Celebrations

Chapter Eighteen

“Hey…” Clay’s whisper woke me up and I smiled. “What are you dreaming about? You keep talking and your heartbeat is erratic.”

“When we met.” I sighed, “I was thinking about it and I guess I just fell asleep and was rewarded with full replay.” He smiled some and kissed me.

“I would like to remind you on that that it is winter here and there will be no jumping off cliffs.”

“Yes sir.” I giggled and wrapped my arms around his neck. “If you are waking me up from such a wonderful dream I expect reconciliation.” I warned and he smiled moving to the bottom of my nightdress.

“I would be all too happy to give you some.”

“Shouldn’t we go let everybody know we’re here?” I whispered a few hours later, “I mean Bell’s probably worried.”

“She was. Eli has already been here.” He smiled. “He came while you were having your ‘wonderful dream’.”

“Well it was wonderful.” I shrugged getting up. I walked to the closet and pulled out one of the dresses I remembered wearing to walk around on days when there would be company.

“Wear jeans for now.” Clay whispered.

“I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with that.” I whispered, “You know I haven’t worn jeans in… well you probably know better than I do.”

“Then here.” He promised holding out my dress. I shook my head though and slipped on the dress. I frowned when I saw that my breasts popped out of it more than they used to.

“I’ve gotten fat.” I frowned.

“No.” He shook his head, “Food is just different on Earth than it is here.” He promised. “Plus it’s only your breasts and I’m always happy to have more to hold.” He smiled and I blushed. “I sure do love that color.” He promised running his finger along the edge of my collar. He bent to kiss me and then moved his lips lower and kissed the top of the collar.

“Are you sure that you’re okay with me wearing this?”

“Wear what you feel comfortable wearing.” He promised, “I am confident that I am the only one that will ever get to see certain parts of your body.” I blushed again and just walked to the door. He caught up quickly and then walked with me out into the castle. “They should be having breakfast if you want to join everybody.” He told me and I nodded. He wrapped his arm around my waist and led me through the castle to the dining hall.

“Alex!!!” Bell jumped up and ran over hugging me. “Do you remember any of this?”

“I remember all of it.” I told her and Clay smiled pulling me in closer. “You’ll remember soon enough. We just have to get you and Eli to perform the ceremony.”

“We did.” She whispered, “I still don’t remember much.”

“Well it will come. I mean look how long we’ve had our ceremony done and then we still had to redo it for me to remember everything.” I told her and Clay pulled away. I followed him with my eyes to watch him hug his mother.

“I hope I remember soon.” Bell whispered, “Eli keeps having to whisper introductions to me. I mean our best friend…”

“Courtney?” I asked worriedly.

“I guess that part wasn’t a lie then.” She sighed.

“Sorry. Look ask Eli if a second ceremony would help you like it did me.” I suggested and she nodded. She walked over to Eli and I moved back over to Clay.

“Is everything okay?” He whispered in my ear.

“Yeah she’s just overwhelmed.”

“Like you?” He accused and I sighed but nodded.

“More though because she doesn’t remember anything. At least I remember everything you know as long as I can get past the blur.”

“Alex…” Claire, his mother, smiled.

“Hi Claire.” I whispered.

“Welcome home darling.” She added and pulled me into a hug.

“I still remember who killed me.” I warned in her ear and she pulled away quickly and went to sit down. “I would like to have a look around.” I told Clay, “Can we just take a muffin and eat while we explore?”

“Of course.” He promised with a kiss. “Tell me what you remember about who killed you.” He ordered outside.

“No.” I shook my head.

“I will continue to probe unless you tell me.”

“I have it blocked from you.” I warned.

“Why?”

“Because it would hurt you.” I whispered. “Now please… I want to look around.”

“Not until you tell me.” He ordered, “If you are in danger I need to know.”

“As long as I stay with you she won’t try anything.” I promised.

“Who?” He started getting angrier.

“I’m not telling you Clay!!!” I snapped, “So leave it be.” I finished softer.

“I’m not going to.” He warned. “You would have had to tell somebody.”

“She talked once in a dream.” Bell whispered behind him. “Mom told me that it had been a nightmare but a few names have stuck out to me. I know the dream was about somebody killing her and so I’m assuming it was a memory.”

“Don’t Bell.” I warned. “You know why I can’t tell him.”

“And you know why I have to. It was Claire and Courtney.” She told Clay. “They wanted Courtney to be your new mate.” She said and I snarled.

“I told you no.” I snapped.

“Yeah well I do remember a few things and… look they told me about the death… Courtney told me they killed you right before I was reincarnated. Your reaction with Claire brought the memory to me. She told me that if you two did another ceremony… she’d kill you again and make sure that Clarence didn’t find out until too late to save you.” She whispered, “She’s in danger, Clarence. You need to make her go back to Earth.”

“No.” He shook his head, “Eli!” He called and Eli appeared beside us. “Keep them with you. I have people to execute.”

“Clay!!” I called as Eli held me back. “Eli please… it’s his mom. The woman who raised you who you call mom… she’s the one he’s executing.”

“She killed you?” He checked and Bell nodded, “Then I can do nothing to save her. The only thing that’s got him through all of this is the thought that after your ceremony you would be able to tell him who sided with the warlocks and killed you. He’s been planning execution for a hundred centuries and he’s known for that long that it was somebody close to you.”

