Dead Always Speak: Chapter Two

                                                                                                                                            Chapter 2













    All the blood left my face, my knees went weak, it felt like they were about to buckle under me. My heart was hammering so hard against my chest it hurt. My brain was trying to process what I was seeing. There was a freaking bloody severed finger on my pillow!

    Was the person still here, I needed to find out. I reached for my center, pulled my energy and changed shape. The power flowed out and over me, melting my skin, rearranging my bones until there was a large black cat where I had been.

    I padded quietly throughout the house scenting the air. I found a faint scent trail leading from the back door into my room. This must’ve been the way the intruder came and went.

    I shifted back, got my phone and called Bob.

    “Getting hungry? I should be done in about thirty minutes,” he chuckled.

    “No Bob that isn’t why I called. You need to get here now,” My eyes never left the finger that was lying on my bed.

    “What’s wrong?” he said no longer chuckling.

    “I got home, took a shower, when I got out there was a severed finger with a diamond ring on it laying on my pillow,” I was starting to shake again.

    “Get out of the house. Wait for me next door,” his voice full of fear.

    “No one is here, I checked the house,” I needed to sit. If I didn’t then I’d be landing on the floor in about two minutes.

    “What do you mean you checked? Tenny you should’ve gotten out,” he snapped.

    I snapped back. “I can take care of myself. You of all people should know that. Just get here,” I slammed the phone down. Well at least I wasn’t shaking in fear anymore. Now I was just pissed.

    I walked naked to the laundry room to find a clean pair of shorts and a tank top. When I was dressed I went into the kitchen to fix myself a cup of peach tea.

    Just as the kettle whistled, my front door opened, a six foot three football player sized man rushed in.

    “Tenny,” Bob shouted. He was clearly upset and clearly shaken. He came into the kitchen grabbed me and hung on for dear life.

    “God, Tenny I’m sorry I snapped at you. I know you can take care of yourself. I’ve been watching out for you since you were born. You’re like my little sister.”

    When he finally put me back down I took a tiny step back. “I know Bob, I’m sorry I snapped too. It isn’t everyday I find a finger on my pillow. Come on I’ll show you.”

    I took him into my room. Bob immediately got on the phone to tell the unit to get here in ten minutes.

    “Well, it isn’t Aurora’s finger. She had all of hers. So it could mean one of two things. One, there is another victim or Two, there is another killer and they have decided to target you,” he said not looking too happy at either prospect.

    “Oh, gee thanks Bob those two little ideas make me feel so much better,” I said dryly.

    “Sorry Tenny, that’s the truth,” he bent towards the finger being careful not to touch it. Grabbing his phone again he started to dial.

    “Hey, it’s White, can you give me the list of recently stolen diamond rings. Yeah, I may have found one, I want to make sure first. Send it with Carmichael he’s coming here. Thanks,” Bob hung up the phone and turned to me.

    “Well, if my suspicions are correct I can safely say that there aren’t two killers. Bad part is I may have been correct in saying that you are being targeted.

    “Wonderful just what I needed,” I said sarcastically. I went back to the kitchen to finish fixing my tea. Bob answered the door when the bell rang. He and the unit went into my room to deal with the finger. A little while later Bob came into the kitchen, he sat down. Looking at him I knew something was up.

    “What’s wrong?” I was wondering if I really wanted to know seeing as how this day has been such a wonderful day, I might as well top it off.

    “Just as I thought, the ring belonged to Aurora. She reported it stolen a week ago. The unit is taking the finger down to test it. They are going to try and ID the owner,”

    “Then it’s possible that there is another victim?”

  “Yes, according to the unit, the finger was removed while the victim was still alive. So as of at least a day ago the victim was still alive. Tenny, I want you to stay with me, at least until this lunatic is caught,” He must’ve been very worried if he wanted me to stay with him. Bob is a committed bachelor. He loved his privacy. For him to be willing to sacrifice his privacy for me was very touching. As much as I loved him and appreciated the offer there was no way I was going to stay with him. I was a big girl as I kept telling him I can take care of myself. I needed to get Bob to understand I wasn’t a little girl anymore. The bullies of the playground don’t scare me anymore.

    “Bob, I’ll be fine here. I can take care of myself. Just keep me updated with what’s going on,” I had a sinking feeling that he wasn’t going to let it go easily. We may not be blood related but we always considered ourselves to be brother and sister. With him being five years older than I he was always trying to fight my battles.

    “Tenanye.”

