Forgotten Fires

by Sara C. Roethle

  Devin smiled. “We found a few of the witches who spilled the beans. We're taking care of it.”

  “Is my mom safe? And my friends?”

  Devin nodded. “We won't leave until we're sure the threat has been eliminated.”

  With that I went back inside to shower and get dressed. I had somewhere to be.

  13

  Chase was in his room reading when I found him. It was strange to be back in my dad's house, but I knew it was something I had to face. I couldn't just leave Chase and Dorrie stranded down there forever.

  “Xoe!” he exclaimed, startled by my sudden appearance.

  He put his book down on the bed as he stood, then rushed over to me. He put his hands gently on my arms and searched my face for some clue as to how I was feeling.

  “Hi,” I said weakly, not knowing what else to say.

  His face fell a little at my lackluster reply. “I thought you might never come back,” he admitted. “Though I see you've learned to travel without a portal. I thought maybe I just imagined the smoke when you came for Jason.”

  I looked into his earnest gray eyes for a moment more, then pulled him in for a hug. I let out a shaky breath as he put his arms around me. I was still so very tired. After several minutes, he lifted me up and carried me over to his bed where he set me down so we could sit side by side.

  He handed me a manilla file folder that I hadn't noticed sitting on his bed. I looked a question at him, and he gestured for me to look inside.

  I opened the folder to the first page to find information on my grandmother. I went to slam the folder shut, but Chase gently gripped my wrist and helped me move the first sheet to look at the next page. The next page was on . . . me.

  My lips formed a soft “o” of surprise as I began to read the typed information. There was even a list of my powers compared to my grandmother's powers, and the powers of someone named Art.

  “This folder was on our doorstep yesterday,” Chase explained. “I imagine Sam left it. I tried to track him down for an explanation, but he's cleaned up shop. I can't find him anywhere.”

  My breath hitched a little at the thought of Sam. I vaguely remembered pummeling him, but it had all seemed like a dream. He'd claimed that he didn't know he was endangering me or my father, but a person might claim a lot of things when faced with someone ready to kill him.

  “What does it all mean?” I asked numbly.

  Chase shook his head. “I don't know. I think your dad was researching your powers, and comparing them to those of your ancestors. I'm guessing the other person listed, Art, is related to you in some way.”

  “My grandmother said she led my dad to Sam. She somehow made him think that this information was important. Important enough that he was running around trying to figure it out without letting me know.”

  Chase nodded. “There was something else going on. I've wracked my brain trying to figure out what it was, but I'm still not sure. I think the only reason he let us get involved with the witches was to keep us busy. He probably thought that they were harmless.”

  I closed the folder and set it behind me on the bed. I knew my father had been trying to protect me from something, but from what? He obviously didn't know that my grandmother was a threat, or he would never have listened to her. He wouldn't have gone to Sam based on whatever information she told him. Yet, I didn't see what my powers and the powers of my ancestors had to do with anything.

  I looked over at Chase as he cast his eyes downward. He looked tired, and his eyes were puffy. I reached out and ran a hand through his near-black hair to get his attention.

  “I saw my dad in a dream last night,” I said, ignoring the terrifying, falling feeling in the pit of my stomach.

  “You did?” he asked almost hopefully.

  I smiled, and for a moment felt almost normal as I said, “He told me to do what makes me happy.”

  “And what is that?” Chase asked as if honestly confused.

  I leaned my head against his shoulder. “This, I think.”

  He tried to turn and look at me, but couldn't because of the angle, so I lifted my head back up. “Xoe-” he began in earnest.

  I pressed my lips to his, cutting off whatever he'd wanted to say. There was a moment of frozen hesitation from Chase, then he gave in and kissed me back.

  I pulled away slowly and smiled up at him, satisfied.

  “I don't understand,” he began, confused.

  “I just needed to do that,” I replied, “because what I have to say now is hard to explain.”

  Chase looked nervous, but nodded for me to go on.

  “Jason and I have decided to be just friends,” I began, “and when I first came here, I was planning on running right into your arms.”

  “But,” Chase said for me.

  “But,” I repeated. “I don't think I'm ready for that. I think I need to figure out who I am now, after all that has happened. I need to figure out what I want to do without considering anyone else's feelings. I need to get my life together.”

