilson was waiting for me and opened the door. “Bring Wade into the living room and lay him on the sofa.”

Miss Wilson remained silent as she ran her hand tenderly over Wade
’s face. “Did he suffer?” she asked.

“
No. Wade died like a warrior, with his sword in his hand.”

Miss Wilson was a very strong woman, but I sensed the grief in her trembling voice.
“Wade was very special, but I think you know that already.”

“
Very, very special. No one will ever take his place in my heart. Will there be a funeral?”

“
Yes, but our Clan has its own customs. Wade’s body will lie here for two days. This will permit his friends to stop by and pay their respects. The two days of mourning will start the day after tomorrow. Wade will be buried at the Grandview Memorial Cemetery, but there will be no services at the burial.”

As hard as I tried, I couldn
’t stop the tears flowing down my cheeks. Miss Wilson put her arms around me to comfort me. “Life has dealt us a cruel blow, but we have to hold our heads high and carry on. In the Witch religion, death is not the end; it is a beginning.”

*
* *

My parents were elated when I walked through the front door. It was as if I
’d been missing for a year and I’d suddenly found my way home.

“
You were only gone for one day,” said my dad. “Did you defeat the Army of Darkness?”

“
Yes, we did. I closed the Portal of Darkness and the Earth is safe for another five hundred years.”

My mother realized something wasn
’t right. “You don’t seem very happy about that. Did something go wrong?”

My voice cracked as I spoke.
“Wade was killed on the battlefield.”

There was silence in the room until my dad spoke.
“That’s terrible. I’m very sorry, sweetheart. Wade was a very special young man.”

“
He was more than that,” said my mother. “He was in love with Janis and she loved him too.”

I nodded my head.
“Yes I loved, Wade, but it just wasn’t meant to be. We had a greater calling and we knew that came first.”

I spent the rest of the evening relating the details of the battle. When it was time to go to bed, I said goodnight and walked slowly up the stairs.

The kitties were waiting for me at the foot of the bed.
How did it go?
Missy asked.

Izzy spoke next.
Did you smack ‘em good?

I picked up both kit
ties and held them in my arms.
We defeated the bad guys, but Wade died on the battlefield.

Oh no!
said Missy.
I really like Wade.

I liked Wade too
, said Izzy.

I was filled with grief because I knew I was never going to see Wade again. The grief would eventually diminish, but it was going to take a long, long time.

* * *

I was at Wade
’s house for the two days of mourning. Wade was placed in a casket in the center of the living room. Miss Wilson was dressed in black and she sat at the head of the casket. I was sitting nearby because I felt a great sense of comfort in her strength.

All of the Clan members stopped by and paid their respects. Sherri broke down crying and had to be helped out of the room. There are many definitions of strength, but the strongest of them all is the ability to deal with pain and suffering. Life goes on and you just have to make the best of it.

* * *

I visited the Westgate Memorial Cemetery where Wade was buried. The bronze plaque set into the grass read,
“Wade Wilson, 1944 - 1962.” I tried not to cry, but I couldn’t help it. Life wasn’t always fair and I knew I’d have to learn to take the good with the bad.

My senses suddenly told me I was in the presents of a Witch. I looked over my shoulder and saw a man standing about twenty feet away. I was positive it was Wade
’s father. I walked up to him and asked, “Are you Eric Wilson?”

“
You are very perceptive young lady, but my senses tell me you’re not a Witch.”

“
No, I’m a Changeling and I was a very close friend of Wade’s. I was at his birthday party when he received your postcard from London, England. Wade loved you very much.”

“
I don’t know why. I didn’t do anything to deserve his love. I was nothing but a big disappointment in his life.”

“
Maybe you were, but that doesn’t change the fact that you were his father. If Wade had lived, I believe things eventually would have worked themselves out. In his heart, Wade believed that and that’s all that counts.”

“
The sad thing is that I was on my way to see Wade when he died. If I had come a week earlier, things might have been different.”

“
It’s not too late to visit his grave and tell him how you feel. I’m sure he will be able to hear you.”

“
I’m sure he will—and I’m going to go by and see my sister too. We have a lot of patching up to do. I just hope she’ll find it in her heart to forgive me.”

As I left the cemetery, I turned and watched as Wade
’s father walked up to the gravesite. He got down on his knees and folded his hands in front of him. I had no doubt whatsoever that Wade would forgive his father. Wade was that kind of guy.

