AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It took no time for us to get the car in the garage. Eric turned to me once we’d pulled in. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“No, but she would do the same for me. And it’s my fault she’s dead. I didn’t protect the book,” my voice cracked.
“I should have never taken it. I’m sorry.”
“Why did you try to give it back?”
He tucked some of my hair behind my ear. “Because the world needs your gifts. But mostly because I realized I couldn’t imagine the world without you in it.”
My traitorous heart skipped a few beats. “You really should stop being so sweet to me. It’s confusing.”
“I’m sorry to confuse you.”
I hated to be so confused about him. I took a deep breath. “We should go in.”
Eric hopped out. “Let me close the garage first.”
I waited until the door was closed before stepping out with Tara into the dimly lit garage filled only with my mother’s fancy car. She’d had a penchant for the finer things in life.
Eric met me at the door and reached out a hand to me, and though I hesitated to take it, his hand never wavered. “I’m told everyone needs a hand to hold when someone they love dies.”
“Has anyone you love died?” Like Karina, I wanted to add.
“My grandmother. She was the only person who ever showed me any kindness when I was growing up. She died when I was ten.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to be. She tried to help me believe that I could be different from my father and grandfathers. How she didn’t become bitter and hardened like my mother, I don’t know.”
“You are different from them.” I placed my hand in his. I saw that with my own eyes. I wasn’t sure I would ever get the visions of his family’s evil acts out of my mind.
Eric squeezed my hand and tugged me toward the door that led into the house. “I don’t know. I’ve used my powers in ways I’m not proud of.” He flicked his head toward his car. “Just yesterday I confiscated that car from a nice couple.”
“What? That isn’t your car?” I thought maybe he’d bought a new car or had two. Never did I think it wasn’t his.
“Did I not mention that?” He opened the door to the house.
“No, you didn’t.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it gets back to the rightful owners. And to be fair, I gave them my car.”
“Maybe the less I know, the better.”
“That’s probably a good idea.”
We walked into my mother’s home, right into her mudroom. There were cubbies filled with various flip-flops. Each pair looked like it had been bedazzled. On the hooks hung light jackets and sweaters. The home smelled like her lilac-scented perfume. It made me smile and cry.
Eric led me to the farmhouse-style kitchen. It was bright and open with white cabinets. There was a teapot on the gas range. Mom drank a cup of her own specially blended tea every morning and night. Her house was also filled with plants of every kind. Out the patio door I noticed some lemon trees.
“She’s upstairs in her room,” Eric informed me.
I placed Tara on the floor before we went up the wooden steps. She darted off to explore the house.
With each step I gripped Eric’s hand tighter, and my breaths became more and more shallow.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“No,” I squeaked. “Though I don’t think you’re supposed to be in these situations.”
“I’m here for whatever you need.”
That comforted me probably more than it should have. Our odd connection was maddening, but for now I was grateful for it.
At the first room we came to, Eric paused in front of the whitewashed door. He gave me such a tender look. The kind I had longed for my entire life. Under different circumstances, of course. “She’s in here,” he whispered.
I swallowed hard and tried to catch my breath.
“You don’t have to go in.”
“I do.”
He opened the door and immediately I saw her lying on the floor in front of her neatly made bed, her luggage surrounding her like a shrine. For a moment I stood motionless, looking at her beautiful body frozen in time. She was just like I remembered her: long golden-brown hair and a petite frame. Oh, how I wished to see her vibrant green eyes that were full of wisdom and sass. I wanted her to get up and yell at me for not listening to her, but she remained still.
After taking a few breaths I tiptoed closer, Eric holding my hand each step of the way, until I was close enough to drop to my knees by her side.
Eric fell right next to me and placed his arm around me. “She’s beautiful. You look a lot like her.”
I took her cold hand and pressed it against my cheek. It was then I remembered the cut there. A thought struck me. “Do you really think I have some Aelius gifts?”