Oh yeah I was so right. He used my real name. I knew I was in for a fight.

    “I don’t want you staying here alone. You’re in danger. Your house was broken in too. A finger was left on your pillow while you were in the shower. You could have been kidnapped, raped or even killed. You need to stay with me so that I can protect you,” He got up and started pacing around my kitchen. He was very upset and he was just getting started.

    “Bob, sit down you’re making me dizzy. I’ll be fine here. The point is nothing happened except for the finger present. Don’t look at me like that. You know damn well that I’m more than capable of taking care of myself. Hell, you of all people should know that. Both of us can shift, I don’t know about you but I don’t think anyone is going to be stupid enough to take on a huge cat.

      Besides do you really feel that this guy is just going to say to himself ‘gee, I guess she went to stay at this guy’s house I’ll just leave her alone now’ no, he won’t he may decide to come after you as well. Is that what you want? To put yourself in harms way? Ok stupid question, you would if it meant that you kept me safe,”

      I took a deep breath, and then blew it out. “Bob I’m not a little girl that you need to protect. Please trust me to take care of myself and have brains enough that if something serious happens that I will call you,”

    There was no way I was going to be chased out of my home by some psycho. I told Bob the truth I was very capable of taking care of myself. I know that if I were to come face to face with a large cat that had teeth bigger than my hand I wouldn’t stay around long.

He looked at me. I could see defeat in his eyes. “I know you can take care of yourself Tenny, I also know that you aren’t a little girl anymore. Matter of fact you’ve turned into a very beautiful woman, which worries me as well. Fact is it bothers me that you’re being threatened and I can’t stop it. I do trust you. I also know that Seth can take care of you too.                                                                              God, this is just killing me. Promise me that you will be careful and if there is anything that isn’t right you will call me right away. I’ll check on you every night before I go home. You won’t talk me out of that,” Bob was running his fingers through his hair and was up pacing again. I felt sorry for him I really did. He wasn’t the sort of person who let go of control so easily. Especially when it came to me, we were all each other had left.

    “Bob, everything will be ok. Don’t worry so much, ok that was a silly thing to say. Look if you want I’ll check in with you through out the day. You can come by just like you said. Will that satisfy your big brother tendencies?” He was smiling a little now. I knew that my little surrender would make him happy.

    “Yes it will thank you.”

“Your welcome, are you all finished here? I have had a long day, all I want to do is go to sleep,” I said barely stifling a yawn.

    “Yeah we’re done, make sure you lock up after I leave,” He bent down to kiss my forehead. “Keep the phone near your bed. Call me if you need anything. I love you.” He gave me another kiss then went out the door.

      I shut and locked the door after he left, went back into the kitchen to clean up my mess. Yawning loudly I made my way to bed. As I started to fall asleep I remembered that I hadn’t heard from Seth since earlier today. I wondered if he had found anything at Aurora’s house. Oh well it could wait until morning. That was the last thought that flitted through my mind before sleep claimed me.

   



    I was trapped in the house. Aurora’s mutilated body was following me telling me that he was coming for me. I ran into the living room, there were severed fingers with rings all over the place. I ran to the front door, it was locked. What the hell was going on? Why couldn’t I get out, something grabbed me it wrapped itself around my legs, I couldn’t get free. I started to kick as hard as I could it didn’t do any good. A black figure with bright blue eyes came at me. There was a knife in its hand. I started screaming.

    I woke up with a start. I was soaked in sweat. Holy shit that was some dream, no not a dream a nightmare. I was breathing hard. My whole body was shaking so hard that I could hear the bed rattling.

    My legs were tangled in the sheets, well that explained why I thought something wrapped around them in my dream. I took a deep breath trying to calm my racing heart. When I finally got myself under control I looked up, my heart about stopped, someone was standing in my doorway. I opened my mouth to scream when the figure moved forward.

    “Tenny, it’s just me, you’re alright. I’m sorry if I startled you,” Seth said in his deep rich voice.

    “Startled me, startled me. Seth you scared the shit out of me,” I shrieked.

    He was six feet six inches tall and was built like a warrior, which he was when he had been alive. His hair was shoulder length. It was the most beautiful rich auburn color. His eyes, oh Lord, those deep emerald eyes, every time he looked at me, heat pooled in my belly.

    Seth wasn’t alive yet he wasn’t a ghost either. He was a Lost One. According to Seth, there was only a handful of Lost Ones caught in the Between. All of them had been great warriors of their time.

