Danielle waves a hand at him. “Oh, quit it. He will be out on his own with Amalia before we know it.” Her face falls. “Not that I’m at all ready for a daughter-in-law after raising rowdy boys!”
Jed guffaws. “Hey, I’m not rowdy! Just look at Gavin.” He points across at Gavin and I snort.
Gavin throws a bread roll at him and Jed raises his hands. “See! Rowdy,” he exclaims. The entire table roars again, and we all dig into Gram’s chicken and potato casserole.
Chapter 6
My eyes flutter open and I am laying in my bedroom at Gavin’s house. I look around the dark room. Outside, the full moon bleeds bright light into the room through the large double-paned window. I walk over to the window and close my gray curtains. Something feels off, like I haven’t slept at all, or that I’m in the middle of a dream. Panic sets in and I scan the room around me. My eyes fall on an all too-familiar fuzzy blob sitting in the far corner of the room on a chair.
I jump out of shock, and wrap my arms around my half-naked body. Of course, tonight I chose to wear a simple t-shirt and neon pink underwear.
“You think I care a single iota about your undergarments, young Ganis? You are a child.” Barron’s voice sounds almost amused for the first time ever.
I run to the bed to wrap a blanket around myself. I sit on the bench at the foot of my bed and groan. “Do you have to keep visiting me, Barron? It’s a huge waste of time. I won’t give you any information you think you need.”
Barron shifts in his seat, so he is leaning toward me out of the dark corner. I catch a hint of light brown hair and pale white skin under the blur with a name. I gasp and lean in closer.
“I can see parts of you, I think!” I squint and try to study him more. I can see where his eyes are, but not the details. He is wearing a robe of sorts, but the color is a mystery to me. I can distinguish between his hands and feet when I couldn’t before, but individual fingers or type of shoes don't register.
“Well, it seems your progression to a fully-developed Seer is coming along a bit faster than most. Congratulations.” His congrats doesn’t sound sincere, but I’m surprised by the striking differences between him and Thrane. The more I continue to learn about him, the more I wonder how much evil is actually there.
“Barron, I have a question if you’re willing to answer.” I wait for his response before continuing.
“Go ahead,” he says.
“I am sure you know that I dealt with another demon, named Thrane. He hurt me multiple times, and spoke like he wanted to eat me alive or tear me apart limb by limb. It was really disturbing and terrifying being near him.”
Barron grunts. “That is not a question.”
I wave my hand at him. “I know. My question is, why don’t you speak like a killer, or terrifying creature from hell? You talk to me like a gentleman and seem almost pleasant, for a demon, I guess.”
Barron is quiet for a moment before he speaks again. “Where would nasty talk or poor conversation get me in my ultimate goal? Do not get me wrong, Ganis. I will kill, maim, and torture any that I wish to, but I grew up in quite a different time. Idle threats and so-called promises of pain do not give me pleasure. Actions give me pleasure.” He stands up after his answer.
The action causes me to sweat and scoot farther onto the bench beneath me. Barron steps closer and I can see his foot touch the floor this time, adding a new level of determination to the movement.
“What are you doing? There’s no reason to come closer to me. You can’t hurt me.” My words come out shaky, betraying any ounce of fearlessness I try to get across.
Barron kneels in front of me, so we are eye to fuzzy eye holes. I try to read his expression, but the only thing I can make out is short, manicured, sandy brown hair. He reaches onto the bench next to me and touches something.
I follow what I assume is his gaze and see my college binder sitting next to me. The front reads “Southern Oregon University, Ashland”. As quickly as I can, I flip the binder over, but I know deep inside myself that I am too little, too late.
Dread washes over my body, and I watch the figure in front of me, still kneeling. “Barron, you don’t have to hurt me, okay? I’m really sorry for the actions of my great, great grandfather but that was so long ago!” I lean closer to him, needing to sway him in some way. “I saw who you were as a boy, the pain and anguish you were forced to endure. There has to be some reason you still dream of that time. Please,” I beg.
