by E. A. Weston
“Do you want to lie down,” I ask but it comes out in a broken whisper.
Brokk gives me an unhappy look while Aurelia doesn’t seem to hear me. Brokk whispers to her then helps her to stand.
“Follow me,” I wave him towards the bedroom. Once inside I notice Killian’s black slacks and shirt on the bed. Picking them up I get a hint of his cologne and squeeze my eyes shut.
“You can take the bed,” I tell Aurelia. I watch as she climbs on top immediately closing her eyes. Brokk sighs before taking a seat on the chair by the window.
“You can take the couch, it’s more comfortable,” I tell him.
“No, I must guard the princess,” he replies without looking at me.
“Fine,” I sigh, collecting the spare blanket from the bottom of the closet. Making my way out of the room I cling to Killian’s clothes. In the bathroom I shrug off my training gear and wrap myself in the shirt, wanting to have him close to me. Slipping on some shorts I make my way to the couch.
Being back here in the apartment feels surreal, only a few hours ago I was in another realm walking the halls of a castle. Although Killian wasn’t with me I knew, at least, we were in the same place. I wonder if he feels this empty too, like a piece of him is missing. It’s honestly how I feel and I for one, never expected to be one of those girls. The Savannah’s of the world, clingy and pouty when their boyfriends were out of reach, but look at me now, lying here in his clothes smelling his scent all around me and missing him way more than I ever thought possible.
Chapter 23
After a while of tossing and turning on the couch I open my eyes, finally. The sun shines inside, shedding light on the overturned table beside me. Climbing off the sofa I right the table and listen for any sounds. The apartment is quiet so I assume that both Aurelia and Brokk are sleeping. Lifting Killian’s phone, I clutch it to my chest like a lifeline. I feel so pathetic, missing him like this but I can’t help it he has wormed his way into my heart and I can’t get rid of him, nor do I want to.
Walking down the hallway, I peek into the bedroom noticing the empty chair, pushing the door a little more I look towards the bed, finding Brokk beside Aurelia with his arms wrapped around her. Closing the door I take a deep breath against the pain in my heart not for myself but for her and all that I have put her through in the last few hours. Walking back to the front door I open the small storage closet, my eyes travel to the floor where a pair of my shoes sits neatly beside Killian’s boots. Tears blur my vision and I blink rapidly to clear them. Slipping on my shoes, I grab his leather jacket and leave the apartment.
My feet take me to the small clearing, as I wrap myself in the jacket I power up the phone. The alert sounds one after another telling me of all the texts, missed calls, and voicemails. I’m not sure, how many friends Killian actually has but the amount of alerts is frightening. Sitting on the cold grass, I open the text’s finding hundreds from Alex and Ryder. My eyes sting again as I read them, they start after graduation asking why we aren’t at the party. Then where are we, do we want to hang out? Why am I not answering my phone?
The messages get more frantic as the months go on, Alex is not a worrier, but her messages are full of curses and threats of pain toward Killian if he doesn’t bring me home. The voicemails are much of the same and a few from the police pleading with Killian to return with me, alive. My heart breaks for Alex I can hear the hurt and panic in her voice on the messages before they finally reach pleading status. The last message was about two weeks ago asking Killian not to hurt me and just let me come home.
Tears drip from my chin and the end of my nose. I’m stuck in the in-between. I want to call her, to see her but how do I explain what is happening and that I plan to leave again. A soft breeze blows across my face and the trees sway gently above me. Falling onto my back, I stare up at their canopy that blurs with tears as they fall over my lashes and down my temples. Closing my eyes I try to block everything out, all the hurt over the years and the hurt that I have caused people too.
“This is a beautiful place,” Aurelia says.
Her voice is soft and I hear the grass crunch as she sits beside me.
“Yeah, it is,” I whisper hoarsely.
“I’m truly sorry, Reagan.”
“For what?”
“For not trusting you and for believing that you were trying to trick me,” she sighs.