    The Lost Ones were born marked, upon their death they were told that they were to live on in the Between until they found their mate. The mate of a Lost One was a special female who exhibited extraordinary powers. These females were the counterparts of the Lost Ones. They were meant to fight together against the great evil that was coming.

    A Lost one was not able to walk the earth as flesh and blood until they found their mate. They were neither alive nor dead. For a Lost One to be released from the Between he and his mate had to give half of their souls to each other. When this was done the Lost One was released. When that happened both the Lost One and their mate were granted eternal life. Finding a mate could take years. Seth told me it took him centuries, three to be exact.

    He first showed himself to me when I was three. My parents were still alive at that time. He and my parents would talk late into the night. I also remember Bob’s parents being there as well. When our parents were killed Seth protected me when Bob couldn’t. Seth told me about himself when I turned sixteen. That was the day he also told me he loved me and that I was his mate.

    It was hard for me to accept what he said. I still have a hard time. I don’t really know what to do about that situation so for the most part I ignore it. All the talk about giving each other half of our souls just sort of creeps me out. This didn’t mean however that I didn’t accept Seth as a lover.

    He walked over to my bed. I patted the top of the blanket for him to sit. He sat then opened his arms. I quickly crawled over to him. He held me in his strong arms comforting me, making the shivers go away.

    “What did you dream about?” he asked me rubbing my back in a circular motion.

    “I dreamt that Aurora was chasing me and telling me that the man who killed her was coming after me. Then there was a black figure with bright blue eyes and a knife,” I shivered just thinking about it.

    Seth’s strong arms gripped me tighter. His heartbeat was strong and loud in my ear. He smelled good. I ran my hand over his flat hard stomach watching it jump at my touch.

    “Tenny, something very evil is coming. This is the evil I was told about, the one the Lost Ones are to fight with their mates,” I rolled my eyes at him. He looked down at me with those emerald eyes.

    “I’m serious Tenny, you must be careful. I’ll talk to Bob about what I found at the house,” He went to move me off his lap. I clung to him wriggling closer to him.

    “Don’t leave please, I want you to stay with me,” I wound my arms around his neck pulling his face to mine. “I want you to stay with me tonight,” I whispered, our lips inches apart.

    I lightly touched my lips to his. I pulled back a little to see what he would do. His eyes seemed to darken a bit then his mouth came down on mine in a kiss so fierce that it could only be called possessive.

    His mouth left mine, before I could mourn the loss it returned to make a hot trail down my neck. His mouth burned its way to my breast where his hands already claimed possession. I made soft noises in the back of my throat. His mouth and hands felt so good on my breast.

    He flicked his tongue against my nipple teasing it to a hard little point. Then he was sucking and nipping my nipple, while his hand brushed my other breast. My hands ran down his stomach to the top of his pants. I undid them and he sprang free.

    Just seeing him long and hard made me wet and ready for him. He gently pushed me down onto the bed. He stood up to take took his pants off. I just stared at him. God he was so beautiful in all his glory.

    He got back on the bed. His mouth kissed a path down my stomach to the place that was aching with need. I let out a little screech when his tongue touched the most intimate part of me.

    Seth continued his sweet kiss. It became a sweet torturous pleasure. Slowly he slid a finger into me. I let out a moan of pure pleasure. Just when I thought I couldn’t take anymore of his teasing the pressure started to build in my lower body. Seth continued to tease and lick me. I made soft purring sounds in the back of my throat. The pressure kept building and building, when Seth slid another finger into me. I felt like the world had been blown apart. I let out a scream that was more cat than human. Seth moved quickly up the length of my body then slowly slid himself into me before the tremors had subsided. He was all hard and silk at the same time. I loved the way he made me feel when he was inside me. He stretched and filled me in a way no other ever had, then he started to move. Slowly he pulled out then just as slowly pushed himself back in.

      I wrapped my legs around him and lifted my hips urging him to move faster. He willing gave me what I silently asked for. He moved faster and harder until we both were moving in a dance that was as old as time.  I ran my nails over his back. His lips found mine. We began to moving even faster. I felt the pressure building again, then as if a dam had broken pleasure washed through me a second time. A few seconds later Seth roared his pleasure.

    A little while later we were lying on the bed together when Seth spoke,

    “Tenny?

  “Hmmm,” I stifled a yawn.

    “Why can’t you accept me?” his voice held sadness that was reflected in his eyes.

