Chapter 56

New York City…

Avery's pov;

I am such an idiot , because of me overthinking everything and being all nervous I screwed up and hurt the one person who is always there unconditionally. How am I going to fix this? If at all I can fix this because one thing for sure is that Eric is hard to get back once you hurt him in his feelings, he is really sweet and all but once you really break through that he easily just closes himself off.

Ugh this is such a mess!

Today I'm just gonna stay in doors and recuperate or more like avoid going out and bumping into Eric , I think I should give him some time to cool off and give myself time to think of how I am going to fix this without creating awkwardness in our relationship because the way this is going our friendship will sink even further if I don't intervene properly.

So I stayed in doors as planned and it is now 5pm and Sheila just texted me telling me that she is coming with ice cream . Great , it is as if she knew I was in need of emotional support food. This couldn't be a better time.

"I am home!" Sheila yells as the door opens.

I go up to her and help with the grocery bags but more or so looking for the ice cream.

I put everything on the counter and pull out my favorite flavor , cookies and cream out of the bag and immediately grab a spoon to devour this.

"Okay . You definitely have boy problems with the way you are eating that. What's wrong?" She asks with a knowing look.

"How about you answer that . You are the one who told Eric to come over this morning knowing full well it would be awkward after what happened last night" I say accusingly and walk towards the couch to sit and eat my ice cream.

"First of I did it because there was no one else available to take care of your hangover self since everyone was hangover from last night apart from our responsible Eric . And plus you both would have had to talk it out some day" She is right but it didn't have to be today . I was not ready yet.

"You could have just left me to die rather than doing that-" Mid sentence I suddenly have a horrible chest pain , one of those again. Shit.

"Avery? What's wrong? Chest pain again?" I nod and she goes to take my medicine for calming the pain while I almost bite my tongue because of trying to hold on , this is much worse than I remember it to be.

"Okay try to sit up on the pillow and swallow this pill" I try to take the pill with my shaking hand but it drops down and the pain increase until I am just screaming.

I don't remember anything after that , all becomes a blur as I pass out in Sheila's arms.

A few minutes later…

I feel like I am regaining control over my sense so I open my eyes , slowly adjusting to the lights in the room.

My head feels kinda heavy but the pain has gone away completely so I guess I am okay now.

When I look around me I see Sheila in the corner looking at me like I have gone crazy, she looks traumatized.

"Sheila? What is it? Why you looking at me like that?" I try to go near her but she takes a step back.

"What's up with you? Did you see a ghost of something?" She shakes her head and point at my amulet.

I look at it and see it is glowing and different images are being displayed in the room. Images of black magic and of course Alba. Oh shoot.

What do I do now? How do I explain this?

"Okay Sheila I am going to need you to first off calm down and come here so that I can explain myself and whatever you saw"

"How am I supposed to calm myself down when you passed out and suddenly that your chest opened up and strange red strings came out and spread all over the place and that necklace of yours , the one you keep saying is a family heirloom has traces of black magic!!! Am I going insane?" Okay she is panicking and I am panicking because I don't know what is going on right now either .

I have to pull myself together though because now I have to tell her the whole Alba thing so that she doesn't think she is crazy for real.

"Okay just come over here and let me explain everything to you. There has been things that have been happening that I hid from you and everyone in general because it is kind of a big deal and kind of hard to believe but now that you have seen a part of it I guess you will have to believe" I take a deep breath in and start explaining everything from the beginning.

How I used my uncle's amazing technological gadget to travel to a past era , in a kingdom that no longer exists and met a girl there with whom I have been exchanging bodies from time to time just for me to experience that lifestyle and understand it better , I explained to her that my trips to Alba are helping me write my essay for the end of my history semester this year and that I have found a great friend in her.

I explain all of that without leaving any detail out , even about how the amulets were made by our blood fused , clearly black magic but here we are getting a great experience as this one and I don't regret it one bit.

Once I am done I look at her and she still looks frozen in place but less frightened. A good thing , right?

"Okay , so you are basically telling me that all this time you have been time traveling and sharing the body of some lady of a faraway kingdom?" I nod and she just flops on the couch taking everything in. I know it's a lot and I am even surprised she believes everything and doesn't take me for a crazy person.

"This is all very crazy girl . How did you keep this for so long? And how come I never realized when you went to Alba-? Is that it? But how though" she ask .

"It is just because I usually go when it is time to sleep . I go there for two days there which is just the night here so it was convenient" she nods putting piece and piece together and just realizing everything. This is not easy to digest for sure . These things happen in movies , not real life.

"Look I am just sorry you had to find out like this , I just didn't want to tell anybody because it would make me look crazy. You get that right?" I hope she does because I can't loose my bestie over this.

She turns to me and sighs then nods ,

"I do . I am not mad at all , I am just in shock that's all but also I am scared for you . This magic shit seems dangerous . What if it something bad happens to you?" She is right on that one , the blood pact thing I have with Ethera is quite strong and the magic that binds it is as well.

"By the way girl I don't know if I hallucinated but I think I saw Helga in there just now" Sheila says.

Oh of course she saw her , now Helga has my old amulet so she can travel to Alba as well.

"Wait- maybe that is the problem!" I say out loud.

"What is?" Sheila asks confused.

"The fact that Helga shared the bond with us. Her having my amulet means she must have added her blood into the mix and so the bond is stretched which might explain the random chest pains as well!" I gasp putting all the pieces together. It all makes sense now.

"Wait slow down for a second . Helga has your amulet? I'm confused" oh yeah I forgot she doesn't know that part , so I tell her everything that happened when my amulet was stolen and how I saw Helga in Alba when I was there and that confronted her about my necklace but she flat out denied stealing it.

"Oh that girl is always causing trouble! When will she stop? Like get a life" I nod agreeing.

Having her in our link is a problem. It is hindering our health and who knows how far it will stretch? Plus I don't like the idea of Helga going to Alba , what does she even want there? I have a feeling that whatever it is , it is bad like really bad.

The next day I decide to go to campus since I feel so much better.

Last night Sheila and I talked some more , she just asked questions and I answered her then we went to sleep.

Anyways today I am late because for once Eric is not dropping me because of obvious reasons and now I have to take the bus which takes forever to arrive in the first place.

So I reach the campus and am about to enter when I spot Lore with the last person I thought I would see here today , Eric. They are chatting and laughing together , I guess they got close after the other night. Good for them.

"Oh Avery! There you are , I have been searching for you since yesterday. Why didn't you come?" She ask as she drags Eric with her to where I am standing and she clings onto his arm right in front of my eyes. Not now , I don't need this right now.

"Oh I was just sick that is all" I tell her in a rush trying to get away from this awkward situation.

Eric is avoiding eye contact with me and I am doing the same.

"Oh I am sorry to hear that. , I hope you are well now . Anyways I just wanted to say hi , Eric has to go he just came to drop me off. Such a sweetheart isn't he?" She ask as she giggles at him and he just smiles agreeing with her. What did I miss?

Since when does he drop her to school? I thought that was our thing .

"I am sure he is , I'm guys I have to go I am kind of late for my class" I say rushing as I leave them there.

I can't look at them no more , I just can't .

How did we end up like this?