Chapter 20
“Okay, that’s the last one,” Draco says after filling another vial with my blood. He removes the needle and I hop down from the table.
“And you’re sure there’s no trace of Alex’s blood?” I had asked probably a hundred times but Draco never got irritated with me.
“Still clean. I can run it again if you want.” His eyes sparkle kindly behind his glasses.
“No, that’s okay.”
“I know you worry but there wasn’t any of his blood in you when you got here and there’s not going to be. You’re healing must have gotten rid of it all as soon as you Merged.”
That’s what he had started calling it, the Merge. All Stars could sense souls and Draco had confirmed that my soul and the Singular’s fragment Alex used in the transfer had woven together. I’m now connected to the star that houses his soul. Draco didn’t know what effects having two souls would have but he was determined to find out. That and why I had managed to survive the Merge in the first place. That’s what the blood was for.
“Call me if you find out anything,” I say as I leave his lab.
“Will do,” he calls after me.
I run into Daniel as I’m leaving.
“You ready to go?” he asks.
“Almost. Just have to say goodbye.”
“Okay, I’ll wait for you outside.”
I watch him as he walks away. It’s been a month since we got to Draco’s house in the Carpathian Mountains. In that month Daniel has gradually opened up. He no longer walks with his head down. Good food and regular meals have enabled him to fill out. He’s still thin but not unhealthily so. Without the constant abuse from Jack he has flourished.
When we first came here I was really worried about him. Carina had healed his wounds but she couldn’t heal the mental and emotional trauma. He wouldn’t leave me or talk to anyone but me and had horrible nightmares. Gradually he got better. He’s now comfortable going about the house by himself and the nightmares have gotten less frequent. I know he still isn’t 100% and he might never be but I’m proud that he tries every day.
I make my way down the hall and up the stairs. I make sure I didn’t leave anything behind in the temporary room I shared with Daniel. I don’t know when I’ll be back and I don’t want to leave anything for Draco to clean up. After checking three time I’m satisfied everything is packed and clean. I turn off the light and enter the room across the hall. The drapes are open and sunlight spills into the room. Medical machines give off a steady beeping that I have grown used to over the last month. I stand next to the bed gazing at Orion’s unconscious form. He’s been in a coma ever since that night.
The Stars had searched the mental hospital from top to bottom. The human “patients” had been given spots in nice hospitals around the world. As for the Singular, whose soul I now housed, he was dead. Daniel had confirmed that the Singulars that Alex took souls from always died. Draco said that since a soul was the life force of a person then removing one would definitely kill the person. Based on this, Draco said by cutting off Alex’s arm I stopped him from taking the entire soul fragment. We didn’t know if what he got was enough to use Orion’s powers but we knew what Orion had left was just enough to keep him alive. As long as he was alive there was hope of bringing him back.
“Today’s the day.” I move the hair out of his eyes. It’s grown since I first met him. “I know what you would say. It’s too dangerous. I shouldn’t be doing it.” I take his hand. “But you’d do the same for me. That’s why I’m going to find Alex and I’m going to get your soul back. No matter how long or what it takes. I promise you, I’ll make you whole again.”
I kiss his forehead and let go of his hand.
“Plus you still owe me that maple bar.”
I look once more at his face before leaving the room. I walk down the stairs and grab my backpack from the living room. I walk out the front door and see Daniel standing there with a backpack of his own. I stand beside him and take in the view of the mountains.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Ready.”
I hold out my hand and he places his in mine. I take a deep breath and the next moment we’re standing in a place that I would know even with my eyes closed. The familiar scents of vanilla and lavender greet me. I reach up and touch the locket and ring hanging around my neck.
I’m home.
Epilogue
Alex sits at a desk studying the latest documents that the man in front of him has brought.
“There’s nothing here,” he accuses angrily. He shoves the documents into a drawer and slams it shut.
“Be patient. It takes time to dig through all the paper work.” A man lounges comfortably in the chair across from Alex. He acts like he doesn’t have a care in the world, but even though he won’t admit it; Alex knows he is thrown by the turn of events.
Alex stands up and walks over to the mini bar where he pours two drinks. He carries both over and hands one to the other man before making his way to the window. The large window overlooks the city below. The man gets up and joins him.
“How’s the hand?” the man asks.
“It’s stopped hurting. I still haven’t gotten used to the prosthetic though.”
“You will eventually. It just takes time.”
“At least I know the limits of my healing.”
“Those powers weren’t designed for you. They will never work as well as yours did.”
They stand in silence for a while looking at the city before the man speaks again.
“I should be able to get the rest of the records by the end of the month. Hopefully they will have the answers to how Ailey survived the soul transfer.”
“I hope so. If only I’d been able to capture her. She is way more powerful than I could have imagined. Acheros didn’t have the level of power she showed at the institute. It would be so much easier if I could study her.”
“Has Jack not been able to locate her?”
“No, still no sign of her. They can’t hide her forever though. Eventually we’ll find her.”
“And then?”
“Then I’ll have the answers I’ve been searching for and you will be one step closer to achieving your goal. As soon as I get my family back, we can start distribution.”
“You know, when you came to me all those years ago I never would have thought we’d be so close.”
“You doubted me?”
“You’re saying you didn’t?”
“I will admit it was a little touch and go there in the beginning but I ironed out the kinks.”
“For which I am most grateful.”
They clink their glasses together and the man finishes his off. He picks up his coat from the back of the chair and puts it on.
“I got to get back. Let me know if you find her before I get the records would you?”
“Will do.”
As the man goes to leave, Alex calls out to him.
“Oh and Leo?”
The man turns around.
“Yeah?”
“Tell Gemini thanks for all the help too.”
“Will do.”
He smiles and walks out the door.
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Tiffany Allen
About the author:
Tiffany Allen is a long time book lover of 20 years. She was born and raised in Oregon and now resides in Alaska. She spends most of her time reading, writing, taking pictures, and enjoying the gorgeous scenery with her loving dog, August. Among the Stars is her first published novel and she plans to have many more.
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Among the Stars Page 21