"Honey, this should wait; you're still recovering," Mom said.
What was going on? Something was up, that's for sure. "Tell me," I said. "I have to know."
Mom hesitated, ducking her head and shaking it. That meant the news wasn't good.
"You said they weren't hurt," I accused.
"Justin, that's not it." She closed her eyes for a moment, as if what she had to say hurt her.
"She called you a monster, and says she doesn't want to see you again," Mom blurted, gripping my fingers. I could tell she was really upset by what she had to tell me, too.
"That makes things a bit awkward, as she's still living in our old house," Mom added. "Agent White called your father this morning—he said Gina's father's remains are on their way home." Mom helped me sit up and handed me a glass of ice water. "I went ahead and just sent money to the proper people, so they'd release the remains."
I ignored that and went straight to the thing causing the most pain. "She called me a monster? Mom, that can't be right," I struggled to push covers back and almost spilled the water. I drank the whole glass while waiting for Mom's answer. What she was saying couldn't be right.
Couldn't be.
"Justin, sometimes people don't know how to react," Mom said, looking away uncomfortably. "I can have your father play the entire conversation for you—he can do that with power."
"She called me a monster?" I croaked, wishing for a second glass of water.
"After you saved her life—and her mother's life. I know you care about her. I'm sorry it turned out this way, honey."
"What about Mack?" I felt like crying and did my best not to let that happen.
"Mack is recovering, just as you and Merrill are. If the Larentii hadn't come to help, you'd all have died. I tried to explain that to Gina, too. I think she was just too traumatized—after all, her best friend was killed by a monster. Perception colors everything, I'm sad to say."
"She couldn't tell me this in person?"
"Honey, she said she wanted no contact. We have to abide by that."
"What about her mother?"
"Mrs. Allen sends her apologies, but she wants no contact, either. You were more than brave, sweetheart. We've all been hit by this blow. Compulsion had to be laid, and Randall and Raymond Pierce are still out there somewhere. The police are looking for them. I think your Dad can find them, now; their allies have disappeared."
I no longer cared about any of that. My girl—whom I'd just begun to love, had called me a name and walked away.
* * *
Adam's Journal
I felt like the prize idiot when Kiarra handed my official birthday present to me. Justin, Mack and Merrill had only begun to wake after several days of unconsciousness following the attack. The Larentii had done exceptional healing, however.
If they hadn't, all three would be dead.
"What's this?" I asked, accepting the large, manila envelope from my wife.
"The deed. To your family home in England," Kiarra said and walked away from me.
I almost dropped the envelope, I'd gone so numb. She'd bought the damn thing for me? I felt like more than a fool.
"Sweetheart, no," I ran after her. If she'd been able to fold space, I might not have caught up with her. Instead, I lifted her in my arms and began kissing every inch of her face.
Fuck the deed. Fuck the property. Fuck everything else except what really mattered. Her. She mattered. Justin mattered. Mack and Merrill mattered. They'd taken on the enemy and defeated them with few assets and a universe of courage.
"Adam, you're tickling my nose," Kiarra complained when I kissed it for the third time.
"I love you. My God, I love you so much," I mumbled.
* * *
"You think they'll be back?" Randall Pierce tossed rabbit bones onto the campfire before wiping greasy fingers on his jeans.
"No idea. Made a lot of promises. You see where we are now," Raymond Pierce complained. "Supposed to get a cabin up here. A big one, with a fat bank account."
"Hey, something just bit me," Randall shouted, standing up.
The snake bit his father, too, before Randall died during his fall to the ground.
* * *
Justin's Journal
Eight months later…
Mack and I finished our senior year classes with Joey and Bearcat, and with special permission, were allowed to graduate with our former class at Valley High. Roughly a month earlier my sister, Anna Kay Griffin, joined the family. Barely a week later, Lion and Marlianna became parents to twins—Rush and Rachel.
Today was graduation day.
Dad shaded Mom and little Anna Kay with power where they sat in the bleachers, while Mack and I stood in the sun—on the same football field where we'd fought spawn the first time. Things had settled down after the Ra'Ak incident in late September the year before, but Mom said not to get comfortable. We were targets, and the enemy doesn't forget.
She also said there was a surprise when we got home, but I couldn't imagine what that might be.
Maybe we'd move again. Who knew?
