Thankfully this comfort from Draven had been all I’d needed to move on and get a hold of my emotions. I had so many things running through my mind that it was like spinning a roulette wheel and seeing which picture the arrow would land on.
I was at least grateful that after our little romp in the car last night Draven and I were once again on equal footing. We had talked about what had happened but not in too much depth and I knew it was for the best on both fronts. I simply told Draven that whilst on my way to sort out his wedding gift (and also admitted lying about seeing Libby because of it) that I had a phone call from Pythia asking me to meet her. Draven was happy with this, well as much as he could be, but his happiness was most likely due to me not asking him anything regarding why the Oracle was running from him or wanted to speak to me alone.
I guess the way we looked at it was that the less said, then the less lies…yep, it was a good motto to have right now.
It also turned out that in the end my early morning panic about packing had been in vain, considering we had his sister gliding in our room informing us that we were both packed and ready to go. She was a machine, and one I was very fortunate to have working her magic for me. Okay so it was true that I didn’t know what was packed and just hoped for razors and a toothbrush to be in there somewhere. I was at least thankful that I wasn’t due my period or that would make a trip into the past an utter joy…not! I didn’t even know what they used for keeping it all ship shape down there, and I can’t say that I particularly wanted to find out either.
The only other change was poor Ragnar still couldn’t look at either of us, having once more explained to Draven that all he saw was what looked to him like a ‘struggle’ and instinct took over. Draven tried to reassure him that it was simply an accident and there was nothing to be sorry about but he just muttered another sorry and walked away. I wouldn’t be surprised if Draven and I starred in a few of his nightmares over the next few nights. Of course Pip hadn’t helped when she started singing,
“I don’t see nothing wrong, with a little bump and grind” and I had to nudge her on the way to the cars this morning, now cursing myself for telling Sophia what had happened. She had just giggled and Adam followed, rolling his eyes, telling me that he felt my pain. Poor Ragnar turned an even deeper shade of red, muttering in another language, which made Zagan laugh. I had been about to ask Draven when he whispered down at me,
“You really don’t want to know.”
So here we all were on his private jet and heading to England. We were staying the first few nights in London, which thanks to Sophia had been planned this way for a good reason. I still was unsure on the details but I knew that my Hen do was the next night, which also happened to be my last chance to get the last piece of the puzzle from a certain someone.
All I knew was that Sophia had booked us into the same Royal Suite I had stayed in at the Savoy hotel and I wasn’t sure whether this was a good thing or not. For starters I had quite a few strange memories of that place, one including the Oracle as a child, jumping on my bed. And the other also included a bed, only this was a lot less childish and featured a ridiculously tall and broody hooded male, who was bossy, swore a lot, could eat his body weight in bacon and was also known as the Shadow King.
But I guessed I should have counted myself lucky because if this was where my Hen do was being held, then one, it was human friendly and two, it wasn’t in a strip club. Both of which were astounding considering Pip was involved. And speaking of Pip, who was at this moment playing Harry Potter Monopoly with Adam, she had been so excited about this it could almost be believed she had forgotten completely about our mission back in time.
Sophia was sat with Zagan and watching me closely as if waiting for me to bolt out of my chair at any minute and shout ‘I can’t do this!’ and knowing of course, what I would be referring too. It was a cruel feeling to know you were getting married in two days’ time and allowing that excitement to build, only to then to have to remind yourself that it could be weeks before you were allowed to live that day in your own time. Pip, Sophia nor I had any idea how long we would be gone for and the only thing I was thankful for was that the people in our time would have no clue. What for us could be weeks, for them would be no time passed at all…or so we hoped.
I looked to RJ, who was sat looking out the window, and I decided to get up and speak to her. We had talked a few times and I had hinted that I wouldn’t be upset if she didn’t feel up to the ‘happy occasion’. But in the end I had been thrilled to hear that she not only wanted to be there, but she also wanted to be a part of it as one of my bridesmaids.