Barron is still for what feels like eternity before he finally stands and speaks. “No matter who you are in this life, or what you’ve seen from me, you are still a GANIS!” He roars my family name. “I have known such the smallest sliver of happiness in my 218 years of life and death, and your family stole that happiness from me! Your family is responsible for my never-ending torment!”
I lean away from him again, fear like I have never known rising up from the tips of my toes and through to the tips of my fingers. All I feel is ice underneath my skin, very contrasting to the heat I feel when I am brave.
He continues. “I know where you are, Ganis. It may be but one location. You may decide to never enter that school again after tonight, but I will find you nevertheless, and every person in your life that your heart beats for will cease to exist. Be ready. I hope to experience your strength… and crush it.”
I blink back oncoming tears and Barron is gone, leaving me stranded in my own mangled nightmare.
***
I wake from my late afternoon nap to my phone buzzing under my pillow. I squint at the brightness of the screen where it reads “AUNT MAGS.” It takes me only a second to know I can’t avoid her calls for long, and I hit the answer icon. “Hello,” I croak, still half asleep.
“Darling, are you alright?” Aunt mags sounds worried which is understandable. I’m sure she has talked to Kassy by now, since I ignored all five of her earlier calls after my dream run-in with Barron last night. I haven’t left my room all day and anyone who comes by, I send away.
“I’m just feeling under the weather, that’s all.” It’s a blatant lie, but what else can I say? That an evil demon wants to kill everyone I love and there is nothing I can do to stop him? I am unraveling in fear.
She sighs through the phone. “You can lie to me all you want, hon. I know that’s not the whole story, though. Please just join your friends and do something other than staying holed up in your bedroom.”
I know she is right. I know that I need to spend time with my loved ones, especially not being sure of the future. “Aunt Mags, you know I love you right?”
“I know that, one hundred percent,” she says, still sounding worried.
I pause for a long moment before speaking again. I have questions and I need to open up to her more, after all she has done for me. “Do you remember anything from my childhood that just seemed strange? Maybe unnatural?”
“I don’t think so, sweetie. You have always been a special girl, and your parents knew it as well as I do. You’re unique, not strange or unnatural.”
Her response doesn’t answer my burning questions at all. “But what about my parent’s murders? I know it’s gruesome, but I can handle it. How was I so protected, but they weren’t? I just want to understand.”
She is so quiet that I have to check the phone screen and make sure I didn’t accidentally hang up. Finally, she speaks again. “I’ve never told you this before, so as not to bring up hard memories, but your parents knew things that many people didn’t… I’m probably not making sense, but I knew them better than I’ve claimed to.”
“What do you mean?”
She sighs again. “Hon, we need to talk in person, okay? There is just so much to say.”
I shake my head, more confused than ever. “That’s not fair. You cannot just leave me with this information and not explain.”
“I know, darling! Trust me, this is not the time. I will tell you this though... I knew your mom and dad, before you were even born. They asked me to help protect y
ou, and I said yes. I loved you then, and I love you more now than ever. Please, let’s talk next weekend. I will come to you, okay?”
Extremely exasperated and with my mind racing, I give in. “Okay, I’ll be here, and there won't be any secrets after that. We need to be honest with one another.”
“Of course. I love you.”
“I love you too,” I say and the call ends.
Chapter 7
I finally drag myself out of my bedroom shortly after dinner time. Alexa, Kassy, and Gavin are sitting at the kitchen table and talking about plans for tomorrow night. “It sounds like a lot of fun, I just hope she comes out before then…”
Kassy’s voice cuts off when I enter the room and she runs over to me. She hugs me so tight that a whistle of air squeezes out of my throat. I laugh softly, not fully feeling the greatest at the moment.
I speak up before she throws the twenty questions at me. “What sounds like fun? I like fun.”
Alexa waves us over to the table. “Come sit down. We were talking about a party that Gram is throwing at the family cemetery tomorrow night. I know, it sounds weird but it’s actually a lot of fun. Every time the seasons change we go to the cemetery, and change out old flowers and plant fresh seeds for some healing herbs that Gram uses for so many things.”
