Cole scribbled furiously, looking up at me between statements, his brow furrowing more and more as I spoke. I swallowed down those last descriptions and instead tried to explain how, with only a thought, I’d been able to send items flying at this woman, how I sent lightning down from a cloudless sky. I talked and I talked, going over each little detail. Once I got to Aidan and me driving away, I just stopped.
My mind however, kept going, playing back the last conversation I’d had with Aidan. The last conversation I may ever have with Aidan.
There was more I should have told Cole. I should have explained the cat-like eyes of my attacker or that the woman was clearly an AniMage. I should have told him more about the darkness and how I wasn’t sure I would be able to pull myself out of it if it happened again. That it had taken Aidan or him to do it these last two times. But, every time I opened my mouth to speak, warning bells went off and the words stuck in my throat.
“Amelia, I know Micah will be here soon, but you can’t tell him any of this.” Cole had taken that quiet moment as his opportunity to speak up.
“What?” I asked. “What do you mean, Cole? Micah’s been in this with us since the beginning? You wanted him to help me and he is. He’s my friend.” I gripped the arms of the chair, digging my nails into the microfiber, trying to see where my brother was coming from.
“Tell him about the attack and the woman, but your power is too much to explain, Amelia. We can’t just come out at tell him you’re an Elder, though he might already have guessed depending on what he knows of our history. And, what I just saw out there — we surely can’t explain that to him. We can’t explain that to anyone, and we absolutely can’t have him talking about you to anyone else. It’s too dangerous,” he finished.
I wanted to argue. I wanted to tell him he was wrong, but I knew he was right. “I understand what you’re saying, Cole, but Micah has been the only other person who has ever been honest with me. God, he’s even spent all this time trying to help me become a better Mage; to protect myself and learn how to use my powers. It just sucks to lie to him, too.”
Cole came around the desk and sat in the chair opposite me. “I know, Ame,” he said, grabbing my hand and sending his peaceful energy into me. “I know this is hard, but you have to remember that you aren’t a Mage. You’re so much more than a Mage could ever hope to be and if Micah knows that — if he truly understands what you are — then he’s another person in danger.”
I sighed, feeling defeated once again. “Then what do we do, Cole? How do we find out what’s happening to me?”
As I turned back toward him and met his eyes, I saw a sliver of hope that hadn’t been there before. His eyes brightened as he said, “I’ve got a guy. It’s not someone we’re even supposed to know, and you can’t tell anyone that we know about him, but he said he’d help us. I was going to tell you about him tonight anyway, but it’s clear we need to get to him sooner than later.” He squeezed my hand and stood up. “You trust me right, Amelia?”
I truly wasn’t sure who I trusted, but of the options, my brother was the one I wanted, so I gave him the answer he needed. “Of course, Cole.”
He walked back around the desk, his step a little lighter. “Let’s talk about what we can actually tell Micah and then you and I are taking a road trip this weekend.”
It was clear Cole wasn’t going to give me any additional details now, so we spent the next twenty minutes deciding what we would and wouldn’t tell Micah. Micah showed up right on time, which no one was shocked by, and I went through the pre-approved story. I described the attack, including Aidan and the red-haired woman. But, outside of sending a bunch of stuff flying at her — which he already knew I could do — and blasting her to get away, I didn’t tell him anything else. Micah claimed to have contacts through his parents who could track people down, so I gave him as much description as I could and left it at that. I continued to withhold what I knew were crucial details — the blue power, the shifting, and my inner battles. I’d never heard of anyone seeing an AniMage in years and I wasn’t about to go blabbering on about the woman being one without somehow being sure.
Micah asked some questions and had me write down my descriptions of the people. His concern was obvious and he asked multiple times if I needed constant protection. I could read in his tone and body language that he was also worried for Bethany.
“Maybe I should stay with Cole for a while?” I asked, though it was the last thing I wanted to do. “I don’t know how to explain it to B, but I can come up with something.” Inwardly, I cringed at the prospect of living with Cole and not getting my girl time with Bethany. Of not being able to easily find and talk to Aidan.
