Kale sat and placed his hand on mine. He turned my hand over, exposing my palm, and traced its lines. His touch sent sparks of electricity through my hand and up my arm, causing me to tremble.
“I know this will all seem unreal to you. It was a different time when Hélène and I met, and she had already come into her powers and understood them. There was not much I had to do to convince her. I only worry what the truth will do to you now.”
My heart raced. I didn't have any powers. What was he talking about? He continued to caress my palm. His touch calmed me, and I sat in silence.
“In the early middle ages, there was Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania. From them came three men who wanted more than the dirt-floored houses they called home,” he explained. “They’d heard of some people who knew the secret of eternal life and had been alive since the beginning of time, and they wanted to join this nomadic group. They believed they could infiltrate and learn their secret, or at least barter or bargain for it. The men traveled in search of the nomads, but along the way, one of the men died. The other two started to search for the nomads with greater urgency. With the man’s death, their mortality was even more of a reality.” Kale continued to touch my palm, but the magic it had once worked disappeared slightly with the talk of people living forever.
“People can’t live forever, Kale.” I could believe that Hélène and I were somehow related, and maybe my hallucinations were of her life, but I didn’t know how Kale played into it or who he really was. Maybe he was a descendent of the Kale in my vision. “Everyone dies.” I remembered the blue and reds lights that had lit up my windows months before, police at my door, a funeral, and the college breakdown. No one lived forever—at least not in my world.
Kale smiled humorlessly. He kissed the palm of my hand and placed it in my lap. “Listen and then decide whether you believe it or not. I know you will—we have been through this before.” His words lingered in the air.
I knew that I had never seen him before a few days ago, but it felt so familiar being with him. From our first meeting, there was something between us, and it seemed like he tried to deny it by pushing me away. I sat quietly through the rest of the story. There was no way I’d be eating my words about immortality. People didn't live forever.
“In the search for the nomads, the men came across a Frenchman who was willing to fund their journey as long as the men brought back the secret of eternal life.”
I wanted to question Kale’s sanity—eternal life seemed pretty out there—but I didn’t because at one point I’d needed the doctor to believe my hallucinations weren’t a figment of my imagination, so I gave Kale a chance. I listened and pictured these men and their endless endeavor.
“The men, tired and feeling defeated, accepted his offer and continued their search for many more years until they came to a place called Fantione. The men thought it was a mirage and that the desert played tricks on them—but it wasn’t. The leader of the Eternals emerged and told the men that he had heard they were in search of eternal life. He offered the men a deal; they were to bring him an ‘innocent’ human. This innocent must be pure in every sense of the word and—” Kale stopped his story abruptly and stood. His speed was amazing, and his scent washed over me as me moved to the window. “You have company.”
His voice gave me no reason to feel alarmed, so I joined him at the window to see Eric pulling up in his SUV. The sky was darkening and clouds gathered, dark and angry. “Yeah, it’s Eric. Is it going to storm or snow?”
Kale backed away from the window. “Looks like it might.” He moved farther into the alcove and sat in the chair. “I think I should go now.”
I disagreed. Eric hadn’t set foot in my room since I had come there, and I wanted to keep Kale close. “No, you can stay and finish the story.”
Kale stood quickly, and a wave of anger clouded his face. “It’s not a story, Ella. It’s true, and it’s history that isn’t written in a book and sold on some college campus.” The front door opened, and Kale moved toward the window.
I didn’t want him to leave, and I hadn’t meant to insult him. “No, wait. I’m sorry.” I grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back, but it was like trying to move a boulder. He didn’t budge. I could hear Eric fumbling around downstairs.
Kale turned and looked at me, his eyes full of understanding. “It’s fine, Ella. I knew it would be hard for you to believe.”
I wanted to understand. Kale had yet to say anything too unbelievable. Growing up, I’d heard stories about things that seemed unreal. I just called them urban legends. “I want you to tell me. You can stay, if you want.” I moved my hand down his arm and laced my fingers with his. Kale squeezed my hand, and I felt a wave of hope.
“I can come back.”
“Tonight at twelve?”
“Tonight at twelve.” He moved closer to the window and reached for it.
“Everyone will be sleeping then.” I wondered what he planned on doing, because Eric was in his office. Kale could have easily used the front door without being seen. “Why are you going to the window?”
His smile was mischievous and sexy as he opened the window and jumped out.
I squealed in surprise, ran over to the window, and looked outside just in time to see Kale—a blur—run into the woods.
“What the hell?” I whispered, shocked and allured by his speed. My stomach trembled at the thought of how powerful he truly was, but excitement pushed it away. My hand still tingled from his touch, and I couldn’t wait to see him again.
Chapter 13
* * *
“Ella, things will never be the same again we have to accept things as they are now and move on the best way we know how.” —Eric
* * *
I dressed in a pair of jeans and my favorite college sweatshirt, then headed downstairs to talk to Eric. We needed to talk about my car and my parents’ house in Virginia Beach. The real estate agent had told me that my dad had set up an insurance plan so the remaining balance on the mortgage would be paid and the rest would come to me, so I had the option of selling or living there. It was sad that I couldn’t return to the only place I’d ever felt safe. The memories were too much to bear, and that place would never feel like home again. I knocked lightly on the office door and wasn’t sure that he heard me. As I raised my hand to knock again, the door swung open. Eric stood gazing at me with big, sleepy eyes. I placed my hands in my pockets and shuffled side to side. It already seemed like this might be a mistake.