  “You're allowed to not do anything for a while, Xoe,” he said softly, turning away from me to gaze back down at the carpet.

  I put a hand on the far side of his chin and turned him to face me. “I'm also allowed to move on with my life. I think I want to do that with you, but I need to do it with myself first.”

  Chase stared at me for several heartbeats, then put both of his hands delicately on either side of my face and pulled me in to kiss him again. While exhilarating, the kiss was also comforting. It felt like home, a concept that had become strange and elusive to me as of late.

  We ended the kiss and Chase looked steadily into my eyes. “I just needed one more,” he explained with a smile. “Since I don't know if or when I'll be getting another.”

  I smiled back, glad he understood.

  He let out a long sigh as he stretched his arms over his head, relieving the tension of the moment. “So what about the demon that's still running loose above-ground.”

  Recalling what I'd said to Rose, I felt a little sick. If she or her parents called, I would be there to help them, but the others could run for the rest of their lives for all I cared. “Knowing my luck, he'll show up and try to kill me someday soon,” I joked.

  “Why would he try to kill you?” Chase asked, perplexed.

  I laughed again, feeling tired and comfortable enough that I knew if I laid back I would drift off to sleep.

  “Well,” I replied with a yawn, “all of the cool kids are doing it. He may as well give it a go.”

  “I haven't tried to kill you yet,” he joked. “Does that mean I'm not a cool kid?”

  I snorted. “Stick with me kid, and that's bound to change.”

  I gave in and laid back on the bed. There was still a painful, gaping wound in my heart left by my dad, but at that moment, it felt perhaps a little bit smaller. Eventually it would close up altogether, but I would always have the scar-tissue to remember him by.

  14

  Chase stayed underground with Dorrie when I went back to my mom's. It was a relief to have a new mode of travel, so I could pop back down and visit them whenever I wanted, and I could bring Chase up as he chose.

  We were no closer to figuring out what to do about Dorrie. She had accidentally found her way back to the dream-world, but without a cab, she would have been stuck. For the time being she would just have to stay at my dad's house. She didn't seem upset about it, especially when I promised to visit her on a regular basis.

  Devin and Abel are pretty sure that they've “eliminated” all of the rogue wolves, but they're staying in town for a while just to make sure. There have been talks about moving my pack to be combined with another larger pack, or else moving more wolves out to Shelby. The idea is safety in numbers, and I can't say that I disagree.

  When the question of who would lead the new, larger pack came up, Abel insisted that I keep the job. I would have liked to argue, but he wasn't willing to let all of the work he put into making
me a pack leader go to waste. He still wanted a demon connected to the coalition, and I had grudgingly began caring about all of them, not just my friends. Keeping the coalition safe meant that they would always be available to keep my friends safe.

  Part of me hopes that Abel can find some wolves to move up here to keep things simple, but another part of me wouldn’t mind eventually escaping Shelby. For the time being though, I'm happy to live back at my mom's.

  I've seen Jason a few times, and he's upheld his promise to be my friend, though I've been avoiding being completely alone with him. He hasn't asked if I'm with Chase, but Lucy or Allison have probably already told him the answer that I gave to them:

  Are you with Jason? No. Are you with Chase? Also, no. Well then who are you with? Myself.

  Lucy and Allison think I'm just too afraid to make a real decision. Max thinks I'm, “playing the field” as any self-respecting half-demon in her prime should do. He got a withering look from Allison for that one.

  As for me, I'm really not sure what I'm doing, but I know that it's the best thing for me. The only real problem on the horizon is the demon who killed Claire and Sasha, but I imagine he or she will show up eventually. I'm still coping with my grief, but with the help of my mom and my friends, it gets a little easier every day.

  For the time being I'm just going to study for my GED, and try living as normal a life as I can. What could possibly go wrong?

  Don't answer that.

  I hope you’ve enjoyed book five of the Xoe Meyers Series! Book six, Gone Ghost, can be found here:

  GONE GHOST - BOOK SIX

  For news and updates, please sign up for my mailing list by following the link below:

  SARA C. ROETHLE MAILING LIST