From Gods (Descendant Prophecies Book 1)(36)

Skylar woke up feeling as if she could float off the ground. Forgetting  about what she had been through and forgetting about what danger could  be ahead, her mind settled into a world of perfect bliss. Then she  realized she only had one week left until she had to go back home. What  would happen to their relationship? She recalled telling Kayla not to  fall too deeply for Nick. Perhaps she needed to remind herself of that  too. Her thoughts were broken by a soft knock on the door.

"Come in."

The door swung wide open. "Hey, stranger. Where did you go last night?"

Suddenly, Skylar remembered that Nick had compelled her cousin to  forget. When Because Kayla hadn't asked questions regarding the  paranormal activities that happened after camping, she relaxed her  shoulders and continued their conversation, "Mason took me out to  dinner."

"And?"

"Nothing happened. He didn't kiss me, if you're wondering."

Kayla plopped herself onto the bed. "I didn't ask." She smirked. "Don't want to kiss and tell? That's fine."

"No," Skylar shook her head. "I wanted to. Trust me, I would tell you."  Pondering how much of the last couple of days Nick had made her forget,  she asked about camping, "Would you go camping again?"         

     



 

"Hell, no. I didn't like it at all. Why do people go camping? It's  awful. The ground is hard. There's no bathroom. The only good part was  spending the night with Nick. And nothing happened, if you're  wondering."

Skylar arched her brows to show she wasn't buying Kayla's story.

"I would tell you. He was actually a perfect gentleman. I was quite  surprised. Maybe he isn't such a bad boy after all. You know, some boys  are all talk but they're actually sweet and sensitive."

"Just be careful," Skylar mumbled, thinking she needed to take her own advice.

Then Kayla looked serious. "You know what? I just realized we only have  one more week together. It means summer is almost over. What do you want  to do before you leave?"

"Not much. Let's just hang out."

"Maybe we can double date." Kayla's eyes lifted up with a sly grin.  "Anyway, we better get ready for work. Looks like my mom is still  sleeping. I'll fix breakfast." Then she was out the door.





"Hey, girls," Jack greeted, standing at the back of the kitchen in his usual spot.

"Hey, Jack," the girls returned.

"Mona has the day off today, so it's just you girls. Oh, and the new  girl starts today. She'll be here after lunch for the dinner rush."

"Okay. No problem. Mom already told me about it. I'm supposed to train  her," Kayla muttered, heading to the storage room and then pausing to  lock eyes with Skylar. "I'll get your apron and your hair tie."

"Thanks."

Skylar's text message ringtone sounded. Thinking it was Kayla fooling  around, she clicked on her phone to check it. Surprisingly, it was  Mason.



Hello Echo.

Skylar let out a short chuckle.

Hi.

Are you at work?

Yes.

I won't be there today. We have business to attend to.

Okay.

Remember to stay safe.

I will.

Till then.



The text from him made her stomach flutter with warmth, but she was  disappointed that he couldn't come to see her. That was one less day to  spend time together. He knew her visit was almost over. Didn't he care?

"Pretty slow for a Monday, don't you think?" Kayla said.

Skylar jumped from the sound of Kayla's voice. "Uhhh, yeah. Slow."

"Okay, what happened?" She tossed the hair tie and the apron at her.

"Nothing. It's Mason. He won't be coming to the restaurant today."

"I just got a text from Nick. He says he won't be coming today either.  'Business,' he said. I wonder what they're up to." Kayla's eyes gleamed  with curiosity. "Why don't we do something tonight? Let's go out to  dinner."

"Sure," Skylar agreed, tying her hair up and the apron behind her. Then  she went behind the cash register and became absolutely still when she  turned. Trying not to make it obvious she was staring, she peered from  her corner of her eye. Kayla took the dirty-blond-haired guy and his  friend to the table and came back to stand beside her.

"What's wrong?" Kayla asked, noticing Skylar's tense body.

"Nothing," she said quickly. Skylar had never mentioned them to Kayla.  This was a small town. They were likely to have bumped into each other  she guessed. One thing was for sure: she didn't like the way they looked  at her or how all of a sudden they always seemed to be around.