“Um… are you busy?” I asked. He seemed restless, and I wondered how much stress he was under. There were dark circles under his eyes, and his face looked sunken and hollow. I was positive he had more pressing concerns than the things that I had left behind in Virginia Beach.
“What can I do for you, Ella?” he asked wearily.
The sound of his tired voice made me feel even worse. “I was wondering about the house back in Virginia Beach. Are we going to handle it when we go and get my car?” I tried to sound as if I would accept a quick answer and be on my way. I didn’t want to bother him, but I needed to know what his and Sarah’s thoughts were about my old house and my parents’ things.
Eric looked surprised. He motioned for me to come into the office, and I followed him inside, shutting the door behind us. I followed Eric to his desk. He walked around the large wooden desk and took a seat. I sat down in the chair across from him. I bit my lip, not sure where to start.
“Are you okay?”
“Don’t worry about me, Ella. You have to focus on yourself and getting better.”
It used to piss me off when people would tell me things like that, but I just took it. I had learned that getting upset about it just made them treat me as if I needed to be taken care of even more. I smiled and nodded.
Eric took a breath and sat back in his seat. “So you are wondering about your parents’ house and the rest of your things?”
I could see he was uncertain if that was a topic I was ready to discuss.
I wasn’t too sure myself, but I wanted to get it over with, and on top of that, I wanted to see where I stood financially since returning to school and getting my own place kind of depended on it.
“Yeah.”
“Sarah and I are handling that for now. We set up an account for you, and as soon as the doctor tells us that you are able to live on your own, you can use it to move if you want. But I want you to know that you are welcome to stay here for as long as you need. Okay? I want you to be around people that you know and trust right now, and I think it may even make returning to school easier for you.” His voice was soft and kind and his eyes—though I could see the pain behind them—were full of sympathy.
Eric and my father had known each other so long they claimed to be brothers, even though they looked nothing alike, and my father was born in Italy while Eric was born in Virginia. I remembered summer weekends when we all played flag football in the field behind our old house. How Eric always bested my father during the game, but their jabs and playful banter always ended in laughter. Eric had created the workout regime for my father when he had his mild stroke, and my dad taught Eric to swim when he was almost thirty. Their friendship taught me a lot, and I was sorry for Eric that he’d lost that companionship.
“I know. It’s just that I need things to be normal again.”
“Ella, things will never be the same again,” he said compassionately. “We have to accept things as they are now and move on the best way we know how. I want you to stay here as long as you want, and Sarah and I want you to consider going back to school. I know that seems like an impossible task, but it’s possible, and we are here for you. I know I’ve been distant, but just like you, we all have to grieve.”
I could see the tears in his eyes, and I hoped that he wouldn’t cry. I wouldn’t know what to do to console him. I wanted to say whatever it was he needed to hear to heal, but I wasn’t sure I could—actually, I knew I couldn't. “Thanks, Eric. I appreciate everything you and Sarah have done. I was thinking about going back to school, but just a few online classes to start. I don’t want to stress myself out too much right now, but I guess it’d be good to move forward.”
“That makes a lot of sense. Take your time, Ella. You have as long as you need, okay?”
The conversation hadn’t gone as bad as I thought it would, but I still wasn’t sure what we would do with my parents’ house. Eric asked if there was anything else I wanted to talk about, but I wanted to get out of there before we talked about my parents any longer. I was sure he was going to get emotional, and that was something that I couldn’t handle. I was trying not to break down because if I did, I was sure he would follow suit. Strong emotions were what usually brought on my hallucinations—or memories, as Kale had called them.
After my conversation with Eric, I went to my room to think. I worried that Sarah and Eric were putting too much stress on themselves by worrying about me, and I wanted to find a way to relieve that stress. The deaths of my parents weighed on their minds, and their main concern was for my mental health and my education. I didn’t blame them for worrying because I had the same concerns. I had been enrolled at a university in Virginia studying Liberal Arts and Sciences. Most people believed the major was another term for “undecided,” but it took a lot of time and studying to make that decision. Most people work toward one thing their entire academic life, but I wanted more than just a degree that said I had mastered one thing. I thought I could take a few classes online, along with my part-time job at Knope’s Grocery, and everything would seem fine—no stress, no visions.
I thought back to the visions I’d had since I’d been at the Carltons’ and wondered if it would be as easy to pretend to be normal. At least around Kale I didn’t have to pretend, and I could speak to him freely about the visions. I hadn’t told him about the voice I heard, but I hadn’t heard it in a while. I’d bring it up the next time we spoke, which was to be later on. I looked at the clock and felt anxious and excited at the same time. I wanted to speed up time, but that was impossible, so I went downstairs for dinner.
