Lightstringers

Chapter Seventeen: Don't Stop No Matter What

"Answer the damn question Franklin. How does that sound," smiled Brian. "Ok! Stupid Lightstringer!" he whispered. "My wife is a Yolimer," he said. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!" asked Brian. "That's the problem," said grandfather. "What problem?" "After they were hunted down by his father. The surviving Yolimers locked themselves in a hidden place. Hidden from any creature to find," I sighed. "Ok! We go ask your grandmother to tell us where it is," Brian said desperately. "And that's where you're wrong again," said grandfather. Brian looked at me waiting for my answer. I sighed, not having an answer. Then grandfather talked breaking the silence, he said, "She won't tell us. Actually she can't tell us. Even if she tries, she'll die in the process. They have been cursed that if they try to hint the slightest hint about their place they'll die." He shrugged.

"What?! I didn't know that!" I shouted. "Neither did I, except a few years ago. When the queen tortured my wife, trying to get her to tell her their hiding place. She kept torturing and torturing, but Sandy couldn't tell her. Sandy tried telling her that she was cursed but my aunt won't listen!" he said while raising his voice. "I am sorry," I said. "Now she's gone," he said as he breathed out. "So let's go talk to your grandma, shall we?" he asked as he started the engine. "Well, we don't have much of a choice. Do we?" I asked. "Nope. You don't have," he answered as we started to head to our destination. "Open the radio!" I exclaimed. We have been on the road for about, I don't know, maybe 2 hours. "No!" exclaimed grandfather. "But I'm bored!" I whined. "Brian! Open the radio!" I said flirtatiously. Brain began to sweat. "Brain! Pretty please," I said as I fluttered my eyelashes. He gulped visibly.

"Don't you even try lover boy!" warned grandfather. Brian looked at him with pleading eyes. It was like he was suffocating. "Fine! If you don't want to open it then I'll sing!" I said. "I hope that your voice is good because I won't bear another headache," said grandfather. And I started to sing. "How can I say this without breaking? How can I say this without taking over? How can I put it down and do words when it's almost too much for my soul alone. I loved and I loved and I lost you. I loved and I loved and I lost you. I loved and I loved and I lost you, and it hurts like hell. Yeah, it hurts like hell!" "I don't want them to know the secret. I don't want them to know the way I loved you. I don't think they understand that, no. I don't think they would accept me, no! I loved and I loved and I lost you! I loved and I loved and I lost you! I loved and I loved and I lost you, and hurts like hell! Yeah, it hurts like hell!" "Lights, who broke your heart?!" asked grandfather.

"The truth! I have been living a lie all my life. All this time, I have been going to school thinking I was a normal kid! But the truth came crumbling all I've built all these years. All my plans for the future! First, mum and dad weren't the people they really are. Second, I'm a part of a crazy prophecy and I am the main character in it! And the whole the world depends in me," I said. "You sure it wasn't lover boy here who broke your heart?" asked grandfather. I felt Brian's eyes burning the side of my skull. He was waiting for my answer. "He didn't do anything to hurt my feelings," I said not looking at Brian. "You're not very good with lying Alice!" he said. "What are you talking about?" I asked. "Alice, I've hurt your feelings on multiple occasions and you still talk to me like nothing happened!" he shouted. "Yes! But do you want me to scream at you and tell you that I hate you? Huh! ANSWER ME?" I asked.

"No! That's not what I meant!" he whispered. "That's what I thought." "What I meant is that, I don't deserve you Alice," he said in a quiet voice. "Really? After you told me I was your soul mate?" I shouted. "How did you-." "I was awake you know. I heard everything you said in that room," I said. "Then why did you act like you didn't know me?" he yelled now looking at me. "Because at that time I didn't know where was I, let alone who was I. I didn't act on you. I genuinely had no memories whatsoever," I said honestly. "Care to explain to me how you know suddenly knew my name when you woke up for the second time?" he asked. "When I was at the graveyard. I touched some gravestones. They triggered some of my memories. But when I touched Amy's," my voice broke. I paused for a bit, but then completed, "All of my memories came crashing on me, hitting me like a truck," I glanced outside the window. Brain and I kept silent to the end of the ride. Even, grumpy grandfather was silent until, "We're here," he said in a singing voice. I sighed and said, "Let's get this over with!"

I was surprised to find they weren't living the luxurious life, other Lights were living in. They were living in a modest house. The house was long and narrow, perhaps only twelve feet wide at the front, but it stretched some thirty feet back. It was two stories high and had a one story extension at the rear for the kitchen. The wooden framed sash windows were propped open with sticks and the brick work, perhaps once a jaunty blue, looked dirty with over a hundred years of grime. A small rose garden had been planted in front. It looked cozy. But now that the queen is dead, they have to take control of the Lightstringers kingdom as now queen Madelia died. "Hey grandma?" I smiled as I looked at her. "Franklin? Is that you?" she asked as she looked around. "I forgot to tell you. She lost her sight after the last torture my aunt gave her," whispers the prince. "Oh god, that's awful!" exclaimed Brian. "It really is!" I nodded back. "Yes dear. It's me. I even brought some guest over," he said as he gestured to us. "I sense a powerful being with us? Who did you bring?" "I brought a lightstringer and a pulight."

"A- A- A pulight?! You really founda pulight?! Oh dear Lights! We're going to be saved!" she chimed excitedly."Hey grandma?" I said as I held her hand. "Grandma?! Franklin? Why did thepulight call me grandma?" "She's the daughter of our son dear." "My son? My sonis alive?!" "He was, grandma. He died two weeks ago," I said. "Oh my dear son!What have I done to you?! I should've protected you!" she wept. "He didn'tresent you grandma. He misses you and he always told me about the things youused to do with him!" I lied. In fact was that my father hated both of hisparents. After being banished, he was led to believe that both of his parentsthrew him out like human parents do. "He did?" she asked hopefully. "Of coursehe did!" "Why are you here dear? Shouldn't you ne fighting Shadows orsomething?" "I'm here because I need answers grandma. I need to meet one ofyour kind. A Yolimer," I said. Her face drained from blood and she looked atwhere I was standing.