by Chloe Jacobs
“I’m really sorry,” she rushed to say. “Everything that happened last night was totally my fault, my idea. I dragged Isaac and Ray out with me, and I shouldn’t have gone without saying anything. I definitely shouldn’t have taken a knife. That was beyond stupid, I know, and—”
“It’s okay,” he interrupted. “If you can promise that you’re not going to do something like that again, I’m willing to chalk it up to being a part of the learning curve—for both of us—and start over again.”
“It’s not okay. It was irresponsible and inconsiderate. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
His frown only deepened. He sighed. Her guilt escalated. After an endlessly long minute, he said, “You probably don’t remember this, but when you were three years old, you were playing in the back yard. It was before we bought this house, that little bungalow across town. Do you remember?”
She nodded. Not because she remembered, but so he would go on.
“You loved to play with the neighbor kids. There was a little girl about three houses down and a little boy whose family lived around the corner from us.”
Now she did remember. “His name was Farid, wasn’t it?”
He nodded. “One morning you kept asking if you could go visit your friends, and when your mother went inside the house to answer the phone, you apparently decided you were done waiting for her to take you, so you slipped out the back gate—the lock was broken—and you were gone.”
She winced.
“Your mother didn’t think too much about it at first. She simply walked over to the neighbor’s to get you.” He paused. “But you weren’t there, and when you weren’t at Farid’s house either…panic set in.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, even though it had been so long ago, and she didn’t remember it.
“It took a couple of hours to find you. You’d gone the wrong way down the street, and when you couldn’t find your friends, you saw a swing set in a stranger’s yard and decided to try them out, even though nobody was home. What made it scary was that the people who lived there had a big, mean dog that had started snarling and clawing at the patio door from inside the house when it saw you in their yard.”
“That’s why you bought a swing set when we moved here, isn’t it? So that Drew and I wouldn’t wander?”
He smiled, but there was so much pain in it. He wore it like a familiar scarf around his neck, and if the scarf had wound tighter and tighter over the years, he had gotten used to that, too.
“Afterward, we were so vigilant. We’d been scared once and weren’t going to let it happen again,” he said with a mocking laugh. “You and your brother were the best-watched kids on the block…and we still lost you both.”
“Dad—”
“We found your brother, thank God. But as the years passed and the chances of getting you back dwindled down to nothing, things changed. We changed.” He looked away from her toward the window, a deep crease in his forehead. “That kind of loss takes a toll. Sometimes when I got home from work, I would stand outside for a long time, afraid of finding an empty house.” His voice dropped lower with the vulnerable admission. “And your mother has been on anxiety medication ever since. She couldn’t be left alone with Drew for a long time because she didn’t trust herself to keep him safe.”
Greta bit her lip so hard she tasted blood. “You have to believe that I never meant for any of that to happen.”
He looked back at her, the shadows in his eyes seeming to get deeper. “Then why did you do it? Why did you put us through that?”
A spike went through her heart, and her eyes burned with tears. “I…I didn’t…” She wanted so badly to tell the truth. It was like a scream building in her throat, ready to explode from her.
He shook his head abruptly and got up from the bed, crossing to the door with his shoulders held tight. “We don’t have to get into this now. I really just wanted to tell you that Ms. Davidson has found a foster family to take Siona and Isaac. They’ll be leaving tonight.”
Her mouth dropped open. So soon? “Dad, is that really necessary? Couldn’t they stay for just another couple of—”
“It’s for the best, Greta.” His expression turned stern again and brooked no argument. “Our family has gone through enough upheaval. We need time to get to know one another again, to become a family again. But it’s not like they’re leaving the country right away. They’ll be close by, and you’ll be able to see them whenever you want. This isn’t a prison.” The last bit was said with a bite of resentment. Did he assume that’s why she’d left four years ago, because she’d thought they were unreasonable and hadn’t given her enough freedom?
“Okay,” she whispered, biting her tongue to keep from begging. The guilt was overwhelming. She should tell her parents why Isaac and Siona needed to stay. She should tell them that she might be leaving again. She’d promised Isaac she would. But what if the portal never opened? What if she could rebuild her life here? Have a family again?
And what about Isaac? How does he fit into that plan? She winced. He didn’t. He couldn’t. Isaac wouldn’t stay with a foster family for long, and he would never give up looking for a way back to Mylena.
Her father said, “Mom’s cooking breakfast.”
“I’ll be right down.”
When she went downstairs ten minutes later, Jacob came out of the kitchen toward her like a heat-seeking missile and flew into her arms.
She caught him up in a bear hug. “Good morning, magpie.”
“Did you sleep good? I woke up so early, it was still almost dark out. Your mom made me toast for breakfast, and I put peanut butter on it. I forgot all about peanut butter, Greta. Do you like peanut butter? Do you like toast? Did you remember that my mom and dad are coming today? Do you want to—”
“Whoa, slow down. You’re going to break something talking so much,” she said with a chuckle. She looked up to see Drew hanging back, huddling behind the kitchen entrance and watching her warily. “Hey, kiddo,” she called. She gave him a big smile, but he turned and took off in the opposite direction.