Opening my sore eyes, I turn my head to look at her. She looks sad and confused, as she takes in the small green.
“I understand, trust me, I do.”
“This place is special,” she says with a half smile.
“What do you mean?” I ask, my curiosity piquing as I sit up to look around. All I see are the trees and the grass.
“I can feel the magic here,” she frowns touching the grass wither fingers.
“That’s not possible,” I sigh. “Unless Killian did something to it,” I continue.
“No, it is not a magic placed here. It feels like Avalon only…less,” she says.
I don’t get it. I don’t feel anything here other than peace when I’m alone. You can’t hear traffic or people from here and Killian’s apartment is the only one around.
“So tell me,” Aurelia says before clearing her throat. “What of my brother and Avery, are they well?”
With a sigh, I close my eyes for a few seconds before turning to look at her. Her face is hopeful yet I can see the dull hue of sadness in her eyes.
“The last I saw of them they were fine,” I reply. “Killian was trying to get used to being back in Avalon and being the prince again. Avery, well he didn’t talk to me all that much. We danced on my birthday for a few minutes but that was it.”
“He danced?” she asks trying to sound normal.
“Only for a minute until I asked him if he had a true mate. Then he got quiet and passed me off to Killian.”
Aurelia nods her head as tears glisten in her eyes. “He never danced with anyone but me,” she smiles through her tears. Reaching out I hug her to me.
“I’m pretty sure he hasn’t danced since you,” I whisper. Aurelia gives a small laugh.
“He was that bad?” she questions, wiping her tears.
“No,” I smile. “It was obvious he didn’t want to dance with anyone.”
“And what of my brother?”
I can’t help the smile that blossoms across my face, rolling my eyes at myself I just grin like a fool.
“He is good, lonely I guess. He misses you a lot and your parents.”
“You look happy Reagan,” she says.
“Yeah, finally” I sigh in return. “It’s been hard and I miss him but I think coming here was the safest thing for you and me. I’m sorry that you had to leave.”
“Don’t not fear, we shall return when the Goddess permits us entry,” Aurelia murmurs.
“I’m not too sure if I like this Goddess, I think I’d like to have words with her,” I snort. Aurelia is looking at me like I told her I wanted to massacre babies. “What?”
“You shouldn’t speak of the Goddess that way Reagan, she is good and kind.”
“Yeah,” I sigh keeping my thoughts about Connor to myself and how could she allow him to live with what he is doing.
“Are you hungry?” I ask. “Because I’m starving,” I smile climbing to my feet.
Together we walk back to the apartment finding Brokk standing sentry by the door. Aurelia gives him a small smile before he launches into a tirade in fairy. Walking by them I enter the kitchen and begin making scrambled eggs, thinking of my many kitchen disasters here. I’m not going lie I can cook but I much preferred Killian’s culinary skills. Once I have the eggs going, I put on some toast, smiling at the smell of real food.
“Breakfast is ready,” I call out, interrupting the argument. Both Aurelia and Brokk look at me before walking over to the kitchen. I’ve dished up the food and put on some coffee, the smell assaulting me in a good way.
“I really need to bring some coffee
back with me,” I mumble. Turning, I catch the bewildered looks on their faces. “What’s wrong with you?” I ask.
“Please forgive me Reagan but what…” Aurelia stops talking as she eyes my scrambled eggs.
“Their eggs,” I say through my teeth, pissed off that they are looking at them like that. “You eat them,” I say.
“Yes, yes of course,” Aurelia says, lifting the plate.
Both of them swallow hard before taking a bite and I can tell from their expressions that my eggs are not to their liking.
“Well get used to it because I had to live on bread and fruit for however long I was in Avalon,” I tell them. “Did you see my bones?” I complain pointing to my back.
“It is delicious,” Brokk says cringing.
