by Ann McCune
“Where were you?” Jon asked Shawn.
“In front of a mineshaft, there were people calling to me for help. I couldn’t go down the shaft though, something was holding me back.” He looked at me and squeezed my hand in thanks.
Jon looked at me then back to Shawn. “I’m going to get Heather home, you need to wake up and take her home.”
“Yes, sir,” Shawn said, before disappearing.
“Come to the house tomorrow, we need to talk,” Jon said, putting a hand on Heather, and disappearing as Shawn had.
CHAPTER 33
“Liz are you alright?” Shawn asked, waking me up.
I blinked a few times and pulled the blanket tighter around me to keep the chill away. “That was the worst nightmare I have ever had, Shawn.” I closed my eyes, found my rune on the outside of my hoodie, and rubbed it absently. “Heather?” I sat bolt upright. “Will she be okay?”
“She’ll be fine. Remember what I said, as long as you don’t die in the dream there is nothing to worry about.” Shawn pulled me to him. “I’m sorry I left you to get help. What happened after I left?”
“It’s okay, I’m alive, the rune saved me,” I said out of the side of my mouth.
“What do you mean? Tell me what happened.”
I told Shawn about the goblin and when I was done, tears of relief that I had survived were streaming down my cheeks, and I was shaking uncontrollably. It was the scariest thing that had ever happened to me. Shawn pulled me closer and rocked me, telling me everything was going to be okay. After I stopped shaking, he let go of me.
“I should get you home, it’s late or early depending on how you look at it.”
“Your dad wants me to come over to the house today. He said we needed to talk. Should I be worried?” I asked, watching the darkness turn to twilight as the sun got closer to peeking over the mountains.
“As long as you are not his son, you have nothing to worry about.” Shawn pulled me to him and held me for a few seconds before I pulled away and started putting everything back in the basket.
“Thanks for the reassurance.” I stood, pulled the blanket off him, and began folding it.
“He’s very strict with me is all I’m saying. I’m sure it will be fine. I’ll go start the Jeep.” He stood, took the basket, went to the driver’s side door and opened it.
I pulled the blanket off the ground and shook it out trying to dislodge anything stuck to it. “I’m sorry, Shawn. I hope you don’t get in trouble because of me.” I folded the blanket and put it to the back of the Jeep.
“I don’t know why I would, it was your dream, it wasn’t like you were trying to be a Knight or anything.” He came around back and put the basket in. “I’m sure it will be fine.” He took me in his arms and gave me a hug. “I’m sorry we fell asleep and ruined the night.” He pulled me in tighter and kissed the top of my head.
“It’s not your fault we fell asleep, and it didn’t ruin the night. I had a great time.” I kissed his chest through his shirt. “Why don’t we grab some breakfast before we head home?”
“Is there anything open at,” he brought his wrist up to check his watch. “Four-thirty in the morning?”
“When we get to town the café will be open.” I let go of him and went to the passenger-side door.
“Sounds better than going home and dealing with my dad,” Shawn said before I shut my door.
“Agreed,” I said after he got in and buckled up.
Once we were back in town my phone started to go off. I dug through my bag and pulled it out. It was a text message from my mom. Billy said you and Shawn left prom early. Where are you? Are you alright?
“Billy,” I almost yelled, startling Shawn.
“What is it? Is something wrong with Billy?” Shawn asked, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
“Not yet, but he’s going to have a hard time dislodging my foot from his butt when I see him.” I looked over to Shawn and he gave me an expectant look. “He told my mom we left early last night, and she wants to know where I am.”
“Billy isn’t going to have to worry about one foot, he is going to have to worry about two feet.”
I dialed my house number and waited for it to ring. “Liz, where are you? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, Mom, Shawn and I went up to the meadow to watch the stars and we fell asleep. We’re going to the café for breakfast then he will bring me home.”
“You fell asleep without a dreamcatcher? Oh my God, sweetie I’m so glad you are alright.”
“I had Victor’s rune, Mom. I’m fine.” I blew out a breath, at least I didn’t have to keep it a secret from her anymore.
“Shawn didn’t do anything you weren’t comfortable with, did he?” I could feel the panic in her voice.
“No, Mom we fell asleep with all our clothes on and they were still on when we woke up.”
“Okay, good. I’ll see you when you get home,” she said, ending the call.
I hit the end button on the phone and let out a breath. “That went better than I thought it would.”
“She’s not mad? Did you have a curfew?” he asked.
“She sounded more worried than anything. They said as long as there was no drinking I could stay out as long as I wanted.”
“Well, we did have sparkling cider.” He laughed and pulled the Jeep over in front of Twisted Café.
“Oh no, she won’t like that at all.” I laughed then undid my seat belt and opened the door.
“True,” Shawn said when we met on the sidewalk. He looked at me for a second. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but there are some napkins in the glove box. You might want to clean your face up before we go in. You know how people talk.”
