“Of course I’ve called. He’s picking us up at the airport.”
“Dad? He’s taking time off work to pick us up?”
Monty gave me a frustrated look. “This is his work.”
“Yeah, you keep saying that, but I’m not sure I’ll really believe it until I see him.”
Monty leaned back in his chair. “You won’t have to wait long. Eat up and go to sleep.”
Talen laughed.
I glanced at him. “What?”
“You are a grown man, yet you allow your uncle to speak to you like an infant. And you are a Guardian?”
I pushed back my chair. “Are you looking to start a fight?”
Samantha put a hand on my arm. “Let it go. He is only trying to rile you up.”
“Oh, I realize that, but I have nervous energy I wouldn’t mind—”
The doorbell rang. Monty and I looked at each other. Who the hell would be ringing our doorbell?
“Should I answer it?” I asked.
Monty shook his head. “Let’s wait and see if they go away.”
The bell rang over and over. I’d never noticed how annoying the tone of it was.
“I do not think they are going away.” Samantha looked pensive for a moment. “Maybe I should get it? I will say you are away from home.”
Monty nodded. “That might be best. We’ll be just out of sight, in case this is trouble.”
Samantha nodded. There was something so cool about a girl who never let things scare her. Monty and I squeezed in behind the door before she opened it. Talen had waited in the kitchen. Way to offer protection.
“Who are you?” Charlotte’s friend Rachel asked.
“I am a friend of the Wint… um… Calloways.”
I was surprised Samantha even remembered my last name, since no one used it in Energo.
“Oh… is Henry home?”
Samantha didn’t skip a beat. “Henry? No. He is with Charlotte.”
“Where did they go? They’ve been out of school for weeks.” Rachel sounded breathless, as if she’d been running. Maybe she had been. There was really no other reason for her to be in our neighborhood. Either that or she was stalking the house. Considering how into Henry she was, maybe that wasn’t too far off.
“Visiting family.”
“In Europe? Are you from there, too? You talk like Henry.”
I had to force down a laugh. We’d been worried the “Europe cover” wouldn’t work for Henry, but no one seemed to question it. I guessed the alternative possibility, that he was from another world, was too out there for anyone to believe.
“Yes, Henry and I are from the same place.”
Man, Samantha was pretty good at being evasive. I’d have to remember that.
“Is Monty with them? And what about Kevin? The police are involved now. They think they were kidnapped or something.”
“Monty and Kevin are visiting elsewhere,” Samantha replied calmly.
“Oh. Well, do you know when everyone’s coming back? I need to talk to Henry.”
“I am sorry, but did you mention who you were?”
“Rachel. I’m Henry’s girlfriend.”
“Oh, I have heard of you.”
“You have?” The excitement in Rachel’s voice was comical. At least the girl was as crazy for him as he was for her. The stalking-the-house theory was sounding more and more likely.
“Yes. He cares for you.”
“Can you tell him I miss him? I really miss him.”
Samantha stepped closer to the doorway. “Are you crying?”
“Yeah. It’s been hard. I thought I lost my best friend and boyfriend all at once.”
“They miss you as well. I will make sure they know you came by. And you will see them again soon.” Samantha’s voice held a conviction that seemed intense, even for her. She really believed we had a chance, and that made me believe it. “Take care now.”
“Bye.” Rachel sounded sad, but at least she knew Henry hadn’t just left her.
Samantha closed the door and locked it before turning to look at us. “How did I do?”
“Perfect.” I smiled. “Of course.”
“I feel sorry for that girl. I do hope Henry comes back for her. I have seen the love he has for her. They need to unite.”
Wow. I’d never heard Samantha talk about uniting before. Did she have more interest in that sort of stuff than I thought?
Monty headed back into the kitchen. “I’m sure he will. He’s an admirable kid. Plus his mother would have his hide if he didn’t.”
Samantha walked toward the stairs. “I think I am going to get some sleep.”
I wanted to follow, but I figured that wouldn’t go over well. Instead, I helped Monty with the minimal dishes. Afterward, I flipped through an old Sports Illustrated. Bored, I decided I might as well go to bed, too.
“Kevin, come in here,” Monty called from the den.
I stopped halfway up the stairs. “What is it?”
“It’s not good.”
I ran back down, jumping over the last couple of steps, and went into the den. Monty gestured to the TV. ESPN was on.
Authorities are calling foul play in the disappearance of UNC forward Kevin Calloway and his family. After weeks of extensive investigation, the trail is still cold. Teammates of Calloway have their own theories.