I had two more matters to be taken care of. First, I went to see Grandma Pauline. I had written a detailed report covering everything that had taken place during the battle. She could use this information to keep her records up to date.

After I left Pauline’s, I flew to the mountain clearing with Wade’s equipment—his sword, his shield, and his robe. Wade loved the mountain retreat and I thought this was the perfect place to bury his belongings.

I wrapped everything in a silk sheet and placed it into a deep hole close to the large tree where we used to hang our swords and shields. I filled in the hole and patted the ground.

“This clearing will always be our place, Wade. I will never come here without recalling the wonderful memories that are locked in my heart. I love you now and I will love you forever.”

My eyes were filled with tears as I ascended into the sky and headed for home. It was time to move forward. I knew that Wade would want me to carry on.

CHAPTER 35

It was two o
’clock in the afternoon. My mother was visiting Pauline and I was home alone, playing with the kitties. I sensed a presence and then I realized the Supreme Entity was about to speak.

It is time for you to fulfill the rest of your obligation as an Ivarr. The list you are about to receive contains the names and general locations of the creatures that have escaped into your world. It is your job to capture as many of these Demons as possible and imprison them for the remainder of their lives.

I sensed the Supreme Entity was no longer with me. A sheet of paper I’d never seen before was laying on my dressing table. I knew instantly that this was the list that contained the names of the creatures I was instructed to round up. I picked up the list and skimmed through the names, reading who and what they were and where they lived.

Ackula:
Female Vampire, Louisiana.

Albazar:
Flesh-eating Werewolf, Michigan.

Araknazoid:
Spider Demon, Mexico.

Antista:
Sea creature, Loch Ness, a fresh water loch in the Scottish Highlands.

Cumado:
Devil bat, New Guinea.

Gensa:
She creature, a cave in Greece.

Hensha:
Cat Demon, Paris, France.

Idos:
Snow Demon, Himalaya Mountains.

Mestra:
Snake Demon, Cairo, Egypt.

Omazato:
Giant centipede, Serengeti ecosystem.

Zalazar:
Invisible dragon, France.

Zimbro:
Demon gorilla, lowland forests of Cameroon.

The
list consisted of twelve names. There was a wide array of strange creatures, so I knew I had my work cut out for me. When I explained to my parents that we had to have a conversation, they were very attentive and gave me their full attention.

“
I had a visit from the Supreme Entity. He gave me a list of creatures that have escaped into our world since the opening of the first portal.”

“
What does the Supreme Entity want you to do?” asked my father.

“
I’ve been asked to capture as many of these Demons as possible and imprison them for the remainder of their lives.” I handed the list to my father.

My father studied the list and then turned to me.
“This is a monumental task. Do you have any idea how you’re going to find these creatures or how you’re going to restrain them after you capture them?”

“
Not a clue, Dad. I’m just going to play it by ear. I guess that sounds pretty corny.”

“
I have a suggestion,” said my mother. “You could use your power of telekinesis and build a force field around the creatures. They’d never be able to escape from that.”

“
I considered that, Mom. The force field would have to be strong enough to last for five thousand years. If I added a couple of extra layers, I’m sure that’ll get the job done.”

“
A good place to store them would be the Mariana Trench,” said my dad. “Its seven miles deep and no one would ever know they’re there.”

“
That’s a great idea, but I’ve never traveled that deep under water.”

“
I doubt that that’ll be a problem for the Changeling Princess,” said my mother.

My father passed the list to my mother and turned to me.
“Judging from the creatures you’re going to be going after, I can’t imagine what it must be like to live in their world.”

“
Absolutely terrible,” I said. “We don’t realize how good we’ve got it here in our world.”

“
Don’t get too discouraged if you can’t find some of them,” said my mother. “Many of these Demons have been on Earth for thousands of years and the Ivarrs before you weren’t capable of finding them.”

“
I thought about that. I’ll probably give myself some kind of a time limit and then move on to the next creature.”

“
Where are you going to start?” asked my mother.

“
I’m going to start at the top of the list. I’m going to Louisiana first thing in the morning to chase down a female Vampire named Ackula.”

“
Are you driving?”

“
Yes, but New Orleans is less than eight hundred miles from here. I can fly home any time I want to in a relatively short period of time.”

“
You give a whole new meaning to the term ‘fast woman.’” said my father

“
I’ll take that as a compliment, Dad.”