Conflicted: Keegan's Chronicles

  "I'm here to enlist. I will be joining the 18X program.” Rourk stated in a clear, concise manor.

  The sergeant looked up from his paperwork with a smirk on his face. "Is that so? You think you can just waltz in here and tell us what you want to do? You think you can walk in here and tell me you are going to try out for the Special Forces off the street?”

  "I know I can. I am more than qualified. Of course, I will have to jump through hoops and take your assessments. I have no doubt I can pass anything you throw at me with flying colors."

  The sergeant stared at him in silence for a moment as if he were studying him. He leaned back in the cheap office chair and tapped his pen on the desk. “Normally I would kick a punk out for coming in and acting all arrogant in my office. However, you don’t sound arrogant. You might as well have stated the sky was blue.”

  Rourk met his gaze and remained expressionless.

  "What is your name son?"

  "Rourk."

  "Rourk, do you have a last name?"

  "My last name is Kavanagh."

  "Rourk Kavanagh, how old are you?"

  “I’m 18.”

  "Do your parents know you’re here?"

  "No, but it has been expected. My family has always known I would be a soldier, following in my father’s footsteps."

  "So your father was in the Army?"

  "Actually, he was a Marine Recon."

  This brought a loud laugh form the recruiter. "You don't think he will mind his son joining the Army?"

  "No, he will understand my reasons. Currently the Army is the only service with the option to go straight into special operations. Now, if I told him I joined the Air Force, he might have issues."

  The sergeant boomed with laugher. "What is your father’s name?"

  "Greg Kavanagh."

  The recruiter typed the name in the computer. Scanning through them he said, "It seems your father has had quite the career. Almost everything is classified."

  Rourk looked him in the eyes but said nothing.

  "Did he prepare you while you grew up?"

  "You could say that."

  The recruiter slapped his hands to the desk and stood. "Okay Rourk, I have to say you have piqued my interest. Let's see how well you can jump through the hoops. Let's see how well you can jump through the hoops. First you are going to have to take the ASVAB which is the army placement test, and a fitness test, then we will go from there."

  "I would like to leave ASAP. The faster we can get this over with, the better it will be. I would like to leave for basic before the month is out."

  The recruiter stared at him and his lips twitched, as if he was trying to hide a smile. "Go in the back room and they will proctor your ASVAB. The results will be almost instant because it’s all done through the computer now."

  Rourk nodded his head toward the recruiter and walked to the back of the room. The test was a joke. He finished and walked back to the recruiter’s desk. The sergeant looked at his watch, "You are already finished?"

  "Yes."

  "I'll be right back."

  Rourk could see him speaking with the woman in the office. He seemed agitated as he walked back toward his desk. "Rourk, would you mind taking another test?"

  "I'll do whatever is required."

  After the second round. The recruiter made a phone call. "Sir, we have a young man in here that just aced the ASVAB in record time." After a slight pause "Yes, I made him take another version. The same result. No, he is not interested in any of those fields. He wants to join the 18x program." He listened some more and after the call was ended, he looked at Rourk like if he was trying to understand him.

  "I can't change your mind can I? How about the intelligence field?”

  "No, 18X or nothing."

  "Well, let’s get the PT test over with. I'm sure that won’t be an issue for you."

  After he scored a perfect score of 300 on the PT test, the recruiter asked if Rourk would go to the range with him. The recruiter explained this was not something that was normally done. However, he was interested and wanted to see with his own eyes if Rourk would live up to the expectations that had formed in the recruiter’s head.

  Rourk loved to shoot, so it was fun for him.

  The recruiter shook his head when he looked at the dime-sized hole in the target paper. "Very impressive. The Army will be proud to have you as one of their own. We have a group that ships out to basic on Friday if you are serious about wanting to go right away."

  "Thank you. I will be ready."

  The recruiter shook his hand. "I'm going to keep my eye out for you son. I think you will make quite the name for yourself."

  Rourk shook his head. "I'd rather remain anonymous."

  "Too late for that. The instructors will easily pick you out. Soldiers like you will always stand out. They will try to break you. For the record, my money is on you."

  Rourk grabbed all the information he needed and headed back to his house.

  It was going to be hard to leave Keegan. He only had three days before he left, and Rourk wasn't sure if he should see her or just make a clean break. She deserved the chance to be happy. He knew it wouldn't do any good but he tried anyway. He closed his eyes, but all he saw was darkness. It killed him that he could no longer see her or sense when she thought his name. He wondered what she was doing right now and if she was with the tiger. Just thinking about it made him clench his jaw.

  Once in his room back home, he sat at his desk and wrote her a letter. He folded the paper and put it in an envelope; he would leave it in her mailbox on his way to the airport.

  Now, he had to tell his father.

  Rourk walked into the living room and sat across from his dad. "I will be leaving on Friday. I am joining the U.S. Army and going through the 18x program."

  His father glanced up, mouth set in a grim line. "I think that is a wise decision. Have you told Richard?"

  "No, I will inform him tomorrow at work."

  "What about Keegan?"

  "I wrote her a letter."

  “Are you sure you don’t want to tell her in person?”

