A Star is Born: The Coming Dawn: Book I Read Online Free PDF Page A

it and landed in water,” Kylie explained, and for some reason she felt she needed to start at the beginning as if telling him meant he could help her return home. Maybe he knew the way.
    “I see,” he said when she divulged the entire tale but there was still confusion in his response. “So, tell me about your life. What do you remember?”
    Kylie sat up, surprised he wanted to hear more. However, she had questions of her own. She kept her eyes closed, as she said, “I feel I have more need for explanations. You have to know what is happening. I’m blind and in a strange world. Can you take me home?”
    “Suit yourself, Princess, but you’ll soon find out you’ll slowly forget everything if you don’t keep thinking about your old life. And those dreams are always helpful in this world. There are a lot of Stars who complain of forgetting.”
    “Don’t call me princess,” Kylie snapped. “I find it offensive.”
    “Well I’m not calling you my Lady ,” he growled instantly matching her anger. “I’m a chief , Highness, or haven’t you noticed. I’m not just any chief warrior, either. I command the largest army in over six thousand years. My militia was the only surviving army after the King’s War. All other armed forces were built afterward. My army is five times larger than any other. Moreover, I’m sick of haughty Stars pretending to be above me. I answer to no one ; I’m chief. You live because of my men and me . Every city exists because we keep your cities free of the evil outside these mountain walls. The peace, if you can call it that, exists because of my men. Not one city would survive on this earth if it weren’t for us.
    “I was being nice to offer to get you that cave-cactus, because I understand that you’re blind. But every Star has it rough. I don’t even know why I’m being nice. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be in this mess, or don’t you understand what happened? Or why you could see me but nothing else?
    “If I were any other man, I would have left you to die, but I feel obligated to mankind. It’s my duty as chief to care for humanity. I’d be rid of this whole assorted affair if I felt otherwise. Maybe I should have left you when I saw that troll dragging you around. You have done nothing but slow me down, irritate me, and.... Forget it. The best thing for me, Princess, is to get as far from you as possible.”
    Kylie heard the scraping of the large stones. He rolled them away from the entrance, and a moment later, the scraping began again. Then silence. She listened but there was no noise.
    “Hello,” she called. Kylie had no idea what happened. From seemingly nowhere he flipped out, obviously having a grudge he didn’t fully explain, and then left after a tirade. She stood, and felt the boulder over the exit. He locked her inside the cave , while swearing to leave her for dead.
    She cranked her neck to listen; surely he wouldn’t trap her after swearing he wanted good for all mankind.
    “Are you still in here? Are you out there waiting for an apology?” she asked wryly. Certainly she would convey the deepest regret for offending the only person willing to help her, and wouldn’t push his buttons anymore.
    However, she didn’t hear a sound. It took a moment to realize he left her in there alone. He trapped her, just as he threatened. “Hey!” she yelled loudly hoping he could still hear her pleas. “I’m sorry! Come back. I need your help.” She wasn’t exactly sure what she was sorry for, but it didn’t stop her from yelling it again and again as loud as she could.
    She panicked as she realized he wasn’t coming back. She struggled to pry the rock from the exit. The boulder was bigger than her scrawny body, and so heavy it wouldn’t budge with her dismal attempts. “Please,” she screamed as loud as she could, and began to sob.
    Keeping her eyes closed no longer seemed important considering she was abandoned to her death. She opened her eyes,