From Gods (Descendant Prophecies Book 1)(21)

"That's . . . that's because I was just in there looking for something."

Mason shot his eyes to the floor and then back up again. "Could you  please tell her I was here and that we need to talk? It's very  important."

"Sure. But whatever you did, I hope you're sorry. My cousin is one of  the sweetest, most wonderful people I know, and I know a lot of people.  You mess with her, then you're messing with me. I hope you know that she  deserves the best." Kayla slammed the door, not giving Mason an  opportunity to defend himself, and stormed back upstairs to Skylar's  room.

"Did he say why he came?" Skylar asked. She had been eavesdropping on  their conversation, but quickly tucked herself back into bed when she  heard Kayla approaching. She'd heard Kayla's voice clearly, but it had  been difficult to catch what Mason was saying.

"He said he needed to talk to you. He seemed really sorry. What did he do?"

"I don't want to talk about it right now. Could we talk tomorrow? I'm so tired."         

     



 

"Okay, but I want details. I'm tired too. We have work tomorrow. See?  This is the reason why I don't like to work during the summer."

"Okay, I kind of agree with you there."

"Want me to turn your lamp off?"

"No. I'll turn it off later." In a way, the light was comforting. After  the trauma of earlier, she knew she would have a hard time falling  asleep.

"All right, see you in the morning." Kayla closed the door behind her and headed to her room.

After Kayla left, Skylar nestled into her pillow, but not for long. She  was startled by a humming sound from her phone. Letting out an irritated  sigh, she reached into her purse and took it out. There was a text  message.

It's me, Mason. We need to talk.

Staring at it, she read it three times just to make sure she'd read the  name correctly. How had he gotten her number? Before, it would have been  a thrill to get a text from him, but not tonight when she knew the  reason why. And right now she just wanted to be left alone.

Skylar started to text back, but then she deleted it. What could she  say? After pondering if she should reply, she decided to go to sleep  instead. Placing the phone on the floor, she snuggled back into bed,  only to find herself unable to sleep, tossing and turning. A brush of  air swept over her and suddenly she got a strange feeling as if someone  was watching her. Surely she was imagining it. She was just feeling  antsy from the day's bizarre incidents. After all, she had closed the  window earlier.

Lights flickered in front of her closed eyelids. Wondering what it could  be, she turned away from the wall and jerked back with fright. Seeing a  body in front of her, her heart skipped a beat. Her scream for help  could not penetrate the hand that covered her mouth.

"Shhhh! It's me, Mason. Don't scream." He released his hand after she nodded to comply.

Skylar was irate, but part of her couldn't help feeling a bit happy to  see him. "What are you doing here and how did you get in?" she  whispered, trying to sound mad, but it was almost impossible when he  looked so irresistible. He'd found a way to see her, even if he hadn't  been invited. And knowing who he was, she guessed anything was possible.

"I had to see you."

Sweet words to Skylar's ears; if only it was for the reason she hoped  for, but she was sure it wasn't. Assuming she knew why he was there,  before he had a chance to ask, she confessed, "I'm sorry. I don't know  what I did. Remus kept saying I was the keeper of death and he hit me."  Her tone was low, trying to explain everything that had happened while  whispering, afraid Kayla would hear, "Then he tried to-" Skylar got up,  ran to the bathroom and came back, holding up Mason's ripped shirt. "He  tore this when it was on me."

Mason looked livid when his eyes set on his T-shirt. His brows angled  inward, creating a pinch at the center. He looked tense with his  shoulders raised and his whole body seemed to tighten as if he was going  to explode any minute out of whatever was holding him together.

Seeing Mason's facial expression and holding the T-shirt brought back  the memories, and she lost it. Tears poured down her cheeks as she  remembered how scared she had been. With her back against the wall, she  slid down and curled her knees into her chest. With her hands covering  her face, she sat there and wept.