“So, any ideas on a dress yet?” I asked nodding down to the bridal magazine that Sophia had given her to look through. She was on a section which showed lots of elegant looking dresses and none of them I would have picked for RJ’s style. She raised one eyebrow at me and said,
“Uh…”
“I’m taking that as a no then.” I said laughing, happy when she quickly joined in.
“Hey, have you got your phone on you, we could look for some alternative looking styles.” I told her getting excited when her eyes got wide.
“You wouldn’t mind if I did…you know…they’re not really my…” I stopped her by putting my hand up and saying,
“Trust me, I don’t mind. Everyone is wearing a different styled purple dress, besides you wanna see Pip’s dress, definitely not something you’d buy at a bridal shop.” I whispered and Pip snorted,
“And Omen to that sister!” obviously hearing me. RJ and I laughed and I looked to the side to see Seth was watching us like a hawk.
“Don’t mind him,” RJ told me frowning and I wondered what had gone on with these two now. I would have loved to have asked but knew doing so on a plane full of supernatural listeners probably wasn’t the smartest idea. RJ obviously got the look I was giving her, so she whispered,
“Laters.” I nodded and we went back to our gothic purple dress finding search thanks to good old Google.
“Oooh, what about this one?” Sophia shouted as she had quickly joined in on the dress finding mission, being more than happy to help and all in the name of fashion of course. Pip had also got in on the action, long ago abandoning her game after throwing down her cards and shouting,
“Quality Quidditch Supplies my ass! I’m not paying times ten the amount of the dice, you cheating muggle!” Adam picked up her scattered cards off the floor and said,
“My Sweet baby cake, I am not cheating it’s in the game and next time I suggest not spending all your money at once so you can pay your bills.” If this was Adam’s way of scolding his wife, then my word it was very tame, although in Pip’s world you would have thought he’d slapped her.
“I buy my own shoes!” she snapped back and I don’t think any of us listening understood what this had to do with anything…unless she considered shoe buying as ‘bills’. Then she got up and stormed over to join the three of us and huffed when she sat down.
So there we were, the four of us on our phones scouring the internet for purple dresses that would suit RJ’s style. Sophia’s choice had been close but in the end it was Pip and her unique eye for anything different who had been the winner. It was a purple tartan mini dress, that had black velvet roses and skulls patterned all over it. The cute halter neck design would suit RJ’s body shape and the skirt flared out thanks to an under layer of black net. It reminded me of a gothic 1950’s style swing dress and with RJ’s pink hair I thought she would look fab in this outfit.
“You are soooo getting that dress!” Pip told her and RJ’s eyes lit up when seeing it.
“Yeah, but will it come in time?”
“Honey, that’s what credit cards and express delivery is for!” Pip told her yanking the phone back and adding it to the checkout, along with a few other items Pip wanted, which included a hair clip that looked like a bloody zombie hand. She then passed the phone over to Sophia to fill in the address of where we were staying. Well it wa
s nice to know I wasn’t the only one who was shit with knowing the details.
RJ had tried to insist on paying but Sophia and Pip just thought this was adorable and funny. I shook my head at RJ, secretly telling her not to bother as this is what they were like. Thankfully she got all that with a nod. The rest of the trip you could see RJ was getting more and more excited, never having been to England before. It was also nice to see that her mind had finally been taken away from the emotional stress she had been made to endure the last few weeks. But I knew for myself that fun with these girls was one of life’s greatest healers.
“Time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty.” Draven whispered down to me. I hummed dreamily in my sleep making him chuckle, which was what really woke me.
“Do you want me to carry you inside?” he asked and I had to think for a moment where I was. I opened my eyes to see the familiar sight of the Savoy’s grand entrance. I almost groaned out loud when seeing those damn infuriating plaques again as, thanks to Pythia, I still had nightmares about decrypting the stupid things.
