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I nodded. "Yes. I was planning on staying until this evening, but now...I need to get back to school. Just to make sure that there's still not a chance to save Claudia." There were still so many questions I wanted to ask Aunt Brenda. I wanted to know when she had experienced her first visions. I wanted her to tell me why this was happening to me. I wanted to ask her how it was possible to live a life centered on killing shadows. But I knew that I couldn't be selfish. Not anymore. If there was a chance to save Claudia, I needed to try. There would be time for more questions later.
"I understand," my aunt replied gently. "I'm going to consult my inner circle today. Can I call you tonight with whatever I learn?"
"Of course. Call me any time. Please call me even if it's to tell me you don't know anything."
Aunt Brenda smiled at me sadly. "Of course. Caitlin, I wish there was time to talk about other things. About your life. What you're doing. I've wondered about you so much all these years. It seems so unfair that all our time has been spent on the evilness of this world."
I impulsively grasped my aunt's hand, squeezing lightly. "Maybe once we get this figured out, we can talk. I'd love to learn more about my mother."
Aunt Brenda looked grateful for the touch. "Of course. I'd be happy to tell you everything I know."
I glanced at my watch. "Now I have to go. Even if there's a slim chance, I have to find Claudia as soon as possible."
My aunt walked me to the door and gave me a quick tentative hug, as if she expected me to pull away. I hugged her back, needing her warmth and affection at the moment. When we pulled apart, she looked curious.
"How's George? Your father?"
I shrugged, not sure what to say about my father. "He's good, I guess. We don't talk that often."
Aunt Brenda looked at me as if she understood. "George was always...difficult. Even as a child. He always seemed disappointed that people didn't meet the impossibly high standards he set for everyone. Including me. I hope you know that it has more to do with him than anyone else."
I nodded, not having anything else to say. Even though her words rang true, it was hard to grow up with a father like mine and not think there was something lacking in yourself.
My aunt paused before opening the front door. She reached into her pocket, drawing out a coin. She held my hand up, placing it in my palm and closing my fingers over it.
"My grandmother gave this to me. You're great grandmother. She was an amazing seer with special powers. You remind me so much of her. This coin is made of iridium. It used to be her charm to destroy vardogers. I want you to have it."
I wanted to ask her about my great grandmother. About my grandmother. About everyone on my father's side of the family. But I told myself there would be time for that later. I had more urgent things to address. But my aunt's gift still touched me. Suddenly, I had a family member that seemed to care.
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
Aunt Brenda gave me a solemn smile as she opened the front door. I walked out and seeing Simon waiting for me was both comforting and terrifying. My aunt looked at Simon sitting in the car and waved at him. I watched him wave back with a smile.
"How'd it go?" Simon asked when I slipped into the passenger seat. He started backing out of the driveway after my aunt closed the front door.
I thought of all the things I could say. About how his vardoger was trying to overtake his body. How Claudia's vardoger probably already had. But all I could say was, "Good."
"Great," Simon beamed. "You'll have to tell me all about it over lunch."
"Simon," I said, and looked deep in his eyes, terrified that I would see his pupils dilate and his eyes turn black. I was relieved when his clear blue eyes looked back at me.
"Hmm?" he responded as he pulled out of the driveway.
Now I had another problem to tackle. I didn't know how I was going to insist we go back to Rochester right away. "Can we head back to school now?"
"What?" Simon said in confusion, his eyebrows drawing together. "You want to go back to Maxwell now? We were planning on heading back around six. We have plenty of time."
"I'm sorry to do this but I really have to go back now." I scrambled to come up with a believable excuse. "I completely forgot about this assignment I have due tomorrow. I just remembered it. I don't know how it slipped my mind. I really have to go back to school and work on it."
Simon glanced at me, not seeming to know what to think. "
You just remembered this assignment?"
"Yes!" I said, a little too eagerly. "I've...I've been having so many nightmares that I haven't been getting much sleep. And it's making me forget things. I know it's so stupid of me. I'm so sorry. Maybe if there's a train station, I can just catch one back."
Simon's gaze softened. "You're not stupid. You must be exhausted from lack of sleep. I hope one day you can trust me enough to tell me about your nightmares." He said the last part with a meaningful look.
I nodded my head, willing to agree to anything at this point to get me back to Rochester. "I will. Someday. Right now I just have to get back to school."