"I believe you," Mason said, holding out his hands, but instead of  reaching for her, they went straight down. As Skylar continued to sob,  he lowered himself to her and copied her position. "Skylar, I just want  to know what happened. I'm not blaming you. I don't think you could hurt  a fly."

Skylar finally managed to lift her head. She wasn't sure if she had  heard Mason correctly from the sobbing sounds she was making. But the  fact that he wasn't mad at her and he believed her, helped her to calm  down. After several gasps and when the lingering tears subsided, she  breathed with ease and told him the whole story. She didn't leave any  details for the imagination.

"I'm sorry for what happened to you. Though Remus was my half brother, I  had no emotional attachment to him. I've never really liked him. What  puzzles me the most is how he died."

"I don't know. Maybe it wasn't me . . . maybe it was a coincidence."  Skylar hoped. "I've never hurt anyone before. I didn't do anything.  He-he . . . just turned to stone and then he transformed into ashes  right in front of my eyes. This isn't normal. Things like this don't  happen."

"I don't know if you are aware of it, but his ashes disappeared too. I  knew it was Remus because of the leftover residue. But don't worry, I  cleaned it up. That's what happens to gods and half bloods when they  die. It's as if they never existed. I'm not going to tell Everett or  Nick about this, and you shouldn't say a word to anyone. Pretend like it  never happened. It wasn't your fault, but I'm going to look into it. I  should've never left you. I didn't know he would or could do this. I'm  sorry."         

     



 

Mason's voice was sweet and caring. It was that side of him that made  Skylar forget about his rude self. She always knew there was a wonderful  side to him. She could just sense it when she first looked into his  soulful eyes. "What will you say to them? Won't they be looking for  him?"

"I'll figure something out. But that is not the reason I came here. I  came to make sure you were okay, and since you weren't answering your  texts I thought-actually, I didn't know what to think. I knew Remus went  out and when he does, he's out pretty late. I'm actually appalled. I  never thought he could . . . well, he did have anger issues, but that's  not an excuse for what he did. I didn't want you to think I left you  there so Remus could do what he did, even though I had no idea what had  happened at first. You didn't think that, did you?"

Skylar couldn't remember if that had ever crossed her mind, and since  she didn't want to make him feel bad, she shook her head. "No, I  didn't."

"Good, because even though you may think I'm what you would call a ‘bad  boy,' I would never hurt you physically. I'm not that bad."

Skylar gave a short smile and almost giggled, but stopped when his finger traced the cut on her lower lip.

"Remus did this to you, didn't he?" For a brief moment he closed his  eyes and inhaled deeply, as if he was trying to suppress the anger that  seemed to have crept up on him. Delicately, he brushed his finger along  it again. "I'm sorry."

The small gesture of his touch drove Skylar into a whirlwind of heated  emotions. He was already sitting way too close and every time she turned  her head to speak, all she could do was think impure thoughts. In order  to avoid something she might regret doing, she nodded to answer and  pulled back, making Mason drop his hand.

"You should smile more often. It makes me smile," he said unexpectedly.

Blushing like she'd never blushed before, she looked away shyly.

"How did you get back home? You didn't fly, did you?"

"Nooo." Skylar took in his teasing. "I-well, I kind of . . . borrowed Remus's car."

"Borrowed, huh? I think it's more like stealing."

Unsure from his tone if Mason was joking again, she tensed up. "I-"

"I think I need to call the cops. Maybe I should call Doug. What do you think, Ms. Rome?" Mason chuckled.

He had called her Ms. Rome the night they met. Skylar couldn't believe  his sense of humor tonight. Laughing like a schoolgirl, she held on to  the moment. After what had happened just a couple of hours ago, his  presence gave her comfort and put her mind and heart at ease.

"If you don't mind, I'm going to drive his car home."

"Yes, of course. The key is on top of the dresser. Then what about your car?"

"I didn't drive here."

"How did you get here?"

Mason leaned over and whispered, "It's my little secret."