Fifty-three
" You're a terrible influence on me." He heaves a heavy sigh and leans forward, propping his elbows on his knees.
" So I've been told," He smirks at the lightness in my tone. " Are you coming back with me? You haven't t fed me today. If I remember correctly, you promised me scrambled eggs, " I look around the derelict house." What are you doing here, anyway?" I remember that I have no idea where the fuck Shay brought me.
He puffs his cheeks, " We are in the Tibbs mountains, at the edge of the desert. Fyrth District. It's small, but it has its charm. There is a delta not very far from here, where vegetation meets the barren sands. It is such a striking contrast. Whereas here nothing survives, if you walk a few steps, the scenery changes so drastically that is almost frightening," For the first time since I arrived, his expression softens as he looks into my eyes.
" Give me a few days, and I'll be back. And leave the book. It will give me a reason to come back," The smirk he gives me is subtle, but it's there to let me know he is only teasing.
" I have to say that I'm offended," I play along, " That the only reason you'd come back is only to return a damn book," His smile grows as I continue my pointless diatribe.
" Can you blame me?" He asks, struggling to keep himself from smiling.
" I have no idea what you are speaking about. I'm an absolute joy to be around. " His laughter fills the small room, bouncing off the walls. It is infectious, and I can barely contain mine from bursting free from my chest. Relief washes over me, at the easiness settling between us. I feel peaceful. Leaving aside everything that has come to pass between us, Mason always provided me with a sense of serenity that I found nowhere else.
" You're a pain in the ass. And I mean that most lovingly, " We both rise from our seats and stand in front of each other, taking each other in," I love you. I love that you came looking for me. I didn't think you would..." He doesn't say the rest, but I hear it nonetheless. Because of who my father is.
Sliding my hands down his arm, I lace our fingers together and look him dead in the eye, " I don't care who your father is; your actions speak for themselves. Who contributed to your creation bears no weight in the man who stands in front of me today. Enid is the woman who raised you, and I know deep down that she wouldn't have raised someone as cruel and unscrupulous as Micah. You are your own person, and you choose who you want to be. Just like I choose who I want to be....for the next four years," I say the last part mostly for myself. Hurt settles over his features as he brings our joined hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles.
He smiles, and I know it's for my sake. It lacks the usual warmth and candour, " Thank you." He presses a kiss on my forehead, " I'll look into it and will talk more once I'm back. A few days, and after that, you can come back huffing and puffing if I don't show up," I nod trying to keep this light. I don't want to say goodbye to him, but I feel slightly better. Centred. Now that I know, he won't run away from me.
" A few days. I'll see you on Wednesday. We still have training. You can't skirt your duties as a mentor. I'll let Eric know that you are indisposed," I say as he wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest.
" I'm sorry I ran off on you this morning," He whispers against my temple.
" At least you were easy to find. I, on the other hand, not so much," I shrug in his embrace, and he chuckles.
" So we can finally joke about it." He pulls back slightly so he can look at me.
" I can. Can you?" He shakes his head, and I have my answer. It's still a sore subject for him. Give or take a few years, and he will probably be ready to joke about it.
" I should go." He pecks my lips and slowly drifts back to sit on the edge of the bed. I refrain from asking what he will eat because I know Mason, and if anything, he is resourceful.
He nudges Shay awake, who lifts his head, his electric blue eyes find me, " It's time to go," I pat my leg and he jumps off the bed to come to my side. The energetic tail wagging is missing for this trip, and I know that all this dallying around has been too much for him. We've abused his ability and the willingness to do our bidding.
Mason gives me a small wave, just as I tell Shay to take me home. It slips past my lips before I can catch myself and lo' and behold, Shay indeed takes me home.
The last place I want to be. Northenhay.
We appear in the room just as heavy stomping echoes in the corridor, leading to the bedrooms.
I tell Shay to find Graham, and he does as he is told right before the bedroom door swings open, and I find myself face-to-face with one of my worst nightmares. Now, the true test of resilience is to remain conscious while facing a fire-breathing dragon stomping her way to me. In the next breath, a wave of nausea hits me, making me sway on my feet and stumble back a few steps until my back hits the French doors. Cold seeps into my skin, alleviating some of the discomforts, but it's only temporary. I know that if I faint in front of Ava, she will probably slit my throat and have zero regrets about it. Call it a woman's intuition.
Her gaze finds mine almost immediately. Her mignonne features twist into hateful expressions. She despises me, and she is not ashamed nor afraid to show me.
On the other hand, I don't hate her, I just find her extremely annoying, and irritating. A little bit like a fly, disturbing a peaceful nap on a torrid summer afternoon.
" You bitch," She sneers venomously, pointing an accusatory finger at me," Where is he? I know he was with you. Business trip my ass?" She laughs, but it's devoid of any humour, " More like a fucking trip," She grabs the vase resting on the table by the door and lobs it my way. Sidestepping it, I watch the vase fly by my head, only an inch closer and it would've hit me straight in the face. It crashes against the window shattering it into a million tiny pieces. There goes my cure for the ailments that plague me each time I teleport.