    “Seth, I have known you since I was three. I thought you were an angel sent to guard me. Then at sixteen you tell me that you and I are mates. That we were meant for each other and we would have to give half our souls to each other, would you just say okay without thinking about it?” I shifted to my side to look at him.

    He looked thoughtful for a moment.

“No, I guess I would have doubts about what I was told,’ he sighed then took a deep breath.

“I know what I’ve said is hard to accept. We are meant for each other. I know you feel the call deep in your heart and soul. I feel it as well, we belong together. It took me centuries to find you. I won’t give up not without a fight. I love you too much,” as he said that a tear slipped from the corner of his eye.

    “Tenanye, I will do anything to win your love just tell me what I can do.”

    I reached up to touch the tear that was running down his face. “Time Seth, I need time. I don’t know how I feel for you or what you have asked from me,” I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. He got up, put his clothes on. He bent and whispered to me, “Then I will give you the time you need, I love you,” He kissed me long and softly then disappeared.

    I sat there for awhile, letting the tears fall. I suddenly felt very alone. Did I really want the time that I had just asked for? Maybe I was lying to myself. Maybe it was time to pay attention to the situation with Seth. It was beginning to be obvious that I couldn’t put it off any longer.

    I lay back down, I would really think about it tomorrow. I needed to sleep, as I drifted off, I thought of Seth.





    Something was ringing and it was very annoying. It was too early for anything to be ringing. Slowly I woke up. I realized that the ringing was my phone. I fumbled for it hit the talk button and answered.

    “Hullo,” my voice thick with sleep.

    “Hey Tenny, you ok?” Bob’s voice was loud on the phone.

    “Yeah, late night is all. What’s up Bob?” I was really hoping he was just calling me to see if I was okay. I rolled over to look at the clock. I groaned, no wonder I was tired, it was six in the morning I only had two and a half hours of sleep.

    “Hey, we didn’t get a match on the finger yet, though that isn’t really why I called. I need you at another crime scene,” he didn’t sound happy to be telling me that. Couldn’t really blame him I wasn’t happy either. Considering the first one I went to nearly turned my stomach inside out.

    “Sure, tell me where,” I grabbed the pen and paper that was next to my bed. He rattled off the directions. “Ok, got it give me forty - five minutes,” I hung up the phone, rolled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom.

    After my shower I was a little more awake and aware. I got dressed then headed out the door.



    I arrived at the new crime scene in thirty minutes. I was getting out of my car when my phone rang.

    “Hello.”

“Tenanye Alyse St. Laurent?” a male voice asked.

“Speaking.”

“Did you like the present I gave you last night?” he asked in a husky voice.

    My heart jumped into my throat.

“Cat got your tongue. That’s ok I just want you to listen. I have wanted you for a long time. I want to cut your skin and lick the blood from it. I want you so bad I dream of you. I know that you will be sweeter than Aurora and Sydney. I will claim you for The Master. My sweet Tenanye I am the hunter and you are my prey.”

    There was a click then a dial tone. I just stood there in shock.

  I’m not sure how long I stood there listening to the dial tone. I just couldn’t believe what I had heard. Did I really hear that, the man who killed Aurora just called me and basically said he was coming after me.

    Bob I needed to find Bob right away.  I started running and screaming for him.

    “Tenny, I’m right here what’s wrong,” he said coming around a corner.

    “Oh God, Bob, he called, he threatened me, said he was coming after me,” I was getting hysterical.

    “Slow down Tenny, who called, who threatened you?” worry flashed across his face.

    I took a deep breath then blew it out sharply. I told Bob what happened.

    “This isn’t good Tenny. He knew your full name, he knows your cell number and where you live. Did he say any other name other than yours?”

    “No, not that . . . wait a minute, he said Aurora’s name, someone named Sydney and The Master,” I stopped talking, something I said made Bob look up sharply.

    “Did you say Sydney?” he asked slowly.

“Yeah, why? Do you know who she is?”

    “I think you need to come inside the house,” he headed towards a house that could’ve been the twin of Aurora’s. We went in and up the stairs.

    It was like déjà vu. The only difference was that the woman who lay on the bed had been cut open. Her neck to her groin was laid wide open. Most disturbing of all was all of her organs were gone.

    “Oh my God, he did this didn’t he?” my eyes were wide in horror.

    “Yes, her name is Sydney Hill.”

    “Sydney, shit, this is the Sydney the man who called me was talking about isn’t it?” I said in disbelief.