Kassy nods. “I think that’s amazing. It’s such a good show of history and it’s so cool that you guys use magical herbs for healing, like witches.”
Alexa shakes her head. “We aren’t nearly as talented with herbs or magic as the Wicca, but Gram has her specialties.”
Kassy’s mouth drops open. “Wait, the Wicca? You mean there are actual witches and warlocks out there doing spells?”
“Not warlocks. In the Wicca family, a man has no power, just the women. And they really detest the term ‘witch’.” Alexa speaks so matter-of-factly that the new information about powerful spell-casters seems boring.
I shake my head. “I think I’m going to need a lesson on the Wicca soon, for sure.”
I glance over at Gavin who has been way too quiet. He is just watching me, sadness in his eyes. My heart aches for him, and I immediately want to go to him. I squirm in my seat, but don’t get up.
Gavin clears his throat. “Can I talk to Aella alone, guys?”
The girls glance at one another and get up from their seats. They each give me a hug. Kassy whispers in my ear before she leaves. “We need to talk about what’s going on with you, but I’m glad you have him.” She smiles and leaves the room with Alexa.
I turn back to Gavin, and before I can think of what to say, he is standing in front of me and cradling my face in his hands. He leans in and kisses me so sweetly that I want to fall into it and never come back out.
His lips leave mine too quickly and he groans deep within his chest. “Why did you do this to me, Aella?”
I’m confused, so I just look at him with my round eyes and raise my shoulders. He sits on a chair next to me and pulls me onto his lap. “I’ve been in agony all day. You know at this point in our relationship it physically and emotionally hurts to be without you. Have you not felt it all day?”
I gasp and cover my mouth with my hand. “Gavin! I had no idea! I never would have stayed away from you if I knew you were hurting. I’ve been so numb and lost in myself today that I didn’t notice the pain at all.” I can’t believe how selfish and horrible I’ve been. “I’m such an idiot sometimes!” I shout and close my eyes.
I wrap my arms around him and pull him closer to me. I rest my chin near his neck. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper in his ear.
He shakes his head, holding me tightly in his arms. “You don’t have to be sorry and you are definitely not an idiot. You just need to talk to me.”
I lean back and look into his eyes. I can’t tell him the whole truth about Barron. He has such a beautiful family and I just know he will want to protect me and them, at the cost of his own life, and maybe all of their lives as well.
I pull a big ball of air into my lungs. “So, I never told you guys this before, but when Thrane had me trapped in that house, he mentioned another demon’s name. Barron something.” I try to gauge his reaction but he is just listening respectfully, so I continue. “Well, I guess this Barron demon is more powerful and dangerous than even Thrane was, and for some reason he wants to hurt me, or rather kill me.”
Gavin’s golden eyes become angry but he still doesn’t speak in the silence.
“I believe he was the one that killed my parents when I was little and doesn’t like that I got away somehow. I think he plans to find me and kill me to finish his work.” The almost truth pours out of me but I can’t bring myself to mention the dreams. It feels too personal to have another man in my head, and I don’t want to put that on him.
Gavin stands with me and sets me on my feet. He holds my hands in his and takes a deep steadying breath. “Aella, I really wish you would’ve told me all of this sooner. I’m going to have to tell my family so that everyone keeps a lookout, and that also means you shouldn’t go to school anymore.” He kisses me gently and breathes me in. He pulls his head back and his eyes roam my face. “But, I need you to know right now, that you are not alone in this. Whatever you do from this point on, please just talk to me about anything and everything, and we can figure it out together. That’s what Intendeds do.”
I give him a slow nod and tears sting my eyes. “Together sounds great,” I say and kiss my Intended until my knees go weak and I am utterly breathless.
***
Kassy and I get out of the car first and the chilly autumn breeze causes us both to shiver. We laugh at our synchronicity, and she puts her arm around me. Connected, we walk together across the cemetery to where Gavin’s family is gathered.
