Exhaling loudly, I give her a scowl. Tatiana rarely plays the guilt card, but when she does, it always works. I groan again and dangle my legs over the side of the bed to get out. But then I pause, remembering.
“Why do you even want me to go there? I’m sure you heard what happened yesterday. School’s probably cancelled, anyway.”
She closes her eyes and lowers her head. “Yes,” she whispers, “I am aware of the tragedy. Your school may or may not be open, but I want you to go anyway—”
I reach for the robe beside my bed and slip into it. “But why? It’s not even safe! Three students got whacked, and one’s missing her head! Why would you send me back there?—”
“I do not have all the details, as it’s still blurry. I have spoken with the others at Coven yester-eve and we do not feel the deaths occurred at the school. Rather, the bodies were placed there intentionally.” Like her, Tatiana’s group of sister-witches are pure humans, but they all have special insight as to the locations, movements, and energies of demons and demonic activity.
“But why? Who would do such a thing?”
“We believe perhaps someone is trying to send a message. Who the messenger is, however, remains to be seen, as their energies were cloaked in a manner none of us with the Vision can penetrate. Yet.”
I sigh. “But you still haven’t told me why you want me to go there. Obviously it’s no longer safe. Won’t I be in danger?”
She shakes her head. “I am confident you are not in any danger, just as I am confident that if something should arise, Lucky would take over. But I will never allow a child of mine to cower in the darkness because of fear. It is only when we face our fears head on that we become stronger…”
I slowly make my way to the bathroom. I know when I’ve been beaten. There’s no out-arguing Tatiana. Ever.
“Fine, I’ll go. But I’m telling you now, when I come back and tell you there is not one good thing in my life, that today sucks just as bad as every other day, and that pretending to be a normal human is a big fat friggen waste of time, I’m done with it. No more school; I don’t care what you say.”
“Deal.”
I stop walking and spin around, scanning her face for signs she’s just messing with me. Her expression is stoic as she leans against the violet wall of my bedroom.
“Wha-really? You’d let me drop out?”
“If that is what you decide to do. But only on one condition. You must promise me this: You will shake off whatever is upsetting you. You will open your eyes and heart to the possibility of life and love. You will embrace opportunity and let down the walls of the fortress you have built around your spirit. You will see others as they are meant to be seen, and in turn, allow them to see you for who you really are. And you will not be so afraid to fail that you don’t even try.”
“Fine, whatever.”
“Liora…”
“I promise, Tat.”
An impossible pledge.
Stepping outside, I welcome the stinging chill on my face. It takes my mind off Kieron, if only for a moment. I set my backpack down and fumble for my mittens; it’s much colder than I anticipated. Maybe I should just drive today.
But I know if I do, it’ll just make the long hours cooped up in the classroom pass that much slower. For some reason walking to school is the only way I can tolerate being there. Plus, I need the time to think. Figure out what I’m going to do, what I’m going to say when I see Kieron. He’ll want an explanation for yesterday, no doubt. Maybe I should just say that I had a bad reaction to some prescription drugs. Or maybe non-prescription drugs. That might be more believable.
Yeah... Side-effects may include headaches, drowsiness, and demon possession…
Just as I’m about to turn from the path into the woods, I see him. The wind slaps my face as I stand there, not moving. What is he doing here? I’m not prepared!
Kieron leans against the side of his truck, looking like a male model posing for an outdoorsy catalogue. When he sees me, his face lights up and he jogs to where I’m standing.
My first instinct is to run away. But considering what a complete epic failure that was last time, I grit my teeth and stand my ground. Might as well get this over with.
Half of me admires the graceful way he moves toward me; the other half fiercely braces for the inevitable.
“Hey, Liora. How you doin’ today?”
No. No way. Uh-uh. Is he really trying to act like everything’s totally hunky-dory? I don’t think so!
I try to read his expression, but the only thing I see is the easy openness of yesterday. No anger. No resentment. No suspicion.