by E. A. Weston
One of the ladies rushes over to me, saying hello and how she hasn’t seen me for years. “I’m sorry, but do I know you?” I ask, not wanting to be rude. She laughs and tells me that she and Celeste used to work together before she opened the candle store. She asks after my mom, Celeste. “Oh, they, um … they went missing two years ago,” I tell her, watching shock register on her face.
Grabbing my elbow, she pulls me into her office and sits me down on one of the wicker chairs.
“What happened? I am so sorry, my dear, so sorry.”
Her eyes fill with tears and it takes every ounce of control in me to hold mine back. I tell her the story and she listens intently, reaching for my hand to hold it. We talk about my mom for a while and I realize how outgoing she was. I, on the other hand, am quiet and stay away from being the center of attention. After an hour of reminiscing, I walk out into the store to browse the collection. I pick up nearly every candle, smelling each one. Paula, the lady, comes over and lifts up one of the larger candles to me.
“How about this? It’s new and lasts sixty days.” She smiles, handing it to me. It smells of a tropical island, not that I have ever been, but it is amazing.
“It smells beautiful,” I tell her, reading the ingredients.
Turning it over, I almost drop it and smash the glass casing; twenty-five dollars for a candle? Paula catches my face. She takes the candle from me and I instantly redden with embarrassment. Picking up a smaller version of that candle, I check to see it is ten dollars. Still way too much, but I don’t want to be rude.
“Do you work, Reagan?” Paula asks from the counter, busying herself wrapping items into butcher paper.
“Yes, just part-time. I’m in college, too,” I answer, placing the candle onto the counter and pulling out the cash Athena gave me. Paula shakes her head as she wraps the candle and places it into a paper bag for me. I hand her the money, keeping my head down out of shame.
“Okay, sweetie, here you go. I hope you come back again soon.”
Smiling, I thank her, shoving my change into my pocket and leaving the store. Making one more stop, I buy a pair of jeans then leave the mall before I am broke. On the bus ride back to town, I peek into the bag, wanting to smell the candle again. Pulling out the wrapping, I see two large candles, some long skinny ones, and the small one. My eyes tear up and I wrap them all up again. Stepping off the bus, I walk back to the house. It’s dark now, so I am able to sneak in without Mr. Brenner seeing me.
Once inside my bedroom, I close the heavy curtains and light one of the candles, then I turn on the water in my en-suite bathroom it has no windows so I’m okay. I don’t want anyone to know I am here. Once the water is running, I fill up the sink and wash my face. I feel like a squatter in my own home. My phone rings from the bedroom, but I ignore it. My mind is full of memories that play over and over like a movie reel. The phone keeps ringing, so I finally answer it.
“What?” I ask, a little annoyed, hoping he will hang up.
“Hi, I wanted to see if we are still hanging out before I go to work,” Killian asks.
“No, I’m busy. See you around.” Hanging up on him, my fingers find my pendant. It’s a beautiful silver fairy holding a sphere. Claudia told me that the stone fell out years ago and maybe someday I can put something nice inside. My phone rings again. “Killian, please, I am tired,” I say as my greeting.
“Okay. Would you like to meet me for dinner?” At his question, my stomach growls.
“No, thanks, I’m good. I ate earlier. Listen, you’re a good friend and I appreciate all your help, but I am tired now, so I’ll see you later.”
He doesn’t argue with me so we hang up with me deciding if I even want to see him again. By eleven pm, I climb into my old bed. Surrounded by ghosts of the past, I drift off to sleep.
* * *
Killian
* * *
Arriving at the club, I feel empty. I know Reagan is the one for sure now. Once I kissed her, I could feel something inside me change. And when I tried to walk into her house today, a strong barrier of magic stopped me, sending me on my ass. I have no idea why magic would be surrounding Reagan’s house. James takes a seat beside me at the conference table.
“Hey, Killian.” I nod in response to him. “So, did you get a date what that chick or what?” He smiles at me. Usually, James doesn’t mention anything about girls.