Both Micah and Cole looked relieved at me bringing it up and them not having to convince or force me. “Yeah, that’s probably the best plan, Ame. I don’t want you alone,” Cole said, who then suggested that I say I’m helping watch his “sick” dog since he’s so busy at the gym.
It had been a long day and I didn’t have the energy to talk anymore. We went through some additional logistics and Micah promised to get back to us as soon as he had more information. He also said he’d do his best to spend additional time with Bethany for a while, just to make sure she was protected as well.
Cole walked me to my car and gave me specific instructions to go home, pack a few bags, and come directly to his apartment. Do not pass go. Do not collect two-hundred dollars. Not even a drive-thru stop. If this was an inkling of what was to come, the next few weeks were going to be so spectacular.
I took my time packing. Bethany wasn’t home so I connected my phone to the surround sound in the living room and let the music flow through our apartment. I didn’t know what I wanted to hear but I needed an escape from the silence. I was pleased to hear an acoustic track start playing, so I got to work.
I packed up my books for class, tossing them into my backpack. As I picked up my notebook, a folded sheet of paper fell out and landed face-down on the carpet. I picked it up and opened it, curious because the paper didn’t look like it had come from my notebook. A familiar scrawl stared back at me.
I don’t know when you’ll find this, but when you do, know that I’m thinking of you. I’m always thinking of you, doll. ~ A
I dropped onto my makeshift bed as a small whimper caught in my throat. I clutched the paper so tightly, my fingernails punctured it. I stared down at his words, realizing this could very well be the last memento I would have from our time together. That he ran away and I’d likely never be able to do anything to get him back. That, in all reality, I shouldn’t do anything to get him back. Swallowing the tears I couldn’t let loose right now, I shoved the paper deep into my backpack and walked out of my room.
Once my packing was complete, I stood in the center of the living room with my three bags on the floor at my feet. I felt like I was saying goodbye to my home and the sadness of it was unbearable. I looked around at all of the fun framed photos of Bethany and me that lined the walls. We spent every weekend for the first month taking photos all around town to decorate with. In the kitchen hung the giant fork and spoon she insisted we needed, though they were each three feet tall. I had had more laughs and more genuine happiness in this apartment in just a few months than I had had with my family in my entire life. But, I couldn’t endanger someone I loved this much, so I grabbed my bags and headed out the front door.
I called Bethany from the road, knowing full well she was at work and wouldn’t answer. I left her a voicemail letting her know that I’d be staying at Cole’s for at least the next two weeks, but that we needed to set up some lunch dates in the interim. I also gave her a quick synopsis of the Aidan situation, just saying that we had a fight and I wasn’t sure where it was going now. As I went to hang up, I found myself saying, “You know I love you, girl. Take care of yourself.” It was if I were saying goodbye everywhere I went.
Chapter 16
Cole’s apartment was a palace in comparison to mine. He lived just a few blo
cks from the gym and his living room was a wall of windows that faced the ocean. There were worse places to be stuck and I decided I should make the best of it. His dog, Charlie, a Great Dane, met me at the door. Charlie was absolutely a lover, not a fighter — even if he sat over three feet tall and weighed one-hundred and seventy pounds. He nosed his way into my arms, making me drop all of my bags as I laughed and gave him a full-on hug.
I knelt in front of him and loved him up, paying special attention to his ears, which he loved. Once I was covered in dog hair and slobber, I stood and told him to go lay down. Instead, Charlie promptly sat down and cocked his head at me. He was black and white spotted, but his head was all white except for the giant black spot covering his right eye and his big ears stood up in giant triangles. I couldn’t help but tell him how pretty of a boy he was as I scratched his head again and took off for the guest bedroom.