I groaned as the camera moved to my roommate Marcus. “Kevin was into some strange shit. I don’t know what was real and what was fantasy, but there may be some Lord of the Ring types involved.”
“Lord of The Ring types?” the reporter asked skeptically.
“Yeah, old fashioned clothes and everything. They even talked all funny. They were probably really after his sister, though. She’s the princess.”
“And now back to Drew in the studio.”
The screen went black for a second before returning to sports scores.
Monty let out a deep breath. “This is bad.”
“You think? It was bad enough that the cops here were looking. I should have assumed they’d be involved in Chapel Hill, too.” It wasn’t every day that a starting player from a major ACC team went missing. I caught a few scores, and it didn’t look as though my team was doing well. I wondered if I’d ever play basketball again. “What do we do?”
Monty shut off the TV. “Lay low. Don’t talk to anyone you don’t have to tomorrow. We let Samantha and Talen have all the conversations. No one is looking for them.”
I nodded. “I guess that’s the only thing we can do. Do you think anyone’s waiting for us with Dad? And wait. What about IDs? Won’t our names flag the system at the airport?”
“We’re covered. We had to get identification for Samantha and Talen, so I got us some fake IDs.”
“You did all this in less than a day?”
“No. I had someone do it earlier.”
“Someone?”
“Sometimes it’s better not to ask questions, Kevin.” Monty was acting really weird.
During the weeks we were at the caves, he’d made several trips without telling us where he was going. Mom said that was just the way he was, but he had never been like that back home. Maybe his evasiveness was just nerves. I knew I wasn’t exactly thrilled about the trip.
“Okay,” I said. “On that note, I’m going to bed for a few hours.”
“Do that. I’m going to keep first watch. I’ll wake you up so I can sleep next.”
“Sounds good.” I headed upstairs. Instead of stopping on the second floor by my room, I went to the third and listened outside of Charlotte’s room. I heard a few notes of music and knocked a few times before slowly opening the door. Samantha looked up when I walked in.
“You trying out the cello?”
“No, I mean…it just reminded me of something.”
“Are you really into music?” I had no ability when it came to music, but both Charlotte and Monty loved it.
“No. I just wanted to hear it. It’s like I’ve heard someone play one before.�
��
“Oh.”
“This is going to sound crazy, but I feel like I have been here before. I just walked out on the balcony that overlooks the garden, and I swear it is like I have seen the view.”
“That doesn’t sound crazy. Do you feel that with anything else?”
“I am going to go to bed.” Samantha carefully set down the instrument before hurrying me out the door. “See you in a few hours. Rest well.” She shut the door in my face before I could respond.
After what I’d seen in Energo, I no longer believed in coincidences. Samantha’s case of déjà vu held some significance, but I couldn’t figure it out. I walked down to my room and flopped on my bed. I forced every thought out of my head so I could get some much-needed sleep. I’d have hours to worry about it on our trip.
***
I did a double take when I walked downstairs and found Samantha in the den. “Samantha? What are you doing up?”
She barely glanced up from where she sat cross-legged on the couch with her chin resting in the palms of her hands. “Oh, I could not sleep.”
Something felt off. Samantha never looked so down. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, just a bad dream.”
“Oh, anything you want to talk about?”
She stood and walked to the back hallway. “No. I am fine. You can go back to bed. I will take the next watch.”
I followed her. “I’m up anyway. We can do it together.”
“No. I am more than capable of doing it myself.” The steely tone in her voice had me nodding my head.
“Okay. See ya later.” I slumped down on the couch, completely confused. Girls were usually easy enough to understand, but Samantha wasn’t like any girl I’d met before.
Chapter Eight
Charlotte
“Ruth?” I whispered. Calvin was right outside the door, and I didn’t want him to think I was crazy. “I thought you were dead.”
This message is only for an Essence. If you can hear it, then it is for you.
Her voice was clear, yet it sounded old somehow—dated.
The scroll is not a scroll. Look to the swamps for the answer. Fighting darkness takes light, and light can only be wielded when an Essence lets in her other half.
“What?” I waited for more but heard nothing.
I slumped down to the hard wood floor and replayed the words in my head. The scroll wasn’t a scroll, so what were we looking for? We had to find a swamp, and I had to let in my other half. That had to mean Calvin. Did she mean to literally let him in? I buried my face in my hands. What did that have to do with wielding light? It was all really weird, and I wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“Thanks for the clear and precise advice,” I said, even though I knew very well Ruth wasn’t there to hear it.