Our trip to England had flown past, no pun intended. We arrived at Heathrow airport where cars were waiting for us. The car journey was little over an hour away and I had spent it fast asleep, tucked under Draven’s arm. In fact, by the time we got to the hotel itself, I was so tired that I was ready for another nap. The flight had been over ten hours and added to that England was five hours ahead, it was no wonder it was so late by the time we arrived.
Oh yes, I was ready for bed.
“Sorry, what did you say?” I asked again, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.
“I was just offering to carry you inside,” he told me and suddenly I was bolt upright saying,
“Are you crazy? You can’t do that in place like this.” He seemed highly amused with my answer and asked,
“Why not?”
“Because it’s posh that’s why! Look, they have bellboys in fancy matching suits who take your luggage. No, no we can’t do that here.” I told him getting mortified at the thought, which had me quickly wondering how Sigurd had done it when finding me unconscious that night after I was attacked. I quickly shut down that line of thinking as it was the last thing I needed right now. It wasn’t a time I wanted to think back to, considering what faced me at the end of that particular journey.
Draven burst out laughing at my reasons and was still laughing when one of the bellboys opened the door for me. I got out, gave him a smile and couldn’t help but stretch out my arms on a yawn.
“Travelled far, Miss?”
“We sure did, the US.” I told him happily. Draven got out, put his arm around me, no doubt making a statement, and nodded to the bellboy as he opened the hotel door for us.
“Did you want to go through the turny spinny thingy.” I said looking back at the old ornate revolving doors. He smirked down at me and said,
“I can’t keep my arms around you if we used the ‘turny spinny thingy’.” I couldn’t keep the grin off my face as I loved it when he teased me. But then we heard another voice we knew and my smile got even bigger.
“Took you long enough, brother.”
“Vincent!” I shouted leaving Draven’s side and running into his arms. He laughed as he caught me and I hugged him close, telling him without words how much I had missed him. This had been our first time seeing each other since I had made my way back to being me, so I couldn’t help the tears that formed.
“Hey, come now, what’s this? We have only been gone a few weeks.” This was when it finally dawned on me…he didn’t know.
“Vince, I tried to tell you but you…” Draven released a sigh and continued,
“I knew you were experiencing your own difficulties.” I was shocked to hear this but even more so that I was only just hearing this now. I frowned at Draven, telling him without words how he had some explaining to do, before focusing my attention back to Vincent.
“Tell me what?” he asked, looking first to Draven and then back to me. I gave him a small smile and a little wave saying,
“Hey, it’s me… I’m back.” This was when Vincent’s eyes got big and he looked dumbfounded. He looked to Draven then back to me and repeated a few more times before grabbing me to him.
“Keira! You’re back, by the Gods you’re really back!” Jeez but this nearly set me off all teary again.
“How? When? Start with how.” Vincent asked his brother after holding me back once more at arm’s length to really look at me.
“It’s a long story brother, and one we will most likely need to tell over a drink.”
“Understood,” Vincent said and then went back to beaming at the sight of me. It was utterly heart-warming to see him looking so happy and I myself couldn’t keep the smile off my face, that was until I heard another name being called,
One from another life lived and by another sister gained,
“Katie!”
Chapter 28
Ari and I
When I was faced with Ari running up to me after calling me the wrong name, dread filled me within. It was as I feared…Ari didn’t know who I was. And as Ari hugged me to her I could see the knowing looks with that same dread on Draven’s and Vincent’s faces. The time had finally come to introduce myself to a girl who didn’t know me, but with whom I had a lifetime of memories. This wasn’t something I was looking forward to, to say the least.
“Why don’t you two go up to our room and chat, we are just checking in. I will text Vincent the room number, say in about ten minutes?” Draven said, coming to my rescue.
“That’s a good idea.” Vincent said taking Ari by the shoulders and prying her away from me.