By the time Cole got home, I was pretty settled in. I’d talked to Bethany, reassuring her that Charlie was fine, he just needed some shots every day for the next few weeks that Cole didn’t have time for. I told her he was paying me to dog-sit and that she was welcome to come hang out. Since Cole had some protective measures in place, apparently an “I owe you” from someone he had met during his travels, he felt like his apartment was the safest place any of us could be right now. I’d caught up on my homework and checked my phone no fewer than forty times to see if I’d missed a message from Aidan. I couldn’t bring myself to call or text him. After the way we’d ended things, he needed to be comfortable with telling me he was ready to see me again. If he ever was.
Cole kicked off our arrangement by reiterating all of his rules. Again.
“Do your own dishes. Don’t throw towels on the floor. Keep your girly crap in your own space. Don’t touch my PlayStation.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes as he towered over me, ticking them off each of his fingers as he stood just in front of the couch.
“Really, Cole? I’ve been here before, and you’re the one who wants me here, so chill out, okay?” He harrumphed and went to put in the frozen pizza we were sharing for dinner. I could tell he was trying to act normal, but there was still a definite wariness in him.
I followed him into the kitchen, leaning on the granite island countertop and fiddling with the vase filled with spatulas and other cooking utensils.
“So, are you ever going to tell me about your guy?” I tried to fake disinterest, but Cole saw right through me. “Nope. Sorry, Ame, but you get nothing. This is top secret and I’m not joking when I say that no one can know this guy exists. He’s been off the radar for years.”
I rolled my eyes. “This is all a little too cloak and dagger, don’t you think?”
He stopped, the oven door half open. “I’m serious, Amelia. No one. Not even your little boyfriend, Aidan. Speaking of, what’s the deal there? I’m afraid to ask, but I should probably know what he knows about you? I mean, not about you. You know what I mean!” He rushed through that last part, turning an adorable shade of red.
I couldn’t help but egg him on. “Oh, you didn’t want to know how our first kiss went? I mean, I can tell you exactly how he—”
“NO! BLECH. Just, no.” Cole was walking around the kitchen, shaking himself out like he had caught cooties. Reacting to his weird antics, Charlie joined in the game, letting out thunderous woofs and jumping all over Cole.
“Good God. Down! Charlie, get down!” Cole was pushing at Charlie, which of course Charlie only saw as escalating the game. I, on the other hand, doubled over in laughter. Cole seemed so big and strong until his mammoth dog started to play games, too.
“Fine. I’ll take your word for it, Cole, but I need to get out of here for a few minutes. Can I take Charlie out to the beach? He looks like he could use a good game of fetch.” I put on my best pouting face and Cole gave in as I knew he would.
“Fine,” he agreed. “After we eat. I’m going to sit out on the deck and watch to make sure nothing happens. Stay within yelling distance.”
Just in time, the buzzer went off and our favorite sausage and green pepper thin crust pizza was done. I devoured my half, wishing he had stocked Cherry Pepsi, too.
Charlie couldn’t have been more ecstatic when I grabbed his leash out of the hall closet. We stood facing each other and it was clear to me that we both understood the leash was a formality. Charlie could drag me along the boardwalk for a hundred miles and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.
“Alright, dog, we have an understanding, but know that I could also turn you into a goldfish if you misbehave.” Charlie actually snorted at me, as if to say, “Yeah right, lady. Nice try.”
With that, I laughed and shook my head, clipped on his leash, and let him lead me down to the beach. Once we were fully out in the sand, I let him loose and started throwing his favorite Frisbee around. The sun was just setting and the water looked radiant. The oranges, reds, and purples shone across the ocean surface with only the white swells breaking the beautiful rainbow.
Charlie and I must have played for an hour. Finally, I sat in the sand and he laid down next to me. He crossed his two front paws, looking more regal than I’d ever seen, his ears alert and looking all over the beach. I looked back to see Cole on the deck — actually sitting somewhat similarly to Charlie — his posture rigid, his eyes scanning the beach. It felt good to feel safe and protected, even if I was lonely.