“He just doesn’t recognize you yet,” her mother said from behind.
She doubted that was it. He was afraid of her. On some subconscious level, maybe he remembered that horrifying scene from Agramon’s circle of dark magick and knew that she’d been part of it.
Greta put Jacob down and turned around. Her mother looked as pretty and put-together as always, the way Greta never looked. She remembered the night of Isaac’s banquet, when he’d introduced her to his kingdom and promised that she would be the next goblin queen. She’d been trying to channel her mother’s cool, regal bearing. Of course, her mother would never have gone to a banquet with a dagger strapped to her ankle. Greta had failed miserably that night, but if she was somehow still destined to live that life, maybe one day she’d make her mother proud.
If you go back to Mylena, she’ll never be proud. All she’ll feel when she thinks of you is despair.
Her mom put a hand on Greta’s shoulder. “He’ll come around, and the two of you will rebuild the close-knit relationship you had before.” She glanced down at Jacob, still clutching Greta’s hand. “The kind you’ve made with this little guy here.”
If all they had was four weeks, there wasn’t going to be time for that before Greta would be gone again. Maybe it was better that way. The more she was around, the more Drew might start to remember all that he’d been through.
And if that happened? The questions would get harder and harder to answer. Could she tell her family the whole truth? Or would she have to come up with bigger lies?
Chapter Seven
She and Isaac sat on the back porch steps. She told him about the foster family, and he shook his head. “Siona and I will remove ourselves to the woods and await our return to Mylena from there,” he said stubbornly.
“You don’t have to do that. I’m sure it’s a nice family, and we’ve got four weeks until the planetary thing. You can’t stay out there
. You need shelter and food.”
He gave her a mulish look. “You are not the only one who can fend for themselves in a strange land.”
“That’s not the point,” she insisted. “They’ll go after you.”
“I’m certain we will be able to evade anyone who comes looking for us.”
“That’s not the point, either.”
“Then please get to it,” he snapped, his grim frustration leaking through the goblin king facade of calm.
She hissed and glanced over her shoulder, worried that someone would hear them. “Do you honestly think my parents will let me see you if you buck the system and take off like that?” He paused. “Right now they’ve promised that you can come over any time you want, but if you run away, they’re going to think I’m a flight risk as well or that you’re a bad influence.”
“If you tell them the truth—”
After last night’s incident and the discussion with her father this morning? “I can’t do that, Isaac. It’s too soon. They’re still hurting, and I don’t want to add to that. They would just get more confused.”
He glanced over her shoulder, mouth tightening as he appeared to consider what she’d said.
She squeezed his hand. “Please. It won’t be so bad,” she promised without any idea if that would be the truth or not.
Just then her mother called her name from the kitchen.
She glanced at Isaac. “Will you at least give it a shot for a few days?”
He nodded stiffly and leaned down to kiss her. “For you I would do most anything, which you use to your advantage all too often,” he murmured against her lips.
Greta grinned at him over her shoulder as she went inside.
Before she was ready, the doorbell rang, and her heart sank.
It was time for another good-bye.
Jacob was the hardest one to let go of yet, but at least he showed no hesitation in leaving with his family. Jacob’s older brother Mark was with them, and the kid cuffed him on the arm and started talking a mile a minute, leaving no doubt that the two boys were related. He listed all the fun things they were going to do together now that Jacob was coming home.
Greta choked back her tears. They clogged her throat, but she refused to let anyone see them, because if Jacob thought she was sad, he’d only get upset, too.
Wyatt came forward and knelt in front of the little guy, whispering something in a low voice that was just for Jacob to hear. The boy nodded and threw his arms around Wyatt’s neck. He ruffled the kid’s shaggy hair and said good-bye. There seemed to be a sheen of moisture coating Wyatt’s eyes, but he smiled.
Ray had been quiet and withdrawn since last night, but even he opened up long enough to give the boy a bear hug and a heartfelt good-bye.
Sloane didn’t hide his tears. He and Jacob had become very close, and instead of Greta asking Jacob’s parents for their card, this time it was Sloane who took their contact information. He even asked if he might be able to visit—in a little while, after things had settled down.
Jacob gave everyone a last big hug before he waved and walked out the door. Greta had no doubt that he would be just fine in the long run.
While they all waited for the next knock at the door, Wyatt and Siona went off into the backyard. Greta started to join them for some air, but she stopped when she noticed how closely they stood to one another. Then Wyatt softly caressed Siona’s cheek.
After everything they’d been through, her head buzzed with happiness when Wyatt leaned into Siona and kissed her. Those two deserved something good, even if it was just a moment.
Not too long afterward, Sloane left with his family. He wished Greta good luck and even shook Isaac’s hand, which left the goblin king staring down curiously for a long moment.
When Ray’s turn came, both Isaac and Siona wisely left the house for that particular reunion, although Greta wasn’t sure where they disappeared to and had a moment of panic thinking about it.