  He hesitated for only a second. “I can’t handle that right now.”

  “I understand.” His father clasped his hand on Rourk’s shoulder with nothing more to say.

  Rourk stood up and headed back to his room. He went over his packing list and prepared to leave.

  ***

  Early the next morning Rourk found Richard and asked if they could speak in private. Richard led him to his office and gestured for him to sit down.

  He was a large man, made even more impressive by his thick head of bright red hair and bushy beard. Rourk was impressed by the man’s collection of visible scars, wounds from previous battles. He looked up to his commander.

  "Richard, I am leaving on Friday. I have decided to go ahead with my plan of joining the U.S. military."

  "I see. Are you sure this is the route you should be taking?"

  "I believe it is the right thing to do,” Rourk said diplomatically. “I would love nothing more than to stay here and be with your daughter. After careful thought, I have realized the only thing I can do is leave. She deserves the time and space. We were brought together before we were meant to be. She should be able to enjoy her last year of high school without worrying about me. I will return when she is eighteen and we can decide where to go from there."

  Richard peered at him, his arms crossed on the surface of his desk. "I don't have to tell you that the training will take a couple of years."

  "No, you don't. I'm well aware of the schedule. I’ve planned this since I was a young boy. Until you gave me the opportunity to stay on with the Army of the Light, this was always the plan. We strayed from the plan by allowing me to meet Keegan early, and that didn't go over so well. I think it's time I get back on course."

  "Valid arguments. They will be lucky to have you. It is an experience that you will learn and grow from. Do you know where you want to go? Will you
try to stay close by and opt for 5th Special Forces Group? Your Arabic is well above the requirements."

  "Actually, I have been brushing up on Chinese since I learned Keegan's dream was to go to college in Alaska. That would allow me to be in Washington, which is the closest I can get to Alaska."

  "Very well, it’s obvious you have thought this through. It saddens me to see you go. You are an exemplary soldier."

  "Thank you for your faith in me. I hope someday I can be half the warrior you are."

  Richard stood up and patted him on the shoulder, “You already are, son."

  Rourk walked out of Richard’s office and into the camp. He glanced around and realized he had no one else to tell. He had always been a loner. Even so, he would miss this place; it was like a second home to him. But, he was determined. He strode off and didn’t look back.

  Chapter 10

  Keegan pushed through the door and threw her backpack on the floor. She was glad it was Friday. She was looking forward to a break from school, and she hoped they were going to be able to go back to Calvron’s magical land over the weekend. It had been on her mind all week.

  She walked into the kitchen and saw a note propped up on the kitchen counter. It had her name written on it in neat block letters. Curious, she opened it and read:

  Keegan,

  When you read this letter I will be on my way to basic training. I have decided to go ahead with my life-long plan. I will join the human military like the elves before me. I know I have been offered a position in the Army of the Light; however, I feel it is best I leave and continue with the path that was set from the day I was born. We shouldn’t have even met yet. You should be enjoying your high school years and having the time of your life with your friends. When you turn eighteen I will come back for you. Perhaps you will have found a way to get our bond back. If you have not, and you wish me to let you go I will do so. Just know Keegan, you are the only one for me. I will wait forever. Leaving you is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Not a day will pass that I will not think of you. Every night when I close my eyes I will hope that by some miracle I can see you with my mind’s eye again. Even if you decide you do not wish to be with me when you are of age, I will be forever grateful to you. The short time I spent with you were the happiest moments of my life.

  Forever Yours, Rourk

  Keegan reread the letter three times. She wasn’t sure what to think. She felt sad that he was gone, but she was also annoyed that he didn’t try harder to win her over. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. The paper turned to a sheet of ice in her hands. Keegan dropped the note on the counter and pulled her sweater tighter. Why was she so angry? She should be relieved. Now she could date Donald and not worry about hurting Rourk’s feelings. For some reason that thought didn’t bring her much comfort.

  ***

  Thaddeus came downstairs, took one look at his sister sitting in a chair at the kitchen table, and asked, “What’s the matter?”

  Keegan gestured down at the paper which was now in a puddle of water at her feet. She leaned over to pick it up, shook the water off it and thrust the soggy note into her brother’s chest. “Let me guess, you didn’t see this coming?”

  He grabbed the letter and read it. While he read, he had flashes of a vision. Rourk was in uniform with a look of indifference on his face, getting screamed at by an instructor. Rourk lying on his cot looking at the ceiling. The tiger in the woods. Anna holding a ruby ring in her hand.

  His visions drove him crazy. What did Anna have to do with all of this and why were they showing a ruby ring? It was pretty obvious why Rourk and the tiger were in the vision. Leave it to Keegan to create a love triangle between an elf and a shape-shifter.

  Thaddeus mentally scanned books looking for rings. He could have smacked himself in the head when it finally dawned on him. How could he have missed something so simple?

  Thaddeus handed the note back to Keegan. “I can’t say I blame him for leaving. Probably a smart move on his part.”

  “Thaddeus, please tell me.” Keegan pleaded. She reached up and tugged on her brother’s black t-shirt. “Am I going to get my bond back with Rourk?”

