Loving the Dead

Chapter 35

All I saw was black.

I sat up quickly from my crazy dream and looked around intently.

Black soot was lightly raining down on me. All the cottages were burned down into little crisps. The trees of the beautiful jungle were gone, completely dead and burned.

"Annora?"

I snap out of my trance to meet my eyes with the beautiful blue ones of Jacob's. Worry was etched onto his face.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Jacob cupped my face in his hands. He had take his wig off and the dirty grey soot fell onto his blonde hair.

"Wh-wha-what happened?" I asked, sputtering over myself.

"Annora, how about you come with me. We'll get you wrapped up and I'll tell you everything."

I was in a daze, and I felt Jacob pull me to my feet. I don't really remember much, except someone putting a blanket around me, and giving me food.

But I wasn't hungry.

I had a gut sinking feeling about why our little island was completely burnt down, but I kept saying it wasn't true.

I woke up from a sleepless dream, and I felt my senses come back. I realized I was a tent, and a cool breeze rustled through the flaps. I looked down and saw I was in new clothes, my dirty, blooded stain war clothes gone. Someone cleaned the blood out of my hair and it was done up in a simple french braid.

I walk out of the tent, and everything came rushing back. Everyone was huddled around a feeble fire, and makeshift tarp tents like mine were scattered around.

I saw Jacob notice me, and he got up from the fire and came towards me.

"Hello my love." He kissing me softly on the forehead.

"Hello Jacob." I didn't look up at him. I knew he was worried about me, but I didn't care. I was mentally exhausted, and it felt like the weight of the world was dropped on my shoulders.

He sighed heavily. "I think it's time you learned what happened." He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and led me to the fire, but no heat was warming me.

"Hi Annora." My Fsther spoke, and he leaned over and patted my thigh. My Mother threw me a sad smile.

"Annora, what do you remember before you were knocked out?" My Mother asked.

"Um, I remember a huge pain, and a bright purple light surrounded me. Then I blanked out, and woke up to this." I gestured to our surroundings.

"I want you to stay calm when I tell you this, alright?" Spoke Jacob sternly.

I nodded, not speaking.

"After you blacked out, the energy around kept expanding and expanding. It completely exploded, completely wiping out the whole island. Your energy was magnificent. All the pirates were able to get to the back of the island fast enough and get into the water so the worst of it didn't hit them. Your protective bubble you put around me saved me. On the other hand, the British didn't see it coming. You completely wiped out their fleet, ships and soldiers. We won Annora." Jacob was smiling, but I did not see this as a victory.

"Wait, Jacob did you talk to my parents about, us?" I asked.

"Yes, and they understand my situation with you." My parents smiled at me, and I knew they approved, even if he had enemy blood in him.

"Jacob, what about your Father? Did I kill him?" I asked, horror settling itself in my chest.

"No, he stayed back in Britain to take care of the castle. Don't worry." He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.