“Charlotte?” Calvin asked from outside the room.
“I’m coming.” I got up, dusting off my pants before walking into the hall.
“Did you find anything?” His eyes searched my face.
I tried my best to hide my emotions, but I knew that even more than Liam, Calvin could see through me. “Nothing physical, but she left me a message. Do you know where we’d find swamps around here?”
“Around here? No. The only swamps I know of are on the other side of the mountains.”
“We need to go there to find the scroll.” At least that part of the message had been clear.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“That is what we will do then. But I just spoke with Liam and Henry. Do you think you can hold that fog overnight?”
“Yes. Absolutely.” I’d managed to balance the fog while listening to the weird version of Ruth. My confidence in my abilities was at an all-time high. I had almost forgotten I was still holding it, and I couldn’t wait to tell my mom.
He took my hand. “Good.”
“Are we staying here tonight then?”
“There is an inn on the other side of this street. We can take a few rooms.”
“Oh, good. I wouldn’t feel right about staying in someone’s house, considering everything.” My words didn’t match my thoughts. Ruth’s message about opening myself up to my Gerard ran through my mind, and I could feel blood rushing to my face. I’d been thinking about sleeping with Calvin more than I should have been, considering the danger we were in, and I had finally made up my mind. What was the point of waiting when I wanted to be with him? We were already married in the eyes of Energo, and if finally sleeping together could potentially help us find the scroll, then holding back was definitely a mistake.
“Are you okay, Charlotte?”
I smiled. “Yes.”
“Good.” He led me to the stairs.
***
“There are three rooms, so whoever comes off watch will take the room of the man relieving him.” Liam tossed his stuff down in the hall on the second floor of the inn.
The two-story building had only three guest rooms. The majority of the first floor was taken up with a large bar. Back home, we probably would have called it a tavern.
“That will not be necessary. You and Henry will each have your own.” Calvin took both of our packs into the room farthest from the others.
Liam glanced at Calvin. “What? You don’t think Charlotte is safe in her own room?”
Calvin looked slightly uncomfortable. “That is not it at all. We will be spending our nights together from now on.”
“Is that okay with you, Char? You don’t have to, you know. I don’t care what united BS he throws at you, you don’t owe him anything.” Liam’s eyes implored me to walk away.
“I know I don’t owe him anything! I want to share a room with Calvin.” I tried to hide how flustered Liam made me, but I was way past embarrassed.
“Can I talk to you, Charlotte?” Liam shifted uncomfortably.
“For a second.” I headed down the stairs, knowing he would follow.
“Don’t do something stupid. Just because we’re in Energo doesn’t mean you have to follow their rules. Be yourself.”
“I’m not doing anything to follow rules. I want to share a room with Calvin.” I refused to look at Liam’s face. I didn’t want to see his expression. Instead, I walked back up the stairs. I could feel Liam right behind me. I stopped at Calvin’s side and put my hand in his.
“So… I’m going to take first watch.” Henry started to walk down the stairs.
“No. I’m taking it.” Liam looked at me in a way that got me right in the heart. His expression was equal parts hurt and anger. Neither felt good.
I struggled to swallow before walking into the room Calvin had selected for us. I took a few steps into the dark room, the only light coming from the lantern Calvin held, and a tiny bit of moonlight slipping in between the curtains.
“Ah, goodnight,” Henry said to our backs.
Calvin shut the door behind us. “I can speak with him if you would like. He should not talk so freely with you.”
“No. It’s okay.” The thought of Calvin confronting Liam scared me. It was bad enough we were all traveling together.
Calvin placed the candle on a small nightstand beside the double bed. It was going to be a snug fit considering Calvin’s size, but I didn’t mind. I wanted to be close to him.
He pulled me into his arms. “I have waited so long for this.”
“Me too.” I had, although I’d been a nervous wreck about it. We’d spent nights next to each other together, but definitely not with the intent of doing what I knew was about to happen. I knew unequivocally that my virgin status was about to come to an end. I had no doubts, and it wasn’t because of the message from Ruth. Calvin and I had been denying the urge, but the natural pull was too strong to ignore any longer.
He put a hand under my chin and lifted my face. “I love you, Charlotte.”
I let out a deep breath. “I love you.” Even though I knew I wanted to be with him, I couldn’t avoid the nerves.
He pulled off his shi
rt, tossing it onto a chair next to the bed. I reached out to touch his muscular chest. I was still amazed at how strong he was. Years spent working on his father’s farm followed by over a year of Guardian training had made his physique flawless.
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