“Yeah, but I think she is trying to friendzone me,” I reply, recalling Reagan’s earlier words. James laughs at me, slapping me on the shoulder.
“Hell, man, friend zone. Not good. Maybe I will try my luck with her. She seemed kind of edgy and I like that.” James’s words annoy me and I feel myself getting angry. Ethan walks into the room then, singing badly.
“What’s up, motherfuckers?” he calls out to James and I. We both just shake our heads at him. James tells Ethan about my friend zoning, to which he bursts out laughing. He tells me he saw Reagan at the mall today, and if he had have known about my friend status, he would have hit on her. Both James and Ethan piss me off, so I leave the room to calm down. My blood is coursing through my veins and it’s times like this I really miss Avery—a true friend who could help me when I needed it, not make jokes.
“Killian, we are about to start,” one of the waitresses calls out to me.
Turning, I walk out of the room and into my boss’s office, telling him I am sick and need to go home. He agrees without any problems. I make it home in ten minutes and head straight for a cold shower. My back has been on fire ever since I kissed Reagan. I don’t know what she is doing to me, but it hurts, physically.
Climbing into bed, I can smell her from last night. My senses are picking her up everywhere—in my car, in my house, and in the diner today. It was hard talking to Savannah when all I could smell was Reagan. I wanted to chase down that bus and bring her home. I am waiting for the day when I can take her to Avalon, to show her where I belong and where she belongs, too. Closing my eyes, I drift off into a restless sleep, waking every few hours. The pain in my back causes me to black out after a while.
When the morning sun hits my face, I wake to an aching body and a heaviness weighing me down. Rolling onto my side, I get a sharp pain in my back. My skin is damp with sweat. Standing, my legs feel weak. Turning my head to check the time, I notice my bed is covered in blood. Spinning around, my picture comes off the wall; the chair by the bed falls down. I am facing the mirror now and what I see shocks me.
My wings. My glorious wings standing tall on either side of me. Cautiously, I walk toward the mirror, staring at myself.
Whispering the words to remove my glamor feels like a veil has been removed from my eyes. There I am, tanned skin, long hair, and my wings—strong and black with silver veins. Falling to my knees, I feel so much joy it is unfathomable; standing again, I replace my glamor and remove it again. The only thing that stays are my tattoos. I have two: one covering my right shoulder and bicep, a tribute to my Tenebrosi brothers, and another of my family insignia in remembrance of those I lost.
Placing my glamor once again, I grab a shower, washing the blood from my body. I change into sweats and a t-shirt, then make my way to the wooded area by my building. Walking through the trees, I can hear them whispering to each other, notifying the others that I am here again. They wonder if I will ever hear them, and if I will ever be able to talk to them.
“I hear you,” I whisper back. The wind picks up, causing their branches to sway in a chorus of a song. To me, it sounds like the most amazing sound in the world, but to a human, it would just be noise. Standing in the clearing in my bare feet, I can feel the earth’s power and I soak it up. My eyes find animals hiding in the undergrowth and birds hiding in the treetops. I feel an energy buzzing through me. I take off running, building speed as I reach the edge of the woods. My feet take me faster and faster around the perimeter. Finally, I slow to a walk and make my way back to the clearing.
Chapter 14
Waking up early, I sneak ou
t of my house. It is a sad day when I have to hide my comings and goings from the home I grew up in. It is just after six am and I am not working until ten am, so I make my way across town to the wooded area by Killian’s building. I am pretty sure he is sleeping since he worked last night, so I have the area to myself. Walking through the trees, a strange wind picks up, blowing the trees in a wild dance. I stop and look up at them, and just as quick the wind dies down.
Walking into the clearing, I smile, seeing for the first time ever some rabbits hopping around. Maybe it’s hot enough for them to now come out of hibernation. Sitting down in the middle of the clearing, I look all around at the life that is beginning to bloom. Something about it makes me smile. Lying down, I close my eyes and enjoy the morning sun.
