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“I love you Dana, always.”
“I love you Noah, forever.”
I knew that was goodbye and I silently cried myself to sleep.
Waking up alone gives a different kind of pain.
Chapter 15
Dana
I packed my bags full of my clothes a week later along with the sword I found and my bathroom things too. I packed my life into 4 bags. One backpack, two duffle bags and one rolling piece of crap. I grabbed my charger and threw it in my backpack. Do I even need a charger?
The ghosts have left me alone this week. Probably because Kreed's shadows have covered every square inch of this house since the night he showed up. Aavin’s shadows also scoured the house for anything that may have been lurking. He also set up wards around the house before he left.
“You ready?” I turn and look at Kreed leaning against my bedroom door. He’s been a saint since Noah left. He has let me drown my sorrows in vodka when I needed it and left me alone when I asked. He’s listened to me spew vitriol at him. Then, cry and apologize to him. He’s listened to me lose my temper when something simple didn’t go my way. Something as little as the powder room sink not cooperating when I tried to remove it. There was a lot of raging and now there are holes to patch in the powder room. Kreed has seen the absolute worst of me and yet he stays. It makes me feel something for him. Something more than just ‘just acquaintances’.
Kreed had asked me why he left. Baffled that someone who claimed to love me could just leave me. Especially with men we hardly know. I defended him, of course. I said ‘He probably thought since we are tethered, you were safe’. Kreed just huffed and ended that conversation and went outside to take his frustrations out on my unchopped wood rounds. Two cords are now chopped and stacked in my woodshed beside my backdoor.
It’s frustrating that I can see everyone's point of view. I know why Noah left. I know why Kreed is upset at Noah and why he is also cranky at my other bonds. Magical or not. I know why Aavin doesn’t want to complete our bond. I get it. Just…sometimes I wish I could be stuck in my own way and not have to see everyone's point of view. It’s exhausting. I guess that would be narcissism though.
Kreed and I decided it was time to go to Bathaile. To get some fresh air. A change of scenery and to meet my family. I guess he can feel the hurt and anger through what little bond we have. He seems to think this will help to get my mind off Noah.
I tried calling Noah a hundred times. I have driven to his house several times a day trying to catch him. I called his mother and she said he’s just gone. She told me he asked for time off and watched him pack a bag, throw it in his truck and leave. ‘He had tears in eyes honey, I don't know what happened between you two but he’s broken.’ her words stirred more tears at the time. I thanked her for telling me what she could and told her to call me when she sees him.
I wrote a letter for him and left it on my kitchen counter. I also texted him a novel this morning, explaining that I was leaving for Bathaile. I also had his name put on the deed to the house. Aavin came back for a night a couple days ago to check on me. When Aavin and Kreed decided I was leaving, we had to do something about the house so it didn’t fall into foreclosure.
Apparently, I would be leaving for a while. Aavin shadowed into the bank one night and rifled through the computers to find what he was looking for. It took him a couple hours to figure out what he was doing but he got it handled. The man looked so frustrated when he got back. Mumbling things about overpopulation and too much bullshit. I printed copies of it and placed that with the letter.
Aavin is also coming back tomorrow to pay off the house so the bank doesn’t foreclose. I tried to talk him out of it but we had settled on me paying him back later. I think he just knew I needed to get out of this town, just as Kreed does and out of this house. Aavin didn’t want anything to hold me back, house, job or otherwise. He made it so I had zero excuses to not leave.
Noah left something broken in me so irreparable that I have no clue how to fight back to myself right now. He’s been everything to me for years. He’s my person.
Now, I’m staring at Kreed wondering if I’m making the right choice. To go across worlds with a man I don't know. Aavin said he trusted Kreed, that he wouldn't harm me as I am his tether and if it's anything like our soul bond, Kreed could not hurt me. Much less want to. Can I trust Aavin though? I don’t know him either. I have never felt more stupid and vulnerable in my life but I’m doing it. I need answers and if this leads to my imminent demise, I guess I’ll just be another cautionary tale.
“Yeah, yeah I think I’m ready.” Kreed walks in and grabs a duffle from my hand. Then grabs the other. Holding onto both with his left. He looks at me, uncertain. He lifts his right hand slowly, like I will spook. I stood still, curious about what he’s doing. He’s been a perfect gentleman since Noah left. He runs his hand along my chin and steps forward. He leans down and places a soft kiss on my forehead. He steps back to look at me.
“It’s going to be dizzying getting there. Think of it as folding a piece of paper. You are on one end and where we want to go on the other. Fold the paper till the two places are touching.”
“Like the wormhole theory or warp speed in TV shows. Sounds nauseating.”
“It can be. Especially for those who are new to it. You also need to keep a tight hold on your things because if they fall we will never find them.” I nod and step back.
“I just want to say goodbye to my mother.”
“Uhh, actually I thought we may bring her. So your grandparents can see…her.” I nod. I had debated if I should take her or not. I never really came to an answer. Not wanting to leave her but not wanting to lose her traveling to Bathaile. I didn’t want her taken from me either by grandparents I don’t know.
So, I’m glad Kreed just made the decision for me.
“Okay, let me put her ashes in a bag and then back in the urn. I don't want her to spill everywhere.” I pull the backpack onto my back and walk over to grab my roller case. It’s large, clunky and old but I just need it to get to Bathaile. Then, I may just burn the stupid thing. I start out the door with Kreed on my heels. I listen to my case go down the stairs.
Thunk.
Thunk.
Thunk.
Like it's the steady soundtrack to my last moments in this house. I walk over to mom and pull her down. Leaving the roller case behind. I walk into the kitchen and fish a bag out of the kitchen drawer. I open the urn and giggle.
