by Lori Meyer
Chapter Three
The next morning, I jumped into the shower before heading down to talk to my mom. She had no clue I was leaving and I wanted to be completely ready before I spoke with her. I had to be prepared to just turn and walk out.
She was sitting at the table sipping on a cup of coffee and nibbling a bagel. When I entered the kitchen, she looked up at me.
After eyeing the duffle slung over my shoulder, her eyes returned to mine. “That doesn’t look like a bag packed just for a visit. Where are you going, Kylan?” Her voice wobbled at the end and threatened to be my undoing.
Swallowing back the lump in my throat that had been increasing in size since I talked with Slade last night, I prepared to break my mother’s already shattered heart. “I’m moving to Oregon with Slade. He has some things I can help him take care of there. Besides, there’s nothing left for me here.”
Surprise never registered in her eyes, only sorrow.
“You’re just going to leave? Kylan, you don’t have to. Ecken is gone. I don’t know what he and Slade have you involved in but I know it’s not good. You can stop now.” Although her words pleaded with me, her voice didn’t manage to convey the same persuasion. I didn’t think too much about it at the time; dismissed it as just her being weary.
“No, I can’t. I’m too involved now. Besides, it’s something I need to do, for me.” I shuffled my bag to the other shoulder. But its contents weren’t what was heavy.
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this.” She was talking more to herself and her eyes grew haunted, like she was recalling something horrible from a long time ago.
The only thing I could picture was my dad. I had no idea what else she could have been talking about. And she was right. It shouldn’t have been like this. It was cruel and unusual punishment, especially when I did nothing to deserve it.
When her eyes returned to the present, she continued. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you from it. I just . . .” Her voice trailed off at the end as her eyes stared at me with such tenderness.
Protect me from losing my dad or Ecken’s influence? Although at that point, it really didn’t matter so I didn’t ask her to clarify.
“Don’t worry about me. I’m eighteen now and I have the funds dad put away for me. I’ll be okay. Take care. I gotta go.” I hurried my last words because if I didn’t escape at that moment, while I still had the courage to do so, cowardice would have shoved me into the chair beside her. Then there would have been nothing to hinder the flow of words that would have soon followed. But I couldn’t drag her into this. She was barely in any shape to take care of me as it was.
“I love you, Kylan.” Her words chased after me as I closed the door and left that part of my life behind me, permanently.
Slade had just pulled into my driveway, so I tossed my bag into the back, hopped into his dad’s SUV, and didn’t dare spare a glance back at my house. I doubted she moved from her seat to watch out the window but I wasn’t taking any chances. I had to make a clean break.
The entire twenty some hour drive we didn’t speak a word. Not that I complained. Even though heavy metal pounded through the radio, I still managed to doze off from time to time. Other than a few pit stops for food, gas, and to use the restroom, we drove straight through. I couldn’t imagine how Slade managed to stay awake that long. But I didn’t care enough to ask. I was just thankful I didn’t have to spend any more time with him than what was absolutely necessary.
When we reached Oregon the next day, I expected to be dumped off at my new place so was taken completely off guard when instead we pulled into a marina. There were only a few boats out on the water, but considering it was barely nine o’clock in the morning, that was to be expected.
Slade cut the engine and turned to me. “Leave your bag here. We’re going to take a short ride. I need to show you your assignment.”
I snorted. “What, am I going to be captain of a ship? Is this spell we’re looking for buried in a chest under the ocean?”
Slade let out a humorless chuckle. “No. And I’m the captain of the ship.” He opened the car door and got out.
I did the same.
He led me along the dock and over to a white boat with a huge letter K etched in blood red along its side. I was no expert but his boat looked like a small yacht. “You don’t get sea sick do you? I don’t want any vomit in my boat.”
I shook my head, still staring at the letter K. That was odd considering his first name began with an S and his last name a V.
After the two of us hopped on board, Slade released the rope that was anchoring her to the dock and started the engine.
I hated to admit it but it was rather cool to be sailing along on a lake in southern Oregon, even though my choice in companion would have definitely been different had I had the option.
I leaned over the side and stared out across the beautiful blue water, catching glimpses of fish I had never seen before, waves licking the sides of the boat. It was soothing and exhilarating at the same time.
After about fifteen minutes of cruising along, Slade let the boat idle about three hundred yards off of the opposite shore line. We could see some people playing volleyball and a few onlookers relaxing on the sand.
Slade raised his hand and pointed to one of the players who had sprinted off the court to retrieve an errant ball. “There’s your target, the cute brunette, Cedar Monroe. She will be a senior this upcoming school year where you will be attending also.” He lowered his arm and shot me a look that dared me to argue that detail. “You will be able to get close to her and keep tabs on her that way.”
I studied the girl. I couldn’t make out her distinct facial features from the distance but the figure I caught a glimpse of in her skimpy bikini told me I wouldn’t be disappointed. “Why is she so important? She’s just a teenager.”
Slade looked out across the water at the girl again. “She holds that part of the spell I told you we needed. I’ll be focusing my efforts on finding out more information about where that power is contained and reporting back to our group. You will be working on getting that spell from her, by any means necessary.” Then he turned back to me, his eyes serious and haunting. “We can cover up anything you do.”
Wow. Now that was power. It was both invigorating and scary as hell to think about. But I would do what was necessary.
“I’ll give you all of her other information when I drop you off at your new place.”
I was barely paying attention to Slade. My concentration was on the girl playing volleyball. She had jogged back onto the court, ready to serve. I had to admit; she was pretty amazing. I watched her make plays I saw only professionals do. I smiled to myself. Little did the hottie know but she was about to meet her destiny.
Right after she and I became acquainted.
# # # #
Curious about what’s in store for Cedar Monroe as well as Kylan Turner when they finally come face to face?
Find out in DISCOVERING CEDAR, the first book in the Cedar Series which follows a teenage girl who discovers she’s protecting a spell that could unlock the way to immortality along with the potential of releasing something far more sinister.
Look for the novel, being released as an e-book July 2012
Other short stories by Lori Meyer:
THE JOURNAL - When Lilian finds herself kidnapped, the only thing providing her with a shred of hope is a small book. But can the words jotted inside its binding help her make her way to freedom?
RACE TO SATE - Valerie enjoys being a normal teenager. But when changes begin occurring and she discovers what is really going on with her, nothing can prepare her for the mortification. And to make matters worse, the only one who can help her is her dad . . . but he’s no longer in the picture.
Both available as e-books
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