Part 21 (2/2)

I set my cup and saucer down with a clank. ”And what is this nonsense about me 'having to leave'?” I make air quotes with my fingers and give her a puzzled look. ”So they come back...so what? We blow them to smithereens like the others...”

”Lucky. Everything has changed.” Tatiana's voice is soft, but loaded with a solid strength reserved for only the direst occasions. I s.h.i.+ver to hear it now. ”You've been exposed. They know who you are...what you are. They know where you live, and they will certainly be back. They need you to accomplish their mission, and they won't stop until they've succeeded.” She pauses to take a sip of tea, then closes her eyes, sighs, and leans back.

”Of course, I will be putting a concealing spell around the cabin,” she continues, ”but Lucky, do you really want to live the rest of your life trapped inside here? And what about Liora? I've always feared the day would come when she would no longer be safe in her world...”

Kieron wraps his hand around mine, but even that doesn't calm the jumpiness in my gut. ”So you want me to run away? To hide?”

Tatiana shakes her head. ”I want you to be able to live. I want you to be safe. You need to be where you can flourish and be free. And sadly, that place is no longer here. Dryndara is also out, is it not?”

I can't believe I'd actually forgotten about that. It seems so surreal, being banished from Thiberoux. How can that be? How can someone be banished from their home?

My shoulders slump, and I nod slowly.

”So unless you want to be stuck inside a cabin for the rest of your life, drinking my synthetic Energy in the mortal world, sadly, I believe it is time for you to move on. It's for the best.”

”Where will I go?” I ask quietly, tears pooling in my eyes. It's bad enough being kicked out of Thiberoux. But now Tatiana wants me gone, too?

Kieron drapes his arms over my shoulder and pulls me closer in a silent show of support.

”I think the best thing for you to do now is go West. California, specifically. Los Angeles.”

I nearly choke on my tea. ”What? Why would I go there? I'm not interested in stupid Sapie movie stars-”

”It's a safe place for you...well, safer than here. In the Land of Lost Angels, demons roam free-unlike here. There are many sanctuaries available to you, and there are Energy Sources you can tap into. If you have problems with Light-angels, you will have more support on your side. Also...” Her voice drifts away, and her gaze turns thoughtful.

”Also, what?” I prompt when she doesn't continue.

She shakes her head, purses her lips, then lets out a long sigh. ”It's near where my sister lives. Remember I mentioned her to you?”

”Yeah, you said you weren't close.”

”We're not. And I may be entirely off base here, but I've always wondered...” Her voice falters again.

”Always wondered what?” I ask impatiently.

”I've always wondered if she could help you. And Liora. Your condition. I've always felt if there was a way for you to be healed through magical means, she'd be the one to help you.”

I suck in my breath, my eyes wide. ”Really? You mean she can-”

”I said maybe. And that I wondered if. I make no promises, not by any means.”

”But you think there's a chance? Even a small one?” I ask, not daring to get my hopes up, but feeling them soar anyways. I need to hear something even remotely positive right now, especially after the complete and utter s.h.i.+t-storm that just rained down upon me.

Tatiana flashes a thin smile. ”In my humble opinion it's the best chance you have. Certainly better than if you stay here.”

I look to Kieron to see his reaction. ”I think it's a good idea. Of course, I'll be by your side wherever you are,” he says.

”You wanna leave here? What about school?”

His eyes twinkle. ”Gee, I dunno. It'll be tough, but I think I'll manage without it for a while.” He strokes my cheek and wipes away the single tear sliding down it. ”My life is with you, now and forever. Wherever that is. I swear I will never leave your side ever again.”

I take a deep breath and nod, turning back to Tatiana. ”What about you? I can't leave you here by yourself-”

She swishes her hand dismissively. ”Oh, don't you be worrying about an old woman like me. I'll be fine. And besides, I'm never far away from you, no matter where you are. I'll always be here for you, my sweet child,” she finishes telepathically.

I stand up, cross the room, and give her a big hug. ”I love you so much, Tattie. I'm not even going to get mad at you for never telling me you're a telepath,” I whisper before planting a kiss on her cheek.

She gives a tinkling laugh and hugs me back. ”A good sorceress never reveals all her secrets,” she whispers. ”And some secrets are meant to be kept forever...”

I pull away, looking at her sadly before returning to my seat beside Kieron. ”When should we go?” I ask.

”The sooner the better,” Tatiana replies. ”But you have some time...the Light-angels probably still haven't yet figured out which dimension they are in.” She gives a conspiratorial wink. ”It will take them some time to find their way home and alert the others. Meanwhile, I'll need to make some potions for your trip...a little something to keep you flying under the radar and enough Energy to last you until you find a new Source.”

”What about Liora?” I ask.

Kieron and Tat exchange glances. ”We'll handle it. She'll understand. She wants to be safe too, I'm sure,” Kieron says.

”I would like a chance to say my goodbyes to her...” Tatiana says with a sad smile.

I pause a moment, then nod. ”Okay. We can go after sunrise.”

Tatiana stands up. ”Come now. Let's get you some Energy and heal all those nasty injuries.”

Tatiana's magic may be able to fix my physical wounds, but not my emotional ones. Kieron and I follow her to her room.

”Fine. But make it quick. There's something I have to do before we leave. Alone.”

”Hey, Lucky...wait up a sec...”

I turn to see Kieron jogging toward me, his beautiful face freshly healed thanks to Tatiana's magic and some Energy shots.

”What?”

He pauses beside me and takes my hand. ”Kieron, what is it? I told you I have to do this one thing, and I don't have time-”

”It's this.” He presses something soft into my palm. His eyes look strange, and his mouth is drawn into a tense line. ”You need to have it...you need to know...”

I look at the bag he's given me, confused. It's the same satchel I had thought held the veneficus calx...instead, it was full of the dirt I threw at the Light-angels. ”I don't understand-”

”It's Bones,” Kieron says, his voice low, reverent. ”His ashes. I gathered them for you after he was-”

I inhale sharply and look down at my hand, the velvet sack now feeling infinitely more precious than it had mere seconds ago. ”These are Bones' ashes?” I repeat, stunned.

Kieron nods. ”I was going to give them to you when the time was right...but then you took the bag and threw the ashes at the Light-angel-”

<script>