by A. S. Oren
Lance laughs. “He sure has the attitude of a puralynn. What do you suggest we do?”
“I suggest you take my request to be talked to directly seriously. I may be a child, but I’m still a person.” I don’t know where the hard tone of my voice originates. It seems foreign to me, to be so forthright over such a small curtesy.
“My sincerest apologies, Trent,” Lance says, standing up. “We rarely have newcomers, and when we do, they are often unwelcome. You, my friend, are an oddity.”
I don’t know what to say, so I say nothing. Ramos looks down at me. “Trent, I will prepare you a room for tonight. If your memories have not returned by morning, I will take you to our seer. He may know something, perhaps where you come from and how to return you.”
I purse my lips and breathe out through my nose before speaking. “You mentioned entities I’m not familiar with: puralynns and seers. Would you mind explaining?”
She nods. “All in due time. For now, let’s get you warmed up and well-rested. The trek to Smothers’s cabin is long, and rest will do us some good.”
“Very well.”
She offers her hand, and I take it.
“Do you trust him to say with you?” Lance says. “I could always open the jail house for the night.”
“I’d rather not traumatic the boy,” Ramos says. “Besides, if he is something dangerous, a protection spell will be more efficient than iron bars.”
He nods once and departs as Ramos escorts me to her home. With a gentle push, the door opens, and spices meet my nose. “I have a spare room upstairs. You’ll be safe for tonight.”
“Thank you.”
She opens a red door and holds it back for me. There is a bathroom on the left. Do you need anything before I go?”
I shake my head and enter the room. Forest green and dark-brown pinstripes cover the walls and match the furniture. I run my hand over an embroidered, brown tree on a silky green pillow. My flesh tingles as warmth livens my numb skin. This bed will do much better than the heated sidewalk outside. “No. This is more than enough,” I answer.
She runs a hand through her dark hair and breaths out slowly. Does she really think I could be a threat? How many times has she encountered a bad stranger? Why did Lance say this town was off-limits? Perhaps it has something to do with the wolf population Ramos spoke of. If Stella can shift into a wolf, can he? Where are the other homes?
“I’m sorry I have to do this, but I can’t take any chances. You’ll be bound to this room until I return in the morning. If you try to pass through the barrier, you will face excruciating pain. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
She nods and lifts her hands before pressing them against the doorframe. Foreign words escape her lips. Moments later, she leaves.
I walk into the bathroom, wash blood and slobber from my face, and relieve myself before clicking off the light by the door and crawling into bed. There’s no evidence of a barrier, but I wish not to test it and face excruciating pain. For all I know, I’m already injured, and the injury caused me to lose my memories. With luck and a good deal of sleep, they may return by morning. I can only hope for the best. If they do not return, I’ll beg to see the Smothers person they spoke of as soon as I wake.
I adjust myself in the bed and look up through a skylight. Northern Lights glow in fluorescent greens and blues, calming me as I drift off into a deep sleep.
http://www.amazon.com/Zether/e/B00COEA9M4
Table of Contents
Previously on Spearwood Academy …
Twin Connection
Amr Returns
Healing with Fire
Slayer Leader
Author Zether's The Bourne Identity