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Why not? What is stopping me? She’s my best friend and she’s doubted my made-up story from the beginning. What if I do tell her? All of it. Here you go, Savannah, see I’m really the Destroyer, but I don’t know what that really means. Oh, the Fae are real, and I think I’m in love with a guy who lived like, you know, four hundred years ago.
I had lied to everyone automatically, not for any more reason than the truth was so crazy that I assumed they’d lock me up in a psych ward. But Savannah, she’s my best friend. I could tell her. She might not believe it, but she wouldn’t have me committed.
“Savannah, it’s not drugs. I need to—”
The raven caws and then dive bombs. Savannah throws her books in the air as we both scream and dodge, waving our arms protectively around our heads.
“Son of a—”
She cuts herself off before finishing the curse. Savannah has always been a proper lady and it’s very rare for her to swear. I stare at the bird circling overhead and watch as it comes to roost in a nearby branch. I give it a death glare and it tilts its head while opening and closing its black beak.
So that’s the way it’s going to be is it?
“What is wrong with that bird?” Savannah asks.
“I don’t know, that was wild,” I say.
“I read an article that says New York City was having problems with crack addicted squirrels. You think that could be happening here?”
“I think that article is an urban myth and clickbait,” I say, helping to gather her books.
“You think? They had pictures and it kind of makes sense.”
I open my mouth to argue further but then it hits me that this is my out. The subject has been changed and all I have to do is let it lie.
“Who knows?” I say, handing her back her books. “I’ve got to get to my next class.”
“Right.” She nods. “But I’m serious, if you need help.”
“I really appreciate it,” I say. “Coffee? Soon?”
“You had me at coffee,” she says, smiling.
We hug and then part ways. I love Savannah. She’s my BFF and her heart is so damn big. Sooner or later I’m going to tell her the truth. Now isn’t the time. Not yet anyway. Soon I’ll have to choose, but not this moment.
It’s weird. All I wanted was to get back to the MacGregors and Duncan, and isn’t that what Dugald is offering? Except, my dad and my life here needs me too. The clouds overhead have darkened. It’s more like dusk then early afternoon.
I’ve still got time before my next class, but I couldn’t stay with Savannah, so I walk around the campus. As I walk, I let my thoughts roam free. I leave the campus to avoid running into anyone I know and wander along the shops that line the streets.
As I pass an alley the shadows in it are thick and somehow menacing. A cold chill races over my skin and I shiver, walking quicker to get past. Safe on the far side of it, I distance myself enough to lessen the feeling, then stare into the unnatural gloom.
It’s the same sensation I got from the darkness in the Fae lands. The dark that’s eating magic and destroying the Fae. The darkness that they want me to destroy. Thinking about it doesn’t make sense. For one, how can I? Destroying darkness or whatever doesn’t seem so straight ahead. And for another, what about balance between order and chaos. Has Star Wars taught us nothing?
And, like Moira said, there is magic in the world. Look at all these people, living their lives. Falling in love, working, creating wonderous new things. It’s not all bad. A lot of it is good. I can’t destroy all this out of hand.
And what about my dad? My mom? My friends? If I do choose the Fae and magic, what happens to everyone here? Are they all gone? Is that what I would be destroying?
I can’t. I’m sorry, Duncan. I care for you, deeply. I think we could have been something special, but I can’t do this. It hits like a punch to the center of my world, but I know what I have to do. I’m going to tell Dugald no.
ChapterNine
Dugald stares,his face devoid of any signal that would tell me what he’s thinking. When he finally blinks it’s as if his eyes close then open in slow motion.
“No?” he asks.
“That’s what I said.”
“No?” he repeats. The word rolls out of his mouth with a note of curiosity. His mouth twists around the single syllable and he gives a halfhearted chuckle.