    “I believe so, if you look at her left hand, her ring finger is missing.”

    Understanding hit me full force. The finger that was left on my pillow was hers. It had Aurora’s diamond ring on it.

    “Bob,” I whispered. “Do you think he was telling me something by leaving the ringed finger?” The thought that had crossed my mind had my head reeling and stomach roiling.

    “Yes, I think he is trying to say he wants you as his bride,” Bob said watching my face carefully.

    “That’s what I thought,” Oh God, this was getting worse by the day.

    “Bob, where are her organs?”

    He breathed deep, “I’ll show you in a minute. I want to know if you can get her to talk.”

    “I can try, I’m not promising anything,” I walked to the bed, got on it and straddled the woman. I gathered my energy, spindled it out and reached Sydney.

    Her voice came out of her ravaged body. It came out faint, dripping with fear and pain.

    “Sydney, can you tell me what happened?” I asked soothingly.

    “Rape, cut, still alive,”

    “Can she tell us more?” Bob asked when Sydney didn’t say anything more.

    “No, what she went through was too traumatic.”

“Shit, I was hoping we could get more,” Bob’s face was dark with anger. He looked ready to hit something.

    “Bob, let me try one more thing, ok, we may still be able to get something,” I turned my attention back to Sydney. “Sydney, can you show me what happened?” she let out one strangled word “Yes.”

    I closed my eyes and pushed more energy into my link with Sydney. As the power surged my mind melded with hers. Her memories came tumbling into it. I could now can feel and hear anything that Sydney went through. In a sense I was her.

    He came to my house. He said he was with the gas company. He told me there was a gas leak. He needed to check the lines. I let him in. I turned to take him to the backyard. I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head.

    I woke up with him inside me. There was an odd pain in my left hand. I saw a flash of light, it was a knife. He started to cut.

    I pulled my energy back, reabsorbed it. Bob was there to catch me as I fell. I pushed away from him and ran to the bathroom. My stomach emptied itself until there wasn’t anything left.

    Bob was waiting for me when I came out. He held his arms open. I ran to them felt the warmth as he wrapped his arms around me. My tears came fast and hot.

    When my tears had stopped, I stepped away from Bob.

    “You ok now?

I shook my head, “Oh Bob, he opened her up while she was still alive. He removed her organs while she was alive as well.

    I had to bite back a scream as the memory of the pain washed through me. Bob caught me as I fell.

    “Tenny!” he carried me to a chair and gently set me down on it.

    “What happened?”

“Just a flashback of the pain Sydney felt,” I said through gritted teeth as the pain echoed through me once more. When I was able to catch my breath after the pain faded, I asked Bob once more about Sydney’s organs.

    “If you’re up to it I’ll show you,” he watched me closely.

    “Yeah, I’m fine now,” I got up slowly. I know I told Bob I was fine, I just wasn’t sure if that was really true.

    Bob turned and went down the stairs. I followed closely not sure I really wanted to know where those organs were. He took me into the kitchen and into the dinning room.

      I stopped short. The long cherry dinning room table had dishes and plates sitting on it. It looked like it was ready for a dinner party. The plates were white china with little silver domes over them. The serving dishes were silver and they too had little silver domes over them. I walked over to one of the place setting and carefully lifted the silver dome.

    The dome fell from my lifeless hand. I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. Under the dome was a bloody kidney. I looked up at Bob.

    “Wh-what is under the rest of the little domes?” I could barely speak.

    “The rest of Sydney’s organs,” he said.

I was confused. I just couldn’t fathom why Sydney’s organs were at the dinner table nor why the table was set as if there was a dinner party. What was he trying to say or do?

    “This is not right, why is he doing this? Why is he torturing these women and coming after me?” I asked in a high voice.

    “Well, you said he mentioned someone called The Master. This makes me think that the killer isn’t working alone. We need to find who The Master is and arrest him,” Bob said vehemently.

    “Thanks for coming Tenny. I know how hard it is for you to do this. I’ll come by later and check on you,” he gave me a quick hug then walked back into the kitchen and upstairs.

    I took one last look at the table and shuddered. Whoever this man was he was sick and so was this Master. I walked out of the house.

    As I was driving back home my phone rang.

    “Hello,” I answered.

“Hey baby, ready to give me my interview?”

Oh great just what I needed to deal with Matt.

    “No Matt I’m not,” I growled at him.

“So when will you be ready?” he asked.

    “Not for awhile Matt, like never,” I made a face at the phone.