Cole let me go to school, but Micah had to walk me to and from each class. I felt ridiculous, but I wasn’t there to learn. I was there to find Aidan. I needed to talk to him and I was becoming somewhat frantic. I alternated between feeling like I needed to spill it all and confess everything and completely ignoring him because it would be safer for him to never have met me. But, each time I walked into class, he wasn’t there.
As I finished out the week, glad Bethany had never questioned why Micah was on campus every minute we were, I prayed Aidan would be sitting there. Even if all we did was ignore each other, he needed to be there so I knew that he was okay. The more I thought about it, I realized that, while his car was gone, I hadn’t seen or heard from him since he took off into the woods. I had no idea if he was safe or dead. What if the red-haired woman somehow got to him and I wasn’t home to get her ransom?
Good grief. Get it together, Amelia. I was annoying myself with all of the “what if’s” rattling around my brain.
I refused to just ask Micah myself, instead I texted Bethany. What are best friends for, if not to stalk your maybe-ex and get details you aren’t privy to? In just a few messages, she agreed to push Micah for some information on their dinner date tonight, not even questioning the situation further. There was something to be said for a friend that just acted without asking a zillion questions.
I was cuddling on the couch with Charlie late that night — which actually meant he was taking up three-fourths of the couch and I was relegated to the inside corner — watching King Arthur and distracting myself with the gorgeous Clive Owen, when Bethany messaged me back.
Hey, Ame! Talked to M. He said A is fine, just has “stuff” going on. Tried to dig further but didn’t get anywhere. Boys. ;-)
I quickly responded. OK, great! Thanks for checking.
I know she wanted to keep digging, but Aidan’s business was his. If I couldn’t be honest with him, it wasn’t fair to expect him to be honest with me.
I was lost in my own thoughts when Charlie suddenly bolted off the couch, barking non-stop. He ran in circles around the apartment as if he wasn’t sure what he was upset with. I realized I was sitting in a living room surrounded on two sides by windows and switched off the lamp sitting next me while I slid to the ground. Before I had a chance to hit Cole’s speed dial, I heard Micah’s voice come from the other side of the door as he knocked.
“Amelia? I know you’re here. It’s Micah. Can you do something about that dreadful animal?” I stood up, turned the light back on, and mentally berated myself for being such a scaredy-cat.
I
tried telling Charlie to stop barking, but he was still losing it, scratching at the front door relentlessly. There was no way I could move him myself, so I hollered to Micah to wait a minute. I tried pulling on his collar, yelling for him to lie down, and tossing treats into the living room. Finally, I’d had it and screamed his name as loud as I could, putting a little extra oomph behind it. Immediately, Charlie came and sat down in front of me. I stooped down, grabbed his collar, and looked him in the eyes. Without speaking out loud I said, That’s enough. Micah is our friend. Go lay down. Now. He didn’t hesitate, trotting off to his giant dog bed in the corner. I blew a strand of hair out of my face, briefly closed my eyes, and stood to open the door, finding Micah leaning against the frame, a smug smirk on his face.
“Well done, Amelia. I think you’ve got a magic-sensing creature living with you, but you handled him well enough for a newbie.” I was still trying to comprehend what Micah had just said as he breezed past me and took a seat at the island.
“Come on in,” I muttered to the empty space where he’d been standing. I closed the door and joined him in the kitchen.
“What brings you here? Weren’t you on a date?” I grabbed a few bottles of water from the fridge and tossed him one. He slowed it down in the air and it landed gently on the counter in front of him.
“Show off,” I said with a scowl.
He gave me a feisty grin as he twisted the cap off. “Indeed I was, but I just dropped Bethany at her apartment and wanted to speak with you as soon as possible. As we’ve talked about, I have been looking into these people who attacked you and Aidan. I haven’t learned much, but it appears they are outcasts. They belong to groups of people who have rescinded themselves from the monarchy and now live in factions all over the world. It’s unclear what their objectives are, but they hate the queen, that much I know.”
Bound by Duty (Bound Series Book 1) Page 17