I can tell right away who Cy is, because he looks identical to his father, Hagan. Same dark and silky hair, but without the slight sprinkles of gray. The same strong, just-shaved jaw, and intense look in his golden eyes. I instantly cringe, but I can’t unfairly judge a book by its cover.
There is also a younger boy standing next to him, who I’m assuming is Egan. His features are striking, and he must have his mother’s looks because he is absolutely gorgeous for a young man. His hair is a summer brunette, almost blonde and it curls over his ears on both sides. I was told by Alexa that Egan is my age and hasn’t yet fully developed, which is honestly a breath of fresh air in this band of super humans.
Everyone in the cemetery is dressed very casually and not at all prepared for the chilly air, except for a few. Kassy and I both have light jackets, and Egan has a forest-green hoodie on. Little Ethan is also wearing a sweater, and adorable little brown hiking boots. He runs up to me, almost hopping with each step as we approach the group, and he jumps into my arms.
I laugh at the five-year-old and give him a big squeeze. “Hey handsome man! I love your boots!”
He smiles in my arms and tries to flip a leg up to advertise the new kicks. “Mommy got me them! She can get you some of the exact same!” He hops out of my arms and runs to his mom. “Mommy! Can we get some boots like mine for El?”
Sophia chuckles. “If El wants some, I’d be happy to, but maybe uncle Gavi would like some like yours instead. We can get El some prettier ones that are for girls.”
He shrugs and rolls his eyes over at me, very dramatically. I tilt my head at him. “I think Gavin would look very nice in those boots,” I say, and Gavin slides in next to me.
Gavin wraps his arms around me and I’m warmed down to my toes. I release a full body shiver, but not from the cold this time.
Gavin raises an eyebrow at me. “Are you still cold?” he asks.
I blush and shake my head. Gavin grins down at me, and his golden eyes darken slightly. He leans in, but before he can kiss me, we are both picked up by very large arms. Jack chortles and squeezes the two of us in a group hug.
“Will you two stop with the googly eyes, huh? It’s family time, for pete’s sake!”
Gavin shoves Jack away from
us. “We’re here aren’t we? Go crush someone else, you behemoth!”
Camilla glides over to us and hugs Alexa, who remains safe from the Uncle Jack death squeeze. Camilla looks around. “No Liam tonight?”
Kassy shakes her head next to me. “I wish he could be here, but I still can’t bring myself to tell him everything just yet. Anyways, he had plans with his roommate Kyler. Video games and nachos is a dream night for him, and all men apparently.” She and Camilla both laugh.
Gavin points over to Cy and Egan. “Come on, let’s go see the traveling brothers.”
We all trudge over in the dark cemetery to where the rest have gone to sit around a flickering fire. I sit on a log across from Cy and the beautiful girl to his right, who was hidden from view before. Gavin goes to his cousins and they all share a big group man-hug.
Cy pulls his fiancé to her feet and introduces her to Gavin. “Gav, this is Amalia. Amalia, this is my cousin Gavin, and I don’t know the two girls that came with him.” He grimaces and points over to me and Kassy.
Gavin waves a hand in our direction. “Well, I met Aella and Kassy a little over a month ago at school. Aella is a Seer and in training right now, and Kassy is her lifelong friend, not a Seer.”
Kassy shrugs. “I’m super ordinary and I’m cool with it.” Cy and Egan both laugh at her introduction.
I nod at them and wave awkwardly. “It’s nice to meet you both.”
Cy tilts his head back at me, and Egan waves with a big cheesy grin. Cy puts a loving arm around Amalia and she smiles up at him with a slow sigh. They are a very cute couple and Cy’s tenderness towards her is very unlike the roughness I’ve seen from his father. Amalia is shorter than me but not by much. Her skin is a light cocoa color and her black curls bounce on her head with every slight movement. The contrast between her dark skin and bright golden eyes is the most strikingly beautiful combination.
Intended Series Collection: Books 1-6 Page 22
