by E. S. Moore
“I sent Ronnie out,” she said at a whisper. “It will take Levi a few hours to find him. You need to be gone before he knows you are even thinking of leaving or you’ll stand no chance. He won’t let you go if he senses your intent.”
“What’s going on?” I asked, starting to get uneasy.
“Just go,” she said. “Please. Sienna will be crushed, but she’ll understand.”
“But why?” I wasn’t sure if I was asking why I should go or why she was so insistent on pushing the issue. Did it really matter either way?
“Because if you don’t go now, you’ll never find the nerve to leave.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. Deep down, I knew she was right. I was already struggling with it. If Levi were to tell me to stay, I had a feeling I would.
Eilene stepped back. “Please,” she said, “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Before I could say anything to that, she turned and shuffled up the stairs as fast as her tired legs could take her. I watched her go, half expecting her to collapse from the strain, but she made it just fine.
I numbly turned and headed back into my room. I wanted to stay, I really did, but I knew Eilene was right. The demon mark would force me to leave one way or the other and now was as good of a time as any, especially since Levi was out of the house.
I stood at the edge of the bed, wondering if there was some way I could put this off. To leave now would feel like I was abandoning Sienna or turning my back on what Levi had tried to do.
But I couldn’t stay, not as long as I had Beligral’s mark.
With a heavy heart, I opened the closet door and began to pack for the journey home.
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Copyright © 2012 by Eric S. Moore
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ISBN: 978-0-7582-7975-0