    “Hey that isn’t right, I’m the media, we have a right to inform our audience about what is going on,” he said snidely.

    “Matt, I don’t give a flying fig if you were the President. I’m not going to give you an interview and that’s final,” I hung up and threw the phone into the passenger seat.

    I needed a break, I decided. I needed something normal to do, I was going to go shopping that was normal and it would make me feel better. I drove to the mall.

    Just walking around made me feel better. Buying several new outfits and makeup made me feel wonderful. My tummy grumbled indicating that a visit to the food court was needed.

    I rode the escalator up to the second level. As I was walking towards the food court the hair on the back of my neck rose. I had the strangest feeling I was being watched. I turned my head to look around me. The only people I saw were an elderly couple and a lady pushing her baby in a stroller. I continued on to the food court but still couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.

    When I got to the food court I looked around then decided on getting a chicken platter. When I got my food I walked until I found an empty table.

    I was thoroughly enjoying my lunch when a shadow fell over me. I looked up and saw a man standing behind me.

    “May I have this chair?” he asked in a soft voice.

    He sat down before I could answer him. He had an athletic build, short golden brown hair. His face was very handsome, strong nose, nice lips and the brightest blue eyes.

    Somewhere in the back of my mind an alarm went off when I looked at his eyes. I wasn’t sure why but I had a funny feeling I knew him.

    He scooted his chair closer to me. He gave me the feeling that he was an extremely dangerous man.

    “Excuse me, do I know you?” I asked.

    “Yes, and no, you are familiar with my work Tenanye,” my eyes widened slightly. He knew my name but how?

    I looked up into his eyes, those bright blue eyes. Then it hit me I did know him. He was the man who had killed Aurora and Sydney.

    “Oh God, your, your,” I stammered. I dropped the fork that I had been lifting to my mouth before he had sat down as the realization of who he was slammed through me.

    “Yes that would be me,” he reached out and took my hand into his. “I’ve been watching you for a long time, Tenanye. You are a very lovely woman, especially when you are naked,” he smiled as I made a frightened sound in the back of my throat.

    “I felt it was time to introduce myself, since I know so much about you. My name is Dante Leroux and I have come to claim you for my Master,” he started rubbing his thumb back and forth on my hand.

    “What?” I said in a very soft voice.

    “My Master knows all about you and your abilities. He wants you to join him. He had hoped that your parents would’ve agreed to help him, but they refused. He had to get rid of them since they knew too much. Now he offers you the chance. You are more powerful than even he dreamed you would be,” he took my hand and gently laid his lips on it.

    “Think about his offer, he will give you a little bit of time to think it over but not much. I will contact you when your time is up.”

      My parents, he knew my parents or rather his Master did. He said that his Master had to get rid of them. My head was reeling from what Dante had just told me.

    “What happens if I decide not to answer?” my voice came out shaky and hoarse.

    “Then we will have to persuade you. My Master was hoping that Aurora and Sydney would convince you that he is serious. They were an appetizer, and if you don’t want to see the Entrée then I suggest that you give him your answer when he asks for it. As for dessert, that will be most enjoyable as I will get to have you,” He rose. Bending over me he grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me forward until his lips were pressed against mine.

    He swirled his tongue across my bottom lip then bit hard enough to draw blood. I gasped at the sharp pain and when I did he thrust his tongue into my mouth. As he broke the kiss he licked the blood from my lip and groaned.

    “Until next time my beauty,” he gave me a short bow then was gone.



    I’m not sure how long I sat there. What did he mean about this Master was responsible for my parents death. My parents died in an airplane crash.

    This was too much, everything that happened these past two days and with Seth were swimming and colliding in my brain. What was I going to do? Honestly, I had no idea but I knew I needed to get home.

    I looked at my half – eaten lunch and pushed it away as my stomach did a funny little flip flop. I was wondering if I was going to be able to stand and calmly walk out of the mall.

    I used the table to push myself up and stood on very wobbly legs and started to shakily make my way out.

    “Ma’am, Ma’am!” someone was shouting at me. I turned to see who was talking.

    “You forgot your bags,” the young man said with a smile.

    “Thank you,” I mumbled and took the bags from him. Turning I continued on my way out of the mall.

    I was proud of myself I made it to my car without falling on my face. I started the car and put it in reverse. I pulled out of the parking space and headed towards home.

    When I got home I went into the house and let my bags slid to the floor. I walked into the living room flipped on the light and shrieked.