I didn’t understand what he was talking about until I got back in the Jeep, pulled the visor down, and opened the vanity mirror. I cringed at what I saw. I was wearing mascara halfway down my face, and there was eyeshadow on my cheek. My hair was sticking out all over the place. I opened the glove box and found something better than napkins: wet wipes. I pulled one out and got to work. When my face was makeup free, I pulled my bag out of the backseat and found my brush. I pulled the bobby pins out of my hair and dragged the brush through it then I found a hair tie and put it up in a ponytail. Finally, looking more like myself, I got out of the Jeep, put my hands on my hips, and glowered at Shawn.
“What?” he asked, holding his hands in the air.
“Next time I wake up looking like that tell me before I go anywhere.” It was nice he did not seem to care how terrifying I looked though.
“I promise. Can we eat now?” He looked from me to the café.
“Yes.” I went to the door of the café and held it for him.
We sat at a table near a window and waited for the waitress to get us our coffee. After I had my first sip I started with the questions. “What did you think of the mineshaft?”
Shawn looked around to make sure there was no one near enough to hear us. “I have never seen anything like that in a dream before.”
“I have dreamed of it at least four times. I think it means something.” I took a sip of my coffee.
“You might be right, but it is too dangerous for us to investigate,” Shawn said, pouring cream into his mug.
“Agreed but what about the people who need help?”
“I want to help them but I don’t know how.” He blew on his coffee and took a sip before continuing.
“Do you think Jo would help us?”
“Yeah, I’m sure she would.” Shawn gave me a tight smile as our waitress came over with our food and put it down.
“Can I get you anything else?” she asked.
“I think we’re good,” I said, almost drooling over the pancakes sitting in front of me.
We dug into our food and enjoyed a comfortable silence.
After breakfast, Shawn took me home and helped me bring my bag inside, before kissing me goodbye chastely while my parents watched. “I’ll see you later. Let me
know before you leave?”
“I will.” I watched him get in his Jeep and drive away.
“We need to talk young lady,” Dad said, walking away from me and into the living room.
I looked to my mom, and she put her hands on her hips. “Now.”
“Okay.” I followed my dad into the living room and Mom followed me. He was standing in front of the fireplace with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Sit down.” He pointed to the couch, and I went over and sat while my mom stood in front of me.
What was going on? I thought to myself while folding my hands and putting them in my lap.
“You told us you were going to stay at the high school all night. Billy called at ten last night wondering if Shawn had gotten you home safely,” Mom said.
“We stayed up worrying all night after he called. We called the hospital, the sheriff, and all the hotels,” Dad said, shaking his fist at me.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve called. Some girls were being really mean to me and I had to get out of there. Shawn and I went to look at the stars and we fell asleep.”
They both stared at me while I talked looking for any indication I was lying. “Did he act like a gentleman?” Mom finally asked.
“Why wouldn’t he? We lay on a blanket and watched the stars and fell asleep. It was way better than having to listen to a bunch of girls talk crap about me.” I wanted to go up to my room and take a shower, but the look in my parents’ eyes told me I wasn’t out of this yet.
“What did they say?” Mom asked, looking concerned.
“I don’t want to get into it, but it reminded me why I don’t hang out with girls.” I blinked back the tears threatening to fall.
“You’re sure nothing happened with Shawn?” Dad uncrossed his arms and took a step toward me.
“The worst thing we did was French kiss,” I said, feeling myself blush.
Dad took a step back, turning a shade of red.
“Then go get cleaned up. I’m sorry they picked on you. They were probably just jealous.” Mom came over to me as I stood and gave me a hug. “You shouldn’t have let them ruin your night.”
“They didn’t, we had a great time if you don’t count the time I spent with them. Don’t worry, Mom, I won’t let them get to me again.” I squeezed her tight, let go, grabbed my bag, and went upstairs.
When I came back downstairs an hour later my parents were arguing in the kitchen, I snuck to the door to listen when I heard my name.
“You can’t trust her, Sandy, she’s almost seventeen. We need to get her on birth control,” Dad said.
“Burt, she has always been honest with me. I’ve never had a reason not to trust her, when she’s ready she will ask,” Mom said, sounding tired of the conversation.
“There is something about Shawn I don’t trust. How can we stop her from seeing him?”
“We can’t, and I don’t know what you are talking about. He seems like a nice young man to me. Just because he hasn’t spent his entire life here doesn’t mean he is going to take advantage of Liz.”
“He reminds me of him,” Dad said, emphasizing the last word.
“Who? Victor? Are you out of your mind? He looks nothing like Victor.” I heard my mom get up and walk away from the door. “Why would that matter anyway?”
“I don’t know. It’s just, I get a bad feeling about him. Like something bad is going to happen to Liz because of him.”
I marched into the kitchen, I was done listening. “Dad, stop. You are being ridiculous.” I almost said Shawn had saved me more than once in my dreams, but I caught myself. “Why do you hate him?”
He blew out a breath, unwrapped his arms, and rested them on his thighs. “I don’t hate him. What I don’t like is how you are falling head over heels for him. You’ve never had a boyfriend, and I don’t want him to break your heart.”
