Descending Darkness(96)

“Yeah, I’m good now. I don’t think I really need to use my magic anymore to feel the side effects of using too much. I think that since it’s in me, it’s constantly running, and I need to sleep more to counteract it,” I explain. There’s really no other explanation for why I’m tired all the time.

James opens the side door closest to Colton and me. “Mr. and Mrs. Howick live here. She’s a water infinity, and he’s able to move anything metal. They recently lost their daughter to a Gadramick, so I’m not sure how they’ll take this visit yet.”

“Was it one of Dravin’s men?”

“Yeah, they were looking for you,” James quietly explains. He knows how guilty that makes me feel, but it’s better to tell me than to let me assume. Colton reaches out and squeezes my hand, trying to comfort me, but it’s no use. I’ll always feel responsible for their deaths. Knowing Dravin, I’m sure she’s not the first one either.

“You guys should stay here. Ryanne, Colton, you guys come with me. Let’s get this over with,” James says.

Liam takes a step forward. “I’m going with.” James looks like he is about to argue, but I stop him.

“Liam comes too,” I say. Liam’s my protector. Where I go, he goes. James nods and walks toward the front door, waving me after him. Colton grabs my hand and pulls me toward the door. I follow after them slowly.

The house is a simple two story house, surrounded by trees. Red brick covers the entire exterior of the home with dark navy blue shutters. I can tell that we aren’t near the shore anymore. James walks up to the front door and rings the doorbell. I stand off to the side, sandwiched between Colton and Liam. Taking a step back, James stands beside Colton and waits for the Howicks to answer it.

Who the hell would be ringing our doorbell at this time?

I grimace and lean toward Colton out of instinct.

“Brace yourselves,” I whisper as the front door swings open.





Chapter Twenty-Eight




Colton

I flinch as the front door slams open and hits the side of the house. “Who’s there?” A man yells as he looks at Liam, Ryanne, and me. Recognition softens his hardened expression when he sees James. “James, what are you doing here? Now’s not really the best time.”

“I give my deepest condolences for Rebecca. I’m truly sorry about what happened,” James says. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Ryanne lower her head and stare at the ground. Nothing that Dravin does is her fault. I wish she could see that. She is not responsible for his actions. He’s acting alone for his own selfish reasons. I squeeze the small hand wrapped in mine and continue to look at the obviously upset Mr. Howick.

“Who’s at the door?” A small voice calls from the inside of the house. Mr. Howick ignores the woman and turns from James and stares at Ryanne. Ryanne takes another step toward me.

“Is that her?” Mr. Howick asks James. “Is that the girl from the prophecy?” His head keeps swiveling from James to Ryanne.

“Mr. Howick,” Ryanne starts.

“She was killed because of you,” he says while taking a step toward Ryanne. I push her behind me as James puts a hand on his chest to stop him. Ryanne runs around my other side and stands in front of me. Couldn’t she just do what I ask of her once?

“I did not kill Rebecca,” Ryanne states. Mrs. Howick makes an appearance in the doorway. When she looks at the situation in front of us, she cries out and runs toward us. James lets go of Mr. Howick and grabs Mrs. Howick.

“You! It’s all your fault!” she cries. James is completely holding her back. I push Ryanne behind me again as Mr. Howick starts moving toward her again. Liam moves over to help as Mr. Howick, raises his fist aiming for me. He’s acting on his pain and grief. I’m not going to hit a grieving man. I put my hands up to block his hit, when he abruptly stumbles backward.

Ryanne walks around me again and walks up to Mr. Howick. “You will not hurt my soulmate, Mr. Howick. I will not hesitate to use magic against you again if you threaten him one more time. Do you understand that?” she says as she points up at him, glaring. Everyone freezes as we wait for his response. Mr. Howick doesn’t say anything but nods. Throwing his arms up in surrender, he takes a step backward; his eyes dance between Ryanne and me. She’s so small but can be pretty intimidating at times. I feel the love for her in my heart swell from her need to protect me. I glance over to James, who is smiling down at Ryanne, with admiration in his eyes. Mrs. Howick has stopped struggling in his arms and is now also watching Ryanne.