  “Keegan, I couldn’t tell you even if I knew, which I don’t.” Thaddeus gave her a look of pity. “I haven’t had any visions of you since you came back from the dead. You are closed off from me as well.”

  She walked across the room and plopped down on the couch like the drama queen she was. “This sucks!”

  “Keegan, do you want your bond back with Rourk?” Thaddeus asked, following behind her to stand next to the arm of the couch.

  “I don’t know. I’m an elf. I’m supposed to be bonded to my chosen. It’s what I’ve always expected. It’s really not fair.” She crossed her arms over her chest with a pout, leaning her head back on the couch.

  “It could be worse. You could be dead,” Thaddeus reminded her.

  “Ugh!” Keegan groaned. She whipped a pillow from the couch beside her and threw it at him.

  Thaddeus dodged it with a chuckle. “How’s Anna?”

  Keegan looked up at her brother, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. “Since when do you care about my friends?”

  “I don’t know, I was just curious about how she took finding out about her mother and the black magic. Did she already know about it?” He needed to find a way to get Anna alone so they could talk.

  Keegan sat up. She loved to gossip. “She had no idea and she was upset with her mother. It seems her mom has not helped her at all with her gift.”

  “What’s her gift?”

  Keegan looked taken aback. She always expected him to know everything before she did. “I thought you knew. She’s a light witch.”

  Interesting, maybe there is hope after all.

  “Thaddeus, you should come with us this weekend to the magical world that Calvron created, it’s amazing. You could probably bring Sam.”

  Distracted, he said, “Sure, sounds like fun.”

  “Can’t you do something about this whole frozen thing I have going on?”

  “No, I can’t. Just stop getting angry over stupid things.”

  “Easy for you to say.” Keegan kicked her legs up on the table and glared at her brother.

  “I’m going for a run.” He walked out without looking at her.

  ***

  About twenty minutes later, Keegan’s mother came through the door with a couple reusable grocery bags in her hands. Keegan peeked out of the blanket she was wrapped in.

  “What’s wrong, Keegan?”

  “Rourk left.” A hint of sadness was in her voice.

  “What do you mean he left?” Emerald asked, walking past Keegan on her way to the kitchen to deposit her bags on the table.

  “He’s gone off and joined the military. The human military.” Keegan pulled the blankets closer to her chest and sat up and crossed her legs, staring at her mother.

  “Did he come by to tell you?” She watched as her mom took off her green North Face jacket and hung it on the peg by the back door.

  “Nope, he left me a note.” She nodded toward the table.

  “Can I read it?”

  “Sure, why not.”

  Keegan watched as her mother read through the note. Her expression gave nothing away.

  Finally, Emerald laid the paper on the table and glanced over at her daughter. “Keegan, this is a very sweet letter. You must realize how hard this was for him. I know you can no longer feel the bond to him. However, for him it’s as strong as ever. To walk away from your chosen is no easy feat. It’s obvious he cares deeply about you.”

  “What do you think I should do?” Keegan hadn’t meant for her voice to sound so small.

  “That’s up to you. I think Rourk is wise. He realizes you need your space to figure this out. You did meet before your time. I think this is for the best. Enjoy your time with your friends just as you did before you met him.”

  “I wish I remembered him, Mom.”

>   “I know sweetie. I wish you did too.”

  In the silence that followed, Keegan and her mother felt Richard arrive home at the same time and said simultaneously, “Dad’s home.” They laughed.

  A few moments later, Keegan’s father came through the door with, of all people, Creed. Keegan wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to seeing them together. The leader of the light and the leader of the dark working together, friends even. It shocked everyone involved.

  Her father walked over and kissed her mom. “How was your day?”

  Her mother smiled up at her father. “Better now.”

  Richard grinned like a fool. It was almost sickening to see elf couples together. Ugh, she was supposed to have that with Rourk. Keegan wanted to cry.

  “Did you know Rourk has left and joined the human military?” Keegan blurted out.

  “Yes, he came and talked to me,” Richard answered, stroking his red beard and not quite meeting her eyes. “He just wants to do what’s best for you, Keegan. Joining the human army is a long tradition for elves. I think it’s the right thing for him to do.”

  Neither Keegan nor her mother said anything.

  “Creed and I are going to be going out of town for a few days. We have some business to take care of.”

  “Saving the humans from destruction one day at a time?” Keegan rolled her eyes and cuddled back down under her blanket.

  Her father ruffled her hair, “Something like that kiddo.”

  “Will you two be staying for dinner?” her mother asked.

  Richard exchanged a glance with Creed, who had been respectfully silent during the scene.

  “I can’t speak for Richard, but I’m starved. I’d love to stay for dinner.”

  Emerald smiled and headed off to the kitchen.

  “You might have made a mistake Creed. My mom is not much of a cook.”

  “Keegan, that’s not true. Your mom is a great cook.”

  Her mother peaked around the corner. “I can hear you guys.”

  Keegan sat up straighter. “Creed, when you get angry do you turn things into ice?”

  Creed laughed. “I can’t say that I have that ability. Why do you ask?”