“Dad, how many times did you have your heart broken before you found Mom?” I sat in the chair across from him and folded my arms in front of my chest.
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want your heart to ever be broken. You can break all the hearts of boys you want, but they can’t break yours.”
“Burt, I think that was the sweetest thing you’ve ever said.” Mom went behind him and put a hand on his shoulder.
“I know you want to protect me, but getting your heart broken is part of growing up. I don’t think Shawn will break my heart, but if he does then at least I can come home and cry on your shoulder. I won’t be away at college on my own with no one to help me through it.” I reached across the table and took his hand in mine giving it a squeeze. “I love you, Dad.”
He sat silently for a minute before squeezing my hand back. “I love you too, sweetheart.”
“I have to go. Shawn’s dad needs to talk to me.” I moved to stand.
“About what?” Mom asked, looking concerned.
“I don’t know, he called Shawn this morning and asked me to stop by today. I shouldn’t be long.”
“Will you call me if you are going to be late?” Mom asked.
“Yes, but I won’t be. I have school tomorrow and a ton of studying to do. I won’t be long.”
CHAPTER 34
I parked next to Shawn’s Jeep in the parking lot of the mansion, I was more nervous than when I came to meet Shawn’s parents. I had no idea why Jon wanted to see me, but I didn’t think he was going to ask me to join the Knight Flyers.
A knock on my side window made me jump out of my seat. I looked over to see Shawn laughing at me. I flipped him off and opened the door. “You scared the crap out of me.” I got out of the Jeep and mock-hit him.
“You looked stressed out, I thought it would relieve some of the tension.” He grabbed my hand and closed the door of my Jeep for me. We walked toward the same door we used last time I was there.
“It worked for a second.” My stomach was tightening up again.
“It will be fine. He can’t do anything to hurt you,” he said, holding the door for me.
“I know but promise you will go in with me.” I looked over at him as we walked to the staircase.
“I will do everything I can to stay by your side, but you have to understand my dad runs this place like the military. If he tells me to leave, I will, or I’ll be grounded for a month. I don’t think I could survive not seeing you for a month.” He brought our linked hands to his mouth and kissed the back of my hand. I think it was becoming one of his favorite places to kiss me.
“I will be a big girl, if I have to. I don’t want to go a month without seeing you, either.” I gave him a weak smile.
Shawn knocked on the door of his dad’s office when we arrived. I heard a muffled voice call for us to come in.
“Liz, Shawn, please have a seat,” he said, without looking up from his computer.
Once we were seated in front of his desk he swiveled his chair to look at us. “How long have you been able to manifest weapons in your dreams?” He cut right to the chase.
I thought for a minute. “I don’t know; I never really thought about it like you do. I always thought it was the dream doing it not me.”
“What about dream walking? How long have you been able to do that?” He put his elbows on the desk and rested his chin on his laced hands.
“You mean move from dream to dream?” He nodded his head. “Shawn showed me how. It’s pretty easy.”
“It appears you have inherited your father’s talent even though you mother has none.” He leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling as if in deep thought. “Shawn, leave us.”
I jerked my eyes to Shawn pleading with him to stay. He mouthed ‘sorry’ to me and got up. “Dad, I was teaching her to protect herself, I wasn’t trying to go behind your back,” he said, backing to the door.
“That will be all, Shawn,” Jon said, waiting for Shawn to leave. After the door shut, he brought his chair to my level and met my eyes. “What will it take for you to leave my son alone?”
“Why do you want m
e to leave him alone? What have I done to make you think I should?” I was confused, I thought he wanted to talk to me about what happened the night before.
“You are distracting him from his job. I don’t want him to get attached to you. With your mark, you are not long for this world, and I can’t let his pining for you distract him from his life’s purpose.”
“I am going to find a way to remove the mark, in the meantime I have all the protection I need. I will not let the mare get me, and I won’t stop seeing Shawn because of you.”
“What protection? You mean your dreamcatcher? It only works when you have it. Look what happened last night,” he trailed off, leveling his gaze on me.
“I’m not talking about the dreamcatcher.” I pulled the rune from under my shirt and showed it to him. “I’m talking about this.”
Jon leaned forward to get a closer look at it. “Where did you get that?” he asked, almost growling the word out before lunging for it. I sat back in my chair and put the rune back under my shirt.
“It was Victor’s, I found it with his things. It is the reason I survived last night, while you were standing by doing nothing.” I didn’t know how long Jon had been there while I was fighting the mare, and I didn’t want to tell Shawn that his dad made no move to help me.
“I was protecting my daughter, besides, you had it under control,” he lost the growl to his voice. “Did you tell Shawn I didn’t help you?”
“No, I wanted to take it up with you first. I understand wanting to protect Heather, and I have no idea what she needed protecting from, but I know where I stand with you now, and I won’t forget it.”
“Are you trying to blackmail me?” he asked, using his growly voice.
“No, but I want to learn how to be a Knight Flyer. I want to save people and protect myself.”
“No, you are marked as it is. You will be a magnet to mares, you will endanger more people than you’ll save.”