I watched Gina from where I stood, waiting for my name to be announced so I could cross the stage and get my diploma. She'd glanced my way a time or two, but that's it.
No awkward hellos, only painful good-byes.
I considered, too, that the world had been in danger and Mack and I had helped save it. I listened while lists of accomplishments and awards were named when former classmates were summoned to receive their diplomas. World saving wasn't one of the things listed when Mack's name—and then mine—were called.
* * *
Gina found me when the ceremony was over. Mack and I were removing our caps and gowns in a classroom so we could return them before we left.
"I'll, uh, just go see what the others are doing," Mack said and walked out the door.
"Justin," Gina said. I watched her fingers twist together while she ducked her head—she was uncomfortable talking to me.
"Gina."
"I heard that Randall Pierce and his father were found up in the mountains. At least their remains were found. The coroner thinks they were bitten by a snake of some kind, and that's what killed them."
I ducked my head to hide the half smile. Darzi had done what we'd all wanted to do. "Does this mean you want to be friends again?" I lifted my head to look at her—she wouldn't meet my eyes, still.
"Justin, I know it's not fair. I know you and your Uncle and Mack saved our lives. I—I just can't deal with that. Being with somebody who isn't human. Whose family isn't human."
"If we'd been human, Mack, Merrill and I, we'd all be dead," I pointed out. We almost were anyway, but I didn't say it.
"A part of me understands that. Please try to see it from my perspective. I have plans, Justin, for my life."
"And those plans don't include a wyvern, do they?"
"Is that what it is? I thought it was a dragon."
"No. Uncle Dragon is a dragon. You should see that," I snapped. "He's bigger and better than I'll ever be."
"Look, I just wanted to say thank you, and leave it at that. I didn't want to fight with you," Gina sighed, her shoulders sagging. Finally, she looked at me. "It's always so trite to say it's me and not you. In this case, though, it's true. I can't help that I'm human, Justin. You can't help that you're a wyvern."
"And to you, that means we can't be together, is that right?"
"For me, it is. I'm sorry. I really need to go."
I watched her leave, steeling myself against the pain of it.
Things could have been so different.
I'll never forget what Darzi said, though, before he left.
"Better coming," he said. "Not worry."
* * *
"Justin, Mack, this is Belen," Mom said, smiling at Mack and me. We'd just gotten home and Mack and I were headed to the kitchen for a celebratory soda when Mom made her announcement. I blinked. Belen was so bright, I almost couldn't look at him.
"Not unusual," Belen smiled before extending his hand.
"I name you auxiliary Saa Thalarr," he proclaimed, placing his hand on my head. "You and Mack, here," he touched Mack's head, too. "You will fight spawn for us when needed, and in exchange, you will be granted power and abilities only the Saa Thalarr hold."
I stared at Mom, who was joined by Dad and Merrill.
Merrill shone, too.
"He's new—joined the Saa Thalarr yesterday," Mom said, her smile widening. "He's the Snow Leopard and Ranked Fifth. We're up to ten, now. Isn't that amazing?"
Dad grinned. "Pack up, son, we're moving to England," he said.
* * *
Epilogue
Thorsten stood on a cliff near the home he'd chosen long ago—when he'd been named supervisor of the Saa Thalarr. None of them knew where it was, by design.
"Interfere like that again, regardless of what your maker says, and I'll destroy you myself." Thorsten whirled to see who'd spoken, before dropping to his knees and bowing.
"Yes, Mighty One," he groveled.
"Do your job—the one you were instructed to do. Stray from that path and I'll kill you before he can, do you understand?"
"Yes, Mighty One."
"If they'd died, you'd be dead already. You understand now how important it is to keep them alive?"
"Yes, Mighty One."
"You will not recall this visit, if anyone asks."
"Yes, Mighty One."
* * *
Larentii Archives
History has been written—twice—within my lifetime. It is my guess, unconfirmed, of course, that if I were to gaze into the eyes of the Mighty, I might see that it has been written too many times to count—Nefrigar of the Larentii
The End
About the author:
Connie Suttle lives in Oklahoma with her patient, long-suffering husband and three cats. For information on forthcoming titles, please visit Connie's website at www.subtledemon.com, her blog at subtledemon.blogspot.com or find her on Facebook—Connie Suttle Author. She is also on twitter: @subtledemon.
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