“Please Clay…” I begged silently, “Please don’t kill her. I don’t want you to be hurt.” He pushed me out of his mind and I just collapsed into Eli.

“Here…” Eli whispered, “I’ve been ordered to remove you from the planet.”

“We just did another ceremony.” I shook my head, “My bones could start breaking.”

“Better to have broken bones than another death.” He warned and we reappeared in mine and Clay’s bedroom on Earth. I sat down on the bed and looked into space for hours before finally Clay came back.

“It’s safe for you now.” He promised and we landed in the dining hall. “There’s no time to change.” He shook his head but I still used my powers to change. “I didn’t know you knew how to do that.” He commented.

“Yeah… I just like to feel you watch me get dressed.” I shrugged but he actually smiled and so I wrapped my arms around him, “Are you okay?” I whispered.

“Yes.” He nodded with a kiss, “I’ll be fine. The mother I knew died long ago.”

“But your dad?” I whispered.

“Will have a choice to either follow her or to stay.” He nodded, “It will be his choice.”

“I’m staying.” Alec promised, “Claire had been cheating on me with my brother even before he’d been arrested. I thought it’d stopped and we’d stayed together for you and Elliot. Elliot is your half-brother. His mom didn’t die in childbirth.”

“Let’s wait until later to tell him.” Clay said and Alec nodded. “Ally has a speech to make now.”

“Yes your highness.” I whispered and Clay sighed pulling me in tighter. “Are you really okay?”

“Yes. Surprisingly. Knowing that you are safe now is making everything a lot easier.” He promised and I sighed. “Do you remember your speech?”

“Yes.” I promised and then I walked up to the front table with him trailing a step behind. Everybody stood when they saw us but I noticed the empty spots where his mother and Courtney should have sat.

“Do you want me to have somebody remove them?” Clay whispered following my look.

“No.” I whispered, “I’m fine. Just nervous about giving the speech I guess. I mean what if I get confused or mess up.”

“I’ll help you.” He promised. “You’ve done this thousands of times. Just believe in yourself.” He assured me and then kissed me. He stood up and smiled, “Let me introduce my lovely mate… Alexandra.” He sat then and I stood up. I fell back on my memories and let myself speak the words I remembered but then everybody laughed. I looked over at Clay and he stood up to help me.

The whole crowd started speaking in a language I didn’t understand and I ran out. “Alex!” Bell called and ran over to hold me. “Come on I told Clarence that I’d take you to the room. He’s going to do the speech this year.” I nodded and just let her hold me while I cried.

“What did I do wrong?” I moaned when Clay’s arms wrapped around me.

“They thought you were joking when you started in English. Most of the planet doesn’t speak English.”

“What do they speak?” I whispered as he moved me so that my tears would go into his chest.

“Witch.” He whispered.

“I don’t know how to speak that. I don’t remember.” I whispered.

“I know your memories came back English because that’s what you understand now.” He sighed.

“And they all laughed.” I whispered, “I can’t ever show my face again, Clay.”

“Yes you can. They all regret laughing now.”

“Because you yelled at them. I shouldn’t need the king to yell at everybody so that they don’t make fun of me anymore.”

“I’m your husband. What would you rather I do?”

“Let me deal with them and prove that I deserve respect even if I can’t speak the language.”

“And you will.” He promised me softly, “You will prove that you deserve respect, Ally.”

“I have to go back to that feast.” I whispered.

“No you don’t. There’s more all week. You can try one of them. Give yourself tonight.”

“No.” I shook my head, “It’s my birthday and I’m not going to let a silly thing like this ruin that.” I promised and he sighed but nodded.

“If that’s what you need.” He promised bending to kiss me. “Wash your face and then we’ll go to the feast.” I walked into the restroom and then took the towel he handed me and washed my face with the thick water. It reminded me of Jello.

“The water is thicker.” I commented.

“Yes it is.” He nodded kissing me again.

“I love you.” I promised him softly and he smiled starting to unzip my dress. “Later.” I shook my head.

“You’re telling me no?” He checked and I nodded.

“We have to go back to the feast. Later though.” I promised him softly with a kiss.

“You have never told me no before.” He shook his head pushing me into the wall.

“If you keep this going though I’m going to get distracted and we’ll never make it back to the feast. I need to go to the feast.” I added when he shrugged. He sighed but pulled away and I sighed moving into his side. “After the feast.” I promised and he stayed silent leading me back into the dining room.

“What’s going on with Clarence?” Bell asked when the dancing started.

“I told him no.” I smiled some looking over at Clay who was still pouting.

“Poor guy.” She laughed but took my hand. “Maybe we should just dance ourselves since our mates won’t dance with us.” I smiled and nodded. We walked to the floor together but it cleared quickly and within a couple seconds Clay and Eli interrupted the waltz we were performing together.

“First you tell me no and then you dance my favorite dance with your sister?” He checked and I sighed putting my head in his chest.

“I love you.” I promised him, “And thank you for bringing me back to the feast.” I added and he smiled.

“I would do anything for you.”

“I know.” I smiled, “And I will show my gra…ti…tude…” I trailed off as the dance was interrupted.