“You don’t know how glad I am to see you! I have missed you loads!” She said ignoring Vincent and Draven and for that very second I wanted to faint, just to get out of this awful mess.
“Hey are you okay, you’re looking very pale?” Ari asked me and suddenly that thought of fainting didn’t feel far from reality.
“She’s feeling a little unwell due to all the travelling. I will just get her into our room and then call you once she’s feeling a little better.” Draven said putting an arm around me and nodding for Vincent to do the same with Ari.
“Oh no, okay, that’s not good. Yes, you get her upstairs to bed and I will be there in a bit to check on her. Take it easy, Sis,” she told me squeezing my hand once before finally letting Vincent guide her away. Once they were out of ear shot I said,
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome sweetheart and don’t worry, we will take this slow,” he told me and walked me to the front desk where we checked in. It was only when we were in the elevator that Draven put a hand under my chin, raising my face to his when he said,
“She’s right, you do look pale…are you feeling alright?”
“Yeah, just tired and also worrying about how on earth I am going to tell her about Katie.” I admitted and Draven let out a sigh before saying,
“Come here.” Then he wrapped his arms around me and simply held me, because that was all he could do. And as wonderfully comforting as that was, I knew that it wouldn’t last because sooner or later, I was going to have to break someone’s heart.
Once I was settled into our luxurious suite, which I could happily say didn’t remind me at all of the one I’d stayed in, I knew time was ticking. We were all staying in suites the same as this one, known as one of the Personality River View Suites and Draven and I were in one named ‘Katharine Hepburn’ which made me giggle given it was my first name.
“Sophia.” We had both said turning to each other before walking inside through the personal grand marble foyer. The suite was an impressive size with a separate living room leading onto the huge master bedroom. It was a mix of classical Edwardian style and modern everyday living with all the latest high quality gadgetry money could buy. It had a spectacular view of London and overlooked the River Thames.
Even the bathroom was full of luxuries, with its characteristic black and white checke
rboard tiled floor, freestanding claw-foot bath, double vanity unit and separate walk-in shower with a fabulous looking rainfall showerhead.
“Are you ready or do you want me to tell them you are feeling unwell and have gone to bed?” Draven said pulling his phone from his suit jacket. I was very tempted to go with that option but knew it was one of those ‘just rip a plaster off quickly’ moments. I needed to get this over with and the sooner the better considering the next night marked the beginning of our mission.
“I need to do this.” Draven gave me a nod and told me that he understood.
“I will leave you two alone when she arrives, but if it gets too upsetting, then please call me and I will be back here in minutes.” Now that was a comforting thought. I walked over to the armchair he was sat in and lowered myself into his lap.
“You are wonderful, do you know that?” I told him and before he could ask me why, I kissed him. Thankfully it was one that lasted until there was a knock at the door, taking my mind off what I was about to do if only a short time. Draven got up, lifting me off with him and he turned around and placed me back on his seat before answering the door.
“Are you feeling any better?” Ari asked with a full beaming smile as she walked in, before taking a seat on the sofa.
“I will leave you ladies to it…Sweetheart?” I gave him my attention and he continued, reminding me of his earlier offer,
“Remember what I said, call me later okay.” I gave my soft eyes in a thank you and his smile told me he understood. He left after grabbing his jacket and for a second I was tempted to ask where he would be…just in case ringing him wasn’t an option. In the end I decided against it, as really what was I expecting… her to attack me and force me to bring back her sister?
I looked at Ari who had been watching Draven leave and I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she looked. We were similar in quite a few ways, we both had blonde hair but whereas mine was a golden blonde, hers was a much lighter blonde with some streaks so light they could have been classed as white. We were both about the same height and we both had curves. Although, whereas mine were focused on top, hers were more focused on her rounded bottom that gave her a natural sexy sway as she walked. If I’d tried to do that I would have looked as if my knickers were riding up my bum!
Sacrifice of the Septimus: Part 1 (Afterlife saga Book 7) Page 30
