"She's strange. I don't know if we can trust her."
"So what did she say after she looked into Skylar's eyes?" Everett seemed very impatient, spitting out his words the first chance he got.
"First of all, her eyes were spooky when she opened them. Then she mumbled a few words. She said she didn't see any reason why Skylar would be a threat. She does have gods' blood-from which family line remains unclear. The Oracle also told me how we can get out without retracing our steps. Follow me."
Mason was cool and collected. Not an ounce of fear was displayed through his gestures. His words were smooth and convincing, but one question continued to replay in Skylar's mind: what were Mason's real thoughts?
Standing on the boulders at the waterfall, they waited for Mason's instructions. Watching the soft stream of water falling from above, Skylar wanted to submerge herself under it to wash away her poison blood. Thinking she was a half blood was bad enough, but to find out her blood could kill them was even worse-a nightmare from which she couldn't wake up.
As they continued to follow the path, the stream became narrower until there was no water.
"Now what?" Amanda asked, looking annoyed.
Mason didn't say a word. He gripped Skylar's arm and stepped over to disappear from their sight. Soon after, Amanda and Everett materialized in front of them. They were near the bridge.
"That was easy. Why couldn't we have done this instead of going through what we've been through?" Amanda said through her gritted teeth.
"What would be the fun in that?" Mason twitched his brows.
After they retrieved their camping backpacks, they headed to the cars. Since Nick's car was gone, they assumed he'd found the path by the bridge to the stream. Skylar was elated Kayla was safe at home, hopefully. Though the ride back home was silent, it was soothing for Skylar. She gazed out the window, all the while holding on to the clear blue summer sky; holding on to the warmth from the sun; holding on to the bumpy, sometimes unpaved roads; holding on to her reality. Having slept restlessly and being drained from all that she had been through, she fell deeply asleep.
When she blinked her eyes, it took her a second to realize where she was-inside Mason's car, parked in front of Kayla's house. She twisted her neck to the left and saw his small smile and that the shirt he wore wasn't torn.
Sitting up straight, she took note of the date and time. It was Sunday, six p.m. Though it felt like it was only a second ago since she'd closed her eyes, more than two hours had passed. Looking to the empty backseat, Skylar assumed Mason had dropped off Amanda and Everett.
Since Mason hadn't said a word, she figured it was time for her to get out of the car. "Thank you." She reached for the handle.
Mason rested his hand on her shoulder, preventing her from going out the door, and then moved his hand down to his side when she turned. "We're not safe. The Oracle is right. They will come after you."
For some unknown reason, whether it was his tone or his lack of reassurance, Skylar was disappointed. "Then I better get myself a revolver."
He chuckled lightly. "Like you'd know how to use one."
I didn't mean to be funny. "Then what do you propose?"
"I don't know. I don't understand you . . . who you are. I don't know-"
If words could slap her in the face, they just had. "I don't need your help," she snapped before he could finish his sentence. "And you should stay away from me, because evidently I can kill you." Skylar had had enough. Feeling dirty and ashamed, she rushed out of the car.
On her way to the front door, she tripped and stumbled to the grass. Embarrassed, she didn't look to see if Mason was watching, hoping he hadn't seen what she'd just done.
It was too late. In the blink of an eye he reached for her and effortlessly pulled her up by her shoulders. In his hold, locked to his eyes, she was speechless.
"You didn't let me finish. You're always too busy assuming the worst of me. I will be there for you and do whatever I have to do to protect you. The Oracle was wrong about one thing. You are not evil. I can sense only good from you. Your blood may be damned, but you are not. There is a difference."
Skylar's already watery eyes flooded even more, and she couldn't keep the tears from falling. "Why? Why would you want to help me when your life would be in danger? You heard the Oracle-the danger and evil will follow me wherever I go. Why would you risk your own life, knowing death may be imminent if you're with me?"
Mason pulled Skylar closer, tighter, and then let go to run his fingers through her hair. "I don't know. I just want to."
Tingles fluttered through her body. She wanted to hear him say that he cared for her as much as his eyes revealed. How badly she wanted to pull him in and taste his lips. Snapping out of the allure of his eyes, she spoke wearily, "It's okay, Mason. You don't need to protect me out of obligation, or because you feel sorry for me. You're safer without me."
"You don't understand," he said quickly.
"You're right. I don't understand why you would risk your life for me," Skylar raised her voice, feeling frustrated. What was it that she didn't understand? If only he would speak his mind instead of dancing around whatever he wanted to say.
To Skylar's surprise, he bent lower to rest his head on hers and tenderly cupped her face in his hands. At that moment she was in a bubble of bliss and nobody else existed in the world except for the two of them. Consumed by his tender embrace, she was utterly lost in Mason's world.
"I . . . because-" he started to say.
"Why?" she whispered.
"You're trouble, you know that?" He gripped her tighter. "Because. Just because."
Skylar would take "because," but not so much the being "trouble" part. With Mason, "because" had a deeper meaning. She understood. He was beginning to care for her in ways she wanted, but it was not how she imagined things would turn out.
"Are you sure?"
He pulled away, looking bashful and shuffling his feet. "I'm sure." His actions were adorable.
"I'm sorry about Remus. I didn't mean to-"
"We've already talked about this. The past is the past. You need to let it go."
"What does Everett know about Remus?"
"He thinks what he thinks. Eventually, he'll find out the truth. He'll get over him soon enough. Remus deserved his punishment. Gods were not as perfect as the humans think they were. Being half bloods, we are even further from being perfect. He was cruel. As far as I'm concerned, he was the one with evil blood. I don't want to discuss him anymore. He's not worth our time."
After that, there was nothing to say. His tone said it all. It was a done deal. "So Sky-" he started to say and paused when he saw the disconcerted look on her face.
Skylar's face was pale and long, as if life had been drained out of her. "What is it?"
"You just called me -" She paused and blinked her eyes. "Sky."
"Isn't Sky short for Skylar? I'm sorry. Should I not call you by that name?"
"It's just that my dad was the only one that ever called me that. He said I was his Heaven. That's why he named me Skylar."
Mason inhaled deeply. "I'm so sorry. I won't call you that anymore."
"It's okay. I always loved when he called me Sky. After he left, well, I hated him for leaving us, but now I don't know what really happened. I don't even know who I am. I'm so confused."
Mason embraced Skylar with everything he had. In his hold, she let go of the pain. Maybe someday soon she would find out the truth about why her dad left, or if he was still alive. She wanted to stay in Mason's arms as long as she could, and she knew he would hold her until she was ready to let go.
"I'm fine now." She pulled away.
Worriedly, he cupped her wounded hand and untied the knot. "Your wound has healed quickly like last time." He caressed the area in a slow circular motion.
Seeing dried blood on the fabric Mason was holding, Skylar pulled her hand away from him, afraid he would accidentally touch it. Not knowing if dried blood had any effect, she had to be extra careful. "I'll hold on to it." She shoved it into her back pocket.
Mason smiled warmly. "So, are you hungry?"
"Little bit," she fibbed. She was beyond starving, though her hunger pains had subsided.
"So, where would you like to go?"
Skylar giggled.
"What's so funny?"
"Do you always use the word ‘so' to start your sentences?"
Mason chuckled lightly. "Yes, I do."
He started poking and tickling her. Mason opening up to her and seeing his humorous side brightened Skylar's spirits. She wanted to squeeze him and get lost in his embrace again, where she felt safe. Her laughter became louder when the sprinklers turned on.