Ray’s parents already knew that their other son was not coming home. Explaining the reason why had been tricky. Ray’s brother had died trying to evade capture in Mylena, but there wasn’t a body, and Ray couldn’t tell his parents where to start looking. They gave the same story they’d told to the police officer—that he’d slipped and fallen from a cliff into a rushing river, and they hadn’t been able to find his body afterward.
There were tears all around, and the hopeless guilt on Ray’s face made Greta close her hands into fists at her sides. If only she’d found those boys sooner, maybe she could have kept Ray’s brother safe. Maybe then this moment would have been a happy one for him.
As he was getting ready to leave, she pulled him aside and hugged him. “Please try and forgive yourself,” she said. She knew from experience how disabling and destructive the guilt could become, and she wanted better for him. “Use this second chance to honor your brother’s memory by living the kind of safe, productive, and happy life he would have wanted for both of you.”
He didn’t say he would try…but he didn’t say he wouldn’t, either.
Once Ray was gone, they knew Wyatt would be next. Last. The last to be returned home. As the afternoon turned to evening and they all waited, Greta could tell that he was getting antsy. She knew he was eager to see his family, but maybe there was still some guilt about leaving, too.
Siona tried to talk to him more than once, but there were no more whispers and kisses between them. He shrugged her off. Proud and private, she finally retreated. To everyone else, it might have seemed like she didn’t care, but Greta had come to know the goblin hunter pretty well. She was hurt.
An hour later when Wyatt’s family arrived, he took a deep breath and opened the door for them himself. At first he seemed restrained and stoic, but when his mother burst into tears at the sight of him, he went down the steps to meet her and let her cover him with kisses.
Greta smiled when he turned back to say good-bye. They’d been through so much together, and he had always been so strong and responsible. He’d taken care of those boys in Mylena like they were all his own brothers…and in the best way, they’d become exactly that.
“You’re free,” she whispered. “Free now to live just for yourself. So go and make it count, okay?”
He swallowed hard and nodded. His gaze shifted to Siona for no longer than a half a second, but it was enough.
“Say good-bye to her,” she whispered.
“No, we…we said our good-byes. It’s better if I just leave. Easier.” He paused. “Call me if you need me, okay? I can—”
“We’ll be fine,” she said without any confidence at all. But it sounded good, and that’s all that counted.
As soon as he left, she and Siona both collapsed into her parents’ soft leather sectional in the living room. Isaac remained where he was, and she sensed his discomfort. She sent him a small smile of reassurance, and he dipped his head to let her know he was fine.
She’d never felt so emotionally drained before, and she didn’t have to ask to know that everyone else felt the same way. At one time she’d considered every one of those boys an unwanted burden, a responsibility she wasn’t ready for. But now they were just friends, and seeing them all leave was both a relief because she knew they would finally be safe, and also like sending away little pieces of herself.
It was worse when Ms. Davidson showed up an hour later and took Isaac and Siona away.
She knew it was temporary, but after the boys and Wyatt, it felt like losing another piece of herself. How many pieces could she lose before there wasn’t anything left?
Chapter Eight
High school. She was actually at high school.
Her mom had offered to drive her and take her in to get organized, but she’d wanted to walk. She’d need the time to prepare herself, and they’d already visited the principal and done all the registration stuff on Friday.
She took her time getting to the school grounds. In its own way, facing other teenagers was more frightening tha
n going into battle.
Human teenage girl. This should be the epitome of normal. No big deal, right?
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if she wasn’t standing out on the curb across the street from the building with the goblin king on one side of her and a bounty hunter on the other.
“You will spend the whole day here?” Siona asked. Their curiosity about school had grown all week. She wasn’t surprised that they’d shown up to come with her this morning, although it could just be an excuse to get out of the foster home. As nice as the family seemed to be, it wouldn’t ever feel comfortable to them, although they’d been careful not to complain.
She groaned. All day? “Yeah, I guess that’s the idea.”
“And inside the building everyone has the same opportunity to learn whatever they wish, and people gather like this for fun?” she finished, glancing at a couple of guys tossing a football.
“Uh, sure.” As much as she expected that at least half of her classes were going to be more of a frustration than an opportunity, she understood where Siona was coming from. In Mylena, once a young person was fostered out for training, that was it. There was no switching to something else later, and it wasn’t like there were actual places to go and hang out with other people their age. There was work, there was ice and snow, and there were the moons and the Lost…none of which were very conducive to advanced learning or a social life.
A group of kids lounged on all levels of a picnic table. One guy wearing a ball cap with the school letters stitched on the front had his arm around his girl while he laughed with two of his buddies and she whispered something to her friend beside her.
Siona was fascinated by it all, but especially their clothing. “They have no concern for their occupation, or the weather,” she marveled, pointing out a couple of mini-skirts. “What if it turned cold suddenly? They would all freeze.”
“That isn’t likely to happen, and these are just kids. They don’t have an occupation yet. Besides, if I remember correctly, your outfits in Mylena weren’t much better,” Greta said with a grin.