His face is so full of disgust and fear that I can’t help but laugh at him. Soon I am laughing so hard tears are falling. I’m not sure if the stress of the last few days, weeks, or even months have finally caught up with me and sent me around the twist but my laughing tears turn to sorrow and heartache falling from my eyes of their own accord. My apatite is now gone, I sob onto my arm that I am resting on. Great heaving sobs tear at my body until finally they dry up leaving me with swollen eyes and a killer headache.
I’m not sure when but Aurelia has herself wrapped around me whispering soothing fairy words to me. “You are safe Reagan, I promise this will leave you soon.”
“What will?” I croak out.
“The fairy you told me about bonding with, was that my brother?”
Nodding my head, I choke back the tears. “Yes,” I whisper.
“I am truly sorry for your pain Reagan. When the bond is broken however small the attachment, it leaves you feeling empty and emotional,” she sighs. “I fear this is why humans and fairies are not allowed to bond.”
“This sucks balls,” I whisper.
Aurelia just rubs my back in small circles trying to ease my pain. Her small hand rubs over my spine and shoulders causing me to wince and move away from her. “I’ll just take a shower then we can go out to eat but you’ll have to hide the wings,” I tell them before walking away with my aching body and broken heart.
After my shower I find it weird not being dry when I step out, I guess I got used to the water in the bathing pools of Avalon. Once I pull on my jeans and a sweater, I grab Killian’s leather jacket again. In the sitting room, I find Brokk and Aurelia sitting together in silence. They look up at me and both smile brightly.
“Eh, guys the wings,” I wave my hand at them.
“I do not understand,” Brokk sounds confused.
“I said put them away, you can’t go out there with those or you’ll end up in a science lab,” I sigh.
“I’m afraid that I cannot glamor myself,” Aurelia replies sadly.
“How come?”
Lifting her delicate wrist she waves it showing the green bracelet that is snugly sitting against her skin.
“Oh, yeah I forgot, sorry,” I sigh. “I can try to get it off for you but I’ll have to go out to get my tools.”
“I would be most grateful Reagan,” she says gasping. Her eyes have a small spark in them now as she stares at me.
“Okay, well I’ll be back soon. Please stay inside, just in case,” I warn.
“Of course, we will await your return,” she agrees.
Turning from the room, I re-enter the bedroom to get some of the cash that was in my parents’ fairy box. I know Killian hid it in the drawer under his clothes. Reaching back I pull a few smaller bills out of the pile and hide it again. Shoving the cash in my pocket, I leave the apartment with shaking hands. I’m not sure what kind of reception I’ll get at Athena’s and I know for sure I will have to be quick to avoid Starbucks even though part of me really wants to cry on Alex’s shoulder.
Arriving at the back door of the store I open it slowly trying not to make any noise. Once inside I can hear the soft notes of some music and the smell of incense tickles my nose. Peering into the office, I find it empty so I move towards the storefront. There are a few customers browsing the shelves and I notice now that the whole store has had a makeover. Moving along the right side, I walk to where my workstation used to be, finding a small table with my remaining chains and rings on it.
Lifting the cloth, I check below for my stuff but there is nothing there. Slowly I turn around to find two customers watching me but I blow them off to find whoever is working here. Behind the checkout desk, I spy a teenage girl clicking on her phone.
“Excuse me,” I say. Her face lifts briefly to acknowledge me before going back to her phone. “Hello,” I say again.
“How can I help you,” she asks with a sigh.
“Is Athena or Jake around?”
Her head snaps up to me, and her eyes squint in suspicion, “who are you?”
“None of your business, are they here?”
“Not today,” she replies.
“Fine, do you know where all the tools from the jewelry table went?” I ask.
She shrugs her shoulders at me, “what’s it to you?”
“They’re mine, dumbass,” I growl at her.
Turning away I leave the store through the back door all while she chases me telling me I can’t be back here. Shoving open the door it almost hits the person on the other side. Athena stands there staring at me and me at her.
“Hi,” I smile.
“Reagan,” she breathes dropping her purse to hug me.