Her thoughts of them were disrupted when the door chimed and Amanda  walked in. Without a smile, she greeted them politely, "Hi. We need to  talk."

Not knowing who she'd spoken to, Skylar assumed it was her and followed  Amanda out the door. Scooting to the side of the diner, she scanned the  perimeter with Amanda.

"What's going on?" Amanda's tone was not friendly.

"What do you mean?"

"Mason texted me and asked me to keep an eye on you. He even gave me  your cell number. He said if something happens to you, I'm to blame.  He's not this demanding . . . well, not usually."

Skylar fluttered her eyelashes, wondering what she was talking about. She had just spoken to Mason via text.

"Okay, I take that back. He is demanding."

"I think he's afraid the vultures will come back," Skylar spoke with hesitation. Just how much to say, she didn't know.

"The question is why? Why are the vultures after you? I know you're half  blood, but what is it that you and Mason are not telling me?"

Skylar wasn't good at lying, but for her own sake, she had to. Mason had  told her not to tell anyone she had evil blood. "We're not hiding  anything," she said with conviction. "I need to go back inside."         

     



 

"Fine, but know that I'm here for business and not pleasure. You're stuck with me until the boss tells me to unleash you."

Skylar rolled her eyes. "Nicely worded, Amanda."

Amanda turned Skylar around when she headed for the door, gripping her  hand tightly around her arm. "Look, I don't know what kind of game  you're playing, but I care about Mason. He doesn't get attached to  people easily. Ever since his mom passed away, he's built a wall around  himself. He hasn't been the same. He's been afraid to . . . care."  Amanda paused, looking as though she had divulged too much information  about Mason. "I don't understand his sudden interest in you. Whatever it  is you're hiding, you should tell me right now."

Skylar had endured enough. She wanted to be nice, but she could only  take so much. Instantly, it dawned on her that Amanda might have a crush  on Mason. Wanting so much to say something to sting Amanda back, she  bit down on her lip, but anger was rising inside her. She had promised  Mason she wouldn't tell Amanda that she knew they weren't cousins, so  she stood there, taking the heat and letting Amanda speak her mind.

When enough was enough, she yanked her arm back and focused her eyes on  Amanda's. "Don't touch me. Even if I were hiding something, which I'm  not, I wouldn't tell you. Like you said to Everett, ‘be a little human,  will ya?'" Skylar turned and walked into the diner.





Amanda had come to the diner for four days in a row, making sure Skylar  was safe. Their conversation was minimal and so was their eye contact.  Amanda came, ate, hung around, went out for a bit, came back, and left  when Skylar went home.

There were no visits or texts from Mason, or even from Nick. Thinking  Nick had broken up with her, Kayla moped around at the diner and at  home. Skylar wanted to tell her that it wasn't the case, but she had no  way to explain how she knew. Besides, she couldn't help sulking too.  Between the restless nights and worrying about Nick and Mason, she  hardly slept at all. It was the first time Skylar and Kayla had stayed  home.

Everett and Amanda went back to the Oracle, searching for Nick and Mason  since there had been no word from either of them. Though they weren't  sure, they guessed the guys had gone there to ask more questions. Amanda  promised to keep Skylar informed, but now there was no word from her  either.

Skylar had already said her goodbyes to Mona, Jack, and Auntie Kelly on  her last day of work. She promised to visit when she had the chance.  Thrilled by her first real job, Skylar wanted to come back and work  again during her summers. It was definitely more than enough to pay for  gas.

Saying goodbye to Kayla was difficult this time around. Leaving her  cousin was bad enough, but leaving her brokenhearted was tormenting. She  had no choice, since she would start at the local university soon and  needed to attend orientation.

She was frightfully worried for Mason and Nick, but she couldn't wait to  see her mom. Calling and texting to let her know she was fine was one  thing, but being apart from her mom for the past three weeks was long  enough, though she was away this length of time every summer. Knowing  her mom was home alone, the guilt always consumed her, but now it wasn't  quite as bad, knowing she had her fiancé to keep her company.