After dinner and a lengthy discussion with Sarah and Eric about school and work, I went online to look at enrollments dates and class schedules at Virginia Tech. I needed to retake some of the same classes I hadn’t finished at Old Dominion University, so I pulled up my old class schedule. The thought of going to a new school where people didn’t know about me or my past was exciting. I still worried that I could have another vision at my new school, and then I’d be screwed. There would be nowhere to go but back to Ocean Trace, and I’d probably become a permanent resident. I decided that online classes were the best option. Maybe this would be good for me.
There was a knock at my door, and when I answered, Lea stood smiling brightly in her pajamas. Her smile was so sweet that it forced a smile out of me as well. I motioned for her to come in, and she plopped herself on the bed.
“Alex is coming home soon,” she said happily.
I moved to the bed and sat beside her. I was just as excited about Alex coming back for Thanksgiving as her, even though I hadn’t thought much about it. I moved back on the bed and snuggled against the wall. “Yeah, I’m sure you’re excited.”
“I am. He has to share a room with me because you’re in his room, but it’s ok. I’m kinda glad, you know? It sucks not having him around anymore. It’s so freaking boring with just me, my mom, and my dad.” Lea avoided my gaze.
I was worried that she had started to think of me in the weird way that everyone else did. She fidgeted a bit, then started to play with the multi-flowered comforter on my bed, pulling the loose threads and straightening the wrinkles. I wanted to ask her how she was doing, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to open that can of worms so soon after I’d talked to Eric. If she asked me about what happened while I was outside for the hour, or why I had to live with her family instead of returning to college, I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to her. I didn’t even know if her parents had filled her in on my situation, but I didn’t plan to—not tonight anyway.
“I was hoping that once you moved in, I would have someone to talk to,” she admitted quietly.
I realized then why she was acting so different. Lea and I were so far apart in age that when I used to visit, she and I didn't spend much time together. Alex and I were only a few months apart, and we had much more in common than Lea and I. Lea was lonely, and I understood that. I’d taken up most of her mother’s time, Alex was away at college, and Eric wasn’t the same man he used to be.
“What about that one girl you always hung out with whenever we came to visit? What was her name? Cami or Camille?” I pulled my legs to my chest and rested my head against the wall. I didn't want to believe that I was ruining Lea’s normal life, but there was not much point denying it.
“Ka’Mila, but I called her Mila. She moved last year. Everyone is moving. This state really sucks. It’s nothing but a bunch of mountains and trees. I have to get out of here.”
I would have laughed, but I knew she was serious. The funny thing was that was the exact same excuse Alex had used when he told his dad that he wasn’t attending Virginia Tech like they had once agreed upon. “I’m sorry, Lea.” I moved closer to her and patted her shoulder. Lea wasn’t very outgoing, and as far as I knew, she and Ka’Mila were each other’s only friends.
“Most of Alex’s friends moved, too. They used to hang out with me when Alex was here.” She sat further back on the bed.
“Oh, I see. Well, now that I’m here, we can hang out, if you want.” I smiled. Even though she was only ten, it would be nice to have someone to talk to. I didn’t have any siblings, and all of my cousins were older than me, or they lived pretty far away. It would have been nice to have someone to share things with when I was growing up. “When Alex comes home, maybe we can all go to the lodge. I think your mom and dad won’t mind.” At least I hoped they wouldn’t.
“I don’t know. They have been acting weird lately. I think it’s because…” Lea pau
sed, then looked up at me.
I knew that she was going to say her parents had been affected by my parents’ death, but she was worried about how I would feel about her mentioning it.
“Lea.” I wanted her to be comfortable talking with me no matter what it was about, and though I didn't want to talk about certain things—like my parents—I still couldn't send her away when she had no one else. “Just give them a little bit of time, and things will get back to normal. I promise.” I hoped I wasn’t lying. For some people, death was a bump in the road. One day they would wake up, and it wouldn’t hurt as much anymore. Others just stored the pain away until they were numb to everything around them. The latter was my goal, but I was failing miserably.
“Thanks.”
Lea seemed to understand what I was trying to tell her, or at least I hoped she did. I was relieved when she ended that conversation and headed over to my laptop.
“Wow, you have a MacBook Air. I tried to get dad to get one for the computer room. He said a regular PC was more than enough for our needs, but I still want one.” She pressed the keys and launched the browser.
I glanced at the clock and noticed it was well past her bedtime. But I still had some time until Kale was supposed to show up, so I decided to make good on my promise to hang out with her more. We played Angry Birds and browsed the internet for a while before Lea started to yawn.
“I’m going to bed. It was nice talking to you, Ella.” She smiled at me as she headed for the door.
“Goodnight, Lea.”
She was in a better mood as she left, and that was good. I was starting to see how my parents’ death was affecting Lea, and that was hard to handle. I still felt as if the pain was mine alone to bear. The Carltons still had each other. I was the one who was truly alone. After Lea left, I sat staring at the laptop screen. I hoped when Kale came back, we could talk more about what was going on with us. I knew that the feelings I was having for him were odd and that he knew why I was feeling this way about him. I wondered if he felt the same way about me, or if it was something entirely different for him. I needed to know who Hélène was and how she was connected to me.
Few Are Angels Page 8
