Part 5 (2/2)

”Well, they caught us off guard, yeah, but we gave a good fight....from what I hear. They fled almost right away after the initial surge.”

”It was just a warning shot,” Bones grumbles and chugs his beer. ”They sent their stupidest henchmen in on a suicide mission just to let us know they can mess with us.”

”But they can't anymore, not with Aria guarding the door.” My thoughts return to the mysterious vixen. I'd heard of her before-her unparalleled powers of mind control are legendary-but I'd never actually met her. For some reason I pictured her as older...more like Tatiana.

I'd heard how she can read and control the mind of any creature-living and undead-within a hundred mile radius. She could channel my thoughts right now, even though she's behind three feet of solid stone. And if she wanted to, she could will me to cut my own head off and I'd do it happily and without hesitation.

As Bones chats with Gyan, I slowly sip my drink and spin around in my seat to survey the scene. Small groups of demons and demions are talking excitedly amongst themselves. I hear shouts of anger, and see many unhappy faces. I know it's only a matter of time before the Dryndarans deliver payback to the Hlbafa. But my thoughts are on Kieron. I'm concerned that my family cares only about revenge...about retaliating for the attack on us.

They care nothing for Kieron. Not even Bones. I'm the only one who wants to save him.

And I don't think I can.

Chapter 7. Liora.

I stumble to the kitchen where Tatiana is calmly sipping her morning tea.

”What did you mean yesterday?” I demand, my voice hoa.r.s.e. My eyes hadn't been open for two seconds when I remembered Tatiana's dire words to me and had immediately jumped out of bed, even before I was fully awake.

”Good morning, Liora dear. What do you mean 'what did I mean'?” she asks, confused.

I pour myself a piping hot cup of coffee, my hands shaking. I probably could do without the caffeine, but I'm still unusually groggy and tired. I really wish whatever this bug is that's causing me to feel so sluggish would run its course already.

”I mean...” Setting down the pot, I turn to face her. ”Yesterday, right before Lucky took over. What you said to me while you were floating on your back in the air...”

”What did I say, darling? I have no recollection-” Her face is a blank mask of innocence.

”You said I was in danger!” I explode, slamming my mug down. ”Grave danger. What does that mean? Why would you say that?”

Tatiana furrows her brow and angles her face to the window. ”That's strange. I have no memory of saying that. I apologize if I frightened you...”

”I just wanna know what the h.e.l.l is going on around here,” I snap. But then I take a deep breath, immediately contrite for my outburst. It's not Tatiana I'm mad at-it's myself. I can't stop thinking of Kieron. How he never returned to me. How I was lied to. How I was tricked. Used. Deceived.

Played for a fool.

Tatiana stands up and wanders to the sink, her mouth pinched tight. ”It is true I am constantly concerned with your safety, and I fear perhaps I misspoke while under a deep trance. Maybe it wasn't even you I was speaking about.”

I wipe away the coffee that spilled on the countertop and refill my mug. I carefully carry it over to the table and take a seat. ”But you know what happened yesterday, right? What happened at the mines?” I ask, blowing gently on my steaming cup.

She nods. ”I felt something.”

”I'm right, aren't I? It's something supernatural? Something bad?”

Tatiana pauses, choosing her words carefully. I'm fuming inside. I hate when she does this... tries to keep me in the dark, s.h.i.+elded like a pitiful child who can't handle the dangers of the big, bad world.

”There is something, yes. But I cannot see what it is. Remain vigilant, and promise me you'll stay away from there until I can see more clearly what is happening. I sensed you went there yesterday, but please do not return again.” She turns back to the stove and starts loading food on a plate.

”We didn't make it to the mines. They stopped us and sent us all to the McKenzie Boarding House.” I grudgingly poke at the eggs and sausage Tatiana has placed before me and force myself to eat some because I need my strength. But the way I feel now, all I want to do is go back to bed and sleep all day.

Tat raises an inquisitive eyebrow. ”Who is this 'we' you speak of?”

”Tristan drove me since I didn't have my car.”

”Who?”

”Tristan...you know, my new friend... I've mentioned him to you before...” I add when her expression remains blank.

”Refresh my memory,” she says thoughtfully.

I stare at her, confused. Tatiana never forgets a single thing, not ever. She remembers the most mundane detail of a meaningless conversation we've had years before. But now she's blanking on something as significant as me actually having a new friend? What's this about?

”He moved here a few weeks ago with his sister...” I start slowly. ”She's kind of obnoxious, but he's really nice. I think their family might be really rich, 'cause he has an amazing car. He's tall, good-looking, slightly too-long blondish hair and a huge scar on his face...remember?”

”Ah, yes,” she says, not very convincingly. She turns away. I focus on forcing some food down, and try not to be too freaked out by what she just said. I know she wouldn't lie about not remembering Tristan, but I've told her plenty and talked about him almost every day. How could she forget? Is something wrong with her? Is she going senile?

Truth is, I have no idea how old Tatiana is, and I've never asked. Sometimes she seems like she could be in her thirties, other times she seems like she's over a hundred. Despite her great wisdom and powers, she is still a human. And all humans, magically gifted or not, eventually succ.u.mb to the fate of all mortals-old age if they're lucky enough to make it that long, and eventually, death. But in all these years I've known her, I've never actually thought of Tat as being a real human. She seems so much stronger and more powerful than any mere mortal. Somehow it seems like she should live forever, and never die. I know that's impossible. One day she will start to deteriorate, mentally and physically. But in all the craziness that has been my life, she's been the one to keep me grounded. She's been my anchor...my one source of stability. I pray this isn't a bad sign. Hopefully she's just been preoccupied with other events lately. Maybe Lucky is stressing her out more than I'm aware.

I eat all I can manage...which isn't much. Tatiana moves nimbly as ever around the kitchen as she begins clearing away the dishes. She seems fine. ”How are you feeling these days?”

She pauses to look at me. ”I feel fine. Never better. Why?

I shrug. ”No reason. Just checking.” I push my plate away and get to my feet. ”Gotta go. Don't wanna be late.

I run to my bathroom to get ready, and give her a quick kiss on the cheek on my way out the door. I pause, staring at my car keys on the hook. I debate for a moment before grabbing them. ”I have an errand to run after school,” I say over my shoulder, answering her unspoken question.

I don't want to tell her where I'm going, even though she'll figure it out soon enough.

I don't want to admit how weak I am, and that I'm only torturing myself.

If I want to spend my afternoons in a cemetery, reading poetry all by my lonesome and thinking of Kieron, that's my right, isn't it?

I really don't care how pathetic it is.

”Hey, Liora, come here. I wanna talk to you for a sec,” Tristan calls out, waving me over with his hand and flas.h.i.+ng an adorable smile. I stop my conversation with Corrine mid-sentence and turn his way.

The quad is nearly empty. The only students 'officially' excused are those with immediate family working at the mines. Everyone else is expected to be here. But it seems as if half the school is gone. I can't help but wonder how many of my cla.s.smates are actually affected, and how many are just taking advantage of the crisis.

”I'll be right back,” I tell Corrine. She frowns, but I ignore it. I can't help but feel she's been a little too happy Kieron disappeared. Now she has me all to herself. But it's not my fault no one else really wants to talk to her, and I'm not going to ignore Tristan just because Emme and Skye aren't here today to keep her company.

A slow smile spreads across my lips as I wander over to meet Tristan. ”Hey, you. What's up?” I can't hide my pleasure at seeing him.

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