“Hello.” Snapping my eyes open, I see Killian standing beside me. My heart pounds because I didn’t hear him approach at all. He sits down beside, me grinning like an idiot and looking way too awake for this hour.
“Hi. What are you doing here? I thought you’d be sleeping,” I ask, trying to avoid his handsome face.
“No, I was running,” he answers. Lifting my face, I look at him, wondering what he wants with me. I know we kissed and he got all macho on me … but then he was with Savannah.
“Oh, right. I thought you would be tired from work last night.” I smile back at him. Shaking his head, he tells me he wasn’t feeling good so he left work and slept all night.
“Oh, well, I hope you’re feeling better.”
“I am, thank you for asking. How are you feeling, Reagan?” His smile never leaves his face and it’s contagious.
“I’m great … never better,” I lie with a smile, but he tilts his head as he watches me.
“I want to kiss you again,” he tells me before leaning over to me. I press my hands on his chest, stopping all lip action.
“Yeah, about that. I think it’s better if we stay friends. I don’t do players,” I say, shrugging my shoulders and hoping I haven’t pissed him off. I actually like hanging out with him. He leans back and laughs at me. Throwing his head back, his laughter rings out around the clearing.
“A player? I see,” he says, watching me. “What makes you think I’m a player, Reagan?” He’s direct and he is watching me closely.
I feel myself begin to squirm under his scrutiny. “Look let’s not start our friendship off with games and lies, Killian. I saw you with Savannah yesterday. I’m cool with it, but don’t think you can have both of us.” I smile at him, but he frowns.
“I don’t want Savannah. I told you I am yours, Reagan. All of me. These lips will never touch another. To you, I promise this.” Wow, so formal and medieval.
“Okay, good sir,” I joke with him and laugh at his scowl. Reaching over, he presses his lips to mine in a passionate kiss. We fall to the ground together, Killian’s body against mine, holding me beneath him with his hand placed on the small of my back. We stay like that for a while, letting our lips tell their own story. Slowly, Killian lifts his head away from me, placing soft kisses on my nose. My lips are swollen like his and it feels amazing.
“I have to go to work.” I smile up at him, getting lost in those onyx eyes.
“Okay, but first, we must feed you.” He tickles my stomach, sending a wild tingle down to my “lady bits,” as Alex would call them. My face flushes and Killian smiles at me, placing a soft kiss on my lips. Standing up, he pulls me with him, tucking me under his arm as we walk back to his apartment.
“What would like to eat today?” he asks, opening the door allowing me through first.
“Oh, cereal is fine. Thank you.” I feel embarrassed taking food from him, but Killian looks delighted to be feeding me. He places two boxes in front of me, along with milk and a bowl. I mix both cereals into the bowl while he laughs at me.
“I like both.” I shrug, smiling back at him.
“And both you shall have, princess.”
After I am done, Killian drives me to work. “What time shall I pick you up?” he asks, opening my door for me.
“Oh, I will text you. I might go see Alex for a while after work. Are you working tonight?” He nods and agrees to wait for my text.
He waits until I unlock the store and turn on all the lights. He gives me another heart-melting kiss then leaves. I unpack all my tools again, setting them out on the table. Athena left some boxes of books she wants me to put out for sale. After searching the whole store, I eventually find the price gun and get to work. The bell dings over the door and I stand from my place on the floor. Jake walks over to me, looking sheepish.
“It’s you,” I say coldly.
“I’m sorry, Reagan, really I am. Shit! I just got caught up in stuff again and went off the rail a bit.”
“A bit, Jake? You fucking stole from your own mother and got me kicked out of her house! I’m homeless now,” I shout at him. He runs his hand through his hair and walks over to me.
“Reagan, I’m sorry. Jesus, I never meant for her to think it was you. I wasn’t even thinking straight.” Jake grabs me in a hug, holding me tight.
“I can’t believe you did that to me, Jake. After everything we’ve been through over that last two years.” Pulling back, I punch him on the arm; not hard, but enough for him to know I am not that easy to forgive.
