“Amelia,” Lola said, just before she left the kitchen, glancing back over her shoulder. “It doesn’t completely suck that you’re not dead.”
Unsure of what to say, Amelia just nodded, and left the room.
****
Amelia let the steamy water cascade over her as she cried. She cried for her parents, she cried for Erin, she cried over her mistakes with Mitchell, she even cried for Kandi’s death. She cried for what felt like hours before the tears stopped falling.
Had she made the right choice? She really wasn’t sure and she wished—truly wished—that she could have had both, her parents and Mitchell.
Amelia pushed that idea out of her head, swallowed hard and turned off the shower. She dried off, wrapped the fluffy bath towel around her and wiped down the steam-covered mirror. She took a good hard look at herself, noticing for the first time the shimmering glow that surrounded her. For a second she didn’t know what it was but then it hit her: it was her—her magic—and she smiled.
She splashed some cold water on her face, brushed her hair and tied it up, and brushed her teeth. After spending way too much time on her make-up, she ventured out into her room to get dressed.
As she was digging through her closet to find the perfect outfit, she couldn’t help but wonder why she still felt so miserable. Everything had worked out. Her friends were fine, she was alive. So why did she still want to curl up in a little ball and hide from the world? Amelia gave up on finding something to wear, threw on a housecoat and padded her way out onto the terrace for fresh air, hoping it would help clear her mind.
The night was crisp and refreshing, and she inhaled two deep, invigorating breaths. Looking up at the velvety night sky, the stars sparkling like jewels, she searched for Cassiopeia, her favorite constellation. If only she could be like the great queen of the past, Amelia was sure Cassiopeia would have known what to do.
That’s when she heard the soft splash of water. She glanced over at the pool and saw Mitchell leaping out and then gracefully diving back into the water.
Amelia laughed hollowly, suddenly understanding why she still felt so empty. Mitchell. Everything seemed to be boiling down to Mitchell and the broken bond. Last week she would never have believed it, but now she missed him. Missed the bond that she had fought so hard against.
She racked her brain, wondering why the bond was still broken. She had accepted him. She loved him. Then it dawned on her and just as Madame Crystal and her mother had said, “Look inside yourself and you will know how to bring him back.”
Amelia rushed back into her room. She picked out a pink and blue striped bikini and squirmed her way into it. Then she rushed outside. The cold night air prickled her skin into goose pimples and she snuck into the pear-shaped dome that covered the pool.
As Mitchell swam lazy laps, Amelia took a moment to admire him. His muscular form took on a silver tone in the glistening moonlight and her breath caught in her throat. Her heart started pumping, erratic little beats. It fluttered around wildly, jumping into her throat.
Mitchell must have heard the beating. He stopped swimming and his gaze met hers. “Hey,” he said nervously. “I didn’t realize you were there.” He brushed water from his face. “I’ll go.”
Mitchell misunderstood her hesitation and instantly, Amelia felt his doubt and insecurities. She sat on the edge, letting her feet dangle into the water. “You don’t have to go,” she said just as nervously, and let her eyes drift to the clear, blue water. “I wanted to talk to you.”
Mitchell hesitated for a second and then he swam over to her, placing his hands on either side of her, splashing lukewarm droplets of water onto her bare thighs. He waited until she met his glorious blue eyes before he spoke. “I need to tell you something first. I’m sorry for pushing all this on you. I should have talked to you first. I should have let you choose this life. I know it’s not an excuse, but I was just so scared you wouldn’t choose me.”
“I get it. I saw everything. I get it.” He reached over and caressed her cheek. “Mitch,” she breathed. “I want this to work. But…”
“I know, love,” he said, cutting her off. “I know it can’t work between us. You don’t have to say it.”
Amelia bristled. “Oh just shut up and listen,” she snapped. “What I was going to say before you decided again that you already know everything was…” She paused for a second to give him a long glare. “It can’t work if you don’t stop trying to know everything. We’re both gonna have to change. It’s gonna be hard, but hey,” Amelia smirked and raised a flirty eyebrow, “What fun would it be if it wasn’t a challenge?” Then she got serious and whispered, “I don’t want to live without you. I love you.”
Mitchell looked totally blown away. He opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again, and Amelia giggled. She had never seen him speechless before, and it was just a little bit cute. He finally got his thoughts under control and said, “Sorry, but can you say that again. I don’t think I heard you right.” Amelia shoved him away playfully. “I love you, too.”
Without warning, Mitchell grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into the pool. Amelia squealed as the water splashed around them and then he leaned in and kissed her. The kiss started out soft and quickly turned urgent. He tasted wonderful, with just a hint of chlorine, and she felt herself deepening the kiss, trying to get closer. His tongue brushed against hers and her body ignited in fiery passion.
Amelia broke the kiss, lips tingling and she licked them, savoring the taste. Then she leaned back just enough to meet his eyes and he groaned. When she was sure she had his attention, she tilted her head to expose her neck.
He hesitated, and she could see the concern flashing through his mind, and for a long moment, he didn’t truly understand what she was asking him to do. When he realized, a soft smile touched his lips. “It’s okay. You don’t have to let me bite you.”
“I know I don’t have to. I want to.” Mitchell stared at her, examining her face, and she could feel him pushing on the link, trying to get in. He wanted to be sure, really sure, that she meant it. “Mitch, please, I want you to do it,” she said, desperation tinting her voice.
Mitchell kissed her, long and hard and then he let his lips travel down her neck. Amelia had expected the bite to hurt, but it didn’t. It was nothing like the first time. There was no burning, no pain, but a massive explosion of feelings. Love… passion… and then, just as she had thought it would, the bond opened up and she was flooded with his feelings and she knew, suddenly, without a doubt, how much he loved her. His love seemed to envelope her in a cocoon of ecstasy.
It ended too soon and when he pulled away, they were both panting. “It worked,” Amelia gasped in between raged breaths. “It fixed the bond.”
They gazed at each other, speechless for a moment and Amelia could feel the soft hum of Mitchell searching through her thoughts, catching up on all he had missed since the link had been broken. When Amelia finally caught her breath, she smiled teasingly and asked, “So what kind of a stupid name is “Dreams Come True Scholarship Fund” anyways?”
Mitchell laughed, the first genuine laugh she had heard from him since they had met. “I know, it’s tacky but I kind of thought…” he grinned. “Well, we met in a dream and when I found you it was like my dreams came true.” Then he chuckled, and his brilliant blue eyes twinkled. “The name just seemed to fit.”
Amelia leaned into him and kissed him. “It’s perfect,” she whispered against his lips and then she kissed him again. For the first time in years, she felt as if she was finally exactly where she was meant to be.
###
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashley Stoyanoff lives in Whitby, Ontario and loves diving into the magical world of creating fiction. Over the years she has written numerous short stories. The Soul's Mark: FOUND is her debut novel. When not writing, she can be found reading sappy novels, watching cheesy chick flicks, and buying far too many clothes.
Connect with Ashley Stoyan
off Online:
Website: http://www.ashleystoyanoff.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AshleyStoyanoffTheSoulsMark
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/ashley_stoyanoff
Email: [email protected]
The Soul's Mark: FOUND Page 26