It’s awkward to get a hug from her because my bones are sticking out even under the sweater and leather jacket.
“Where have you been?” she asks.
“I just came to get my tools actually, I can’t stay,” I tell her.
“I understand,” she says taking my hand in hers. She leads me into the office shutting the door on the nosy teen that followed us. “I have your tools all put away for you, wasn’t sure if you’d be back.”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” I mumble.
With a wave of her hand, she opens the locked cabinet with her expensive gemstones in it to retrieve my tools and supplies.
“Thanks,” I smile taking them from her.
“So how are you?” she asks.
“Okay,” I nod.
“And Killian?”
“Yeah, he’s good. Busy, you know,” I nod.
Athena smiles at me but it’s with a patient smile, one that you give a child you know is lying to you.
“How’s Jake?” I ask, just for something to say.
“Oh, Jake,” she sighs. My heart constricts because that was not a good sigh. “He was a little upset after you disappeared and well, you know how he deals with stuff,” she frowns. “Not to worry, though, I got him into a good rehab about two months ago and so far he is doing good but it has been tough.”
“I’m sorry,” I sigh. “I didn’t even think I’d be gone this long. I mean…I know…”
Athena just waves off my terrible explanation “don’t worry about it Reagan, you go make yourself happy. Like your friend did,” she nods at me.
“Alex?”
“Yes,” she smiles. “She and her boyfriend got married about a month ago, baby on the way now too.”
Tears fill my eyes at this news, God how selfish am I? All I can think is how I missed my friends’ most important day. “Is she still in Starbucks?”
“No, she’s not,” Athena gives me a sad smile. “They moved to Virginia about two weeks ago.”
A sob breaks free of my throat as Athena comes around the desk to me, but I quickly back away, wiping my eyes.
“I’m fine, I have to go. Tell Jake I say hi.” Turning on my heel, I run out to the car and climb inside before my emotions take over and cause a flood. Breathing heavily I push the emotions down, starting the car and pulling out of the lot. I don’t understand how I can be this emotional all the time, this bond breaking thing is probably the worst thing I’ve ever experienced. The disappearance of my parents didn’t turn me into this crazy, emotional, wreck of a woman
. My drive back to the apartment is a blur, thoughts of Alex getting married and having a baby without me is some wonderful news but I can’t help feel that I am missing out.
Climbing out of the car I stroll into the apartment to shrieking. Rushing into the kitchen, I find Aurelia standing in front of the microwave as it sparks and pops.
“What the hell,” I shout pulling the door open.
“Reagan, that…that…” she gasps pointing wildly at the now smoking microwave.
“Yes? What the hell did you do to it?” I ask.
“I touched it to see what kind of device it is and then,” she shakes her head.
Grabbing the towel a wave it around to dissipate the smoke. Leaving Aurelia, I open the window in the kitchen and the one in the sitting room to get rid of the stench.
“It cooks food Aurelia, not air,” I sigh.
“Food?”
“Yes, it sends,” I stop my explanation of how microwaves work in favor of sighing and going back to the hall to get the tools I dropped. Returning to her she watches me unwrap my roll of tools.
“You have been crying again,” she gently rubs my shoulder taking a seat beside me.
“I'm all right, where’s Brokk?” I ask.
“He went to the woods, he was feeling…”
“Yeah I get it,” I nod. Taking out my small chisel and hammer I look over at her. “This may hurt are you sure you want me to try?”
“Yes, yes, you must. I fear there are no more seers left in Avalon that will be able to remove it.”
“But if I hack it off won’t that do something to the magic? Not least probably bruise the crap out of your wrist,” I sigh.
“I do not know how removing it will affect the magic,” she answers looking down at the green stone that wraps around her wrist. Holding it out to me she smiles. “I trust you, Reagan.”
“Thanks,” I snort. I quickly grab the towel to place under her wrist. “This will probably hurt Aurelia.”
“Yes,” she nods. Taking a deep breath, she smiles at me.