“I know, Reagan, and I am sorry.” Jake kisses my cheek and hugs me again.
“Next time I won’t take you back, Jake. I mean it,” I warn him, stepping back from him. “And you still stink.”
We both laugh and hug again. He holds me for a long time then says goodbye. I know something is going on with him. I just hope he tells me and doesn’t fall back into another depression.
Two years ago, both of us were in a bad place. My parents were gone and Jake’s dad died. We got wasted and thought it would be good to lose our virginities together. It was interesting and fun, but ultimately stupid. The hours drag by. Alex called me saying Ryder was taking her out for lunch so I just ate in the store. By six pm, I am bored out of my mind. I tidy the store and text Killian that I am done for today. He is at the door within minutes.
“Hello, princess.” He smiles at me as I lock the door.
“Hello yourself,” I reply, walking to the car. Opening the door, I climb inside, resting my head against the seat. Killian looks at me then reaches out to run his fingers down the side of my face.
“You know, you smell funny.” He laughs at me pulling out of the parking space. Pulling up my shirt, I give it a sniff. I smell Jake’s weed all over me.
“Yeah, I guess I need a shower.” Only my own house will prove difficult. Killian takes me back to his place without asking where I wanted to go.
“You can shower here if you want. I don’t mind. I have to work tonight anyway so you can sleep in my bed. I can take the sofa,” he tells me, rummaging through the cupboard. I watch him take out some food and begin to prepare it. I have no clue what is going on here between us. We kissed a few times and I like him, but I don’t really know him. I watch as he makes some kind of stir-fry. He moves around, humming a tune.
“Anything interesting going on in the club tonight?” I just need to break the silence.
“No, just another Saturday night.” He smiles, throwing some chicken into the pan, he looks hyper or something, so I ask him what he has been doing all day. “Working out and training,” he answers. I wonder if I asked for his bank details would he give the information so freely.
We enjoy our dinner together, making small talk and stealing glances at each other. Killian cleans up while I loaf around, trying not to be awkward.
“You can shower,” he says again.
“Oh, I’ll just go home I don’t have clothes here.” I wave him off, grabbing my bag from the back of the chair. Stepping in front of me, he takes up my hands, smiling at me.
“I would like you to stay here. That way I’d know you’re safe. We can go get some of your things.”
Okay, now I feel weird. I mean, should I ask him what we are
? Hey, Killian, am I your girlfriend? Jesus, I’m fucking lame. I need some Alex time and a walk down the mean streets of Faircrest. Killian is still holding my hands, his smile wider than before as he looks at me.
“So we will go get your belongings and you will stay here.”
Turning, he walks to the door, taking me with him. Once we get to my house, I take him around back to enter that way. He stops by the door and waits.
“You can come in, Killian, you’re allowed.” I laugh at him.
He looks worried and takes a step towards the door, but then I pull him inside, not wanting people thinking I am robbing the place.
“I’ll be a minute.” Leaving him standing in the kitchen, I race up to my room, grabbing my new jeans and some clothes for work. I change into my leggings and a sweater because I don’t want the smell of weed at his place. On my way out of the room, I grab the small candle I got. Hopefully, he won’t mind me burning it tonight. When I get back downstairs, he is standing in the same spot. “Do you mind if I light a scented candle at your place?” I figure I better ask.
“No, do anything you want.” He smiles at me then looks around the house. “Why don’t you live here?” he asks as we leave.
The dreaded question. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought him here. I don’t want to start off our friendship with lies, but I’m not sure about divulging my family history right now. Killian takes my hand, kissing the back of it softly. “You don’t have to tell me anything, princess. I understand.”
“It’s just a long story. Maybe another time,” I answer as we walk around the side of the house to his car. Killian opens my door again as I sit down I catch Mr. Brenner’s curtains twitch. I know he is watching us and it bothers me. He is nice to me, but he was appointed by the court to keep the house up and empty of all people. Although he allows me to come and go, I don’t want to draw attention to myself.
