The Lost Stone Of Consequences

Chapter 18: Worries

"...The faery shawl still hangs on the wall at Dunvegan Castle on the isle of Skye. Only now it is called a Faery Flag and the MacLeods carry it foremost into battle. I have seen it there. Like this story, it is a tattered remnant of stranger's weave and as true and warming as you let it be."

I glanced up, looking at the sleeping face of the boy I loved... Well... Technically, I didn't know I loved it until the day of the Ritual. With a sigh because of no reaction from the unconscious blond, I closed Jane Yolen's How to Fracture a Fairy Tale and put it aside on the lectern. Rubbing my face, with my slightly longer black hair falling back in a messy-neat way, I stood up to pace.

A knock sounded as I completed my second lap.

"Jessie?" Lily...

"... Yeah...? As I spoke, Lily cracked open the door and peeked in, her face filled with obvious worry.

"You good? You still haven't come out to hang out with Dad, Jesse, or Petra... Heck, even Steve is worried."

I lowered my head as I thought about that. I wanted to hold a grudge against Steve. For lying, for doing everything, but I needed to learn to forgive and forget.

"I'm good... I'm just worried about Lukas... He still hasn't woken up..."

Lily walked over and slung her arm over my shoulders. "Hey, look on the bright side! He hasn't gained any fever, and Dad says that he doubts that any lasting damage was made to him."

I cracked a smile. "Good point, but even Lukas wouldn't sleep this long. I remember him coming into my room and dragging me out of my bed whenever Petra and I came back to town at the crack of dawn."

"Well, I think it's time that you left this room. Petra was literally complaining to me about not having combat practices with you, so I had to practice with her. How can you handle her punches? It's like getting hit with a brick block!"

"You get used to it... And I'm not-"

Lily began shoving me towards the door. "Nuh-uh. You're not staying in this room for one more second! Papa told me to get you outdoors and see Momma's flower garden and your baby plants!"

"Baby plants?" I questioned as my eyebrow twitched by being told what to do.

"Mom planted some type of flora for each of us when we were born! She said that it would 'bring us luck' or some mumbo-jumbo. We haven't had any good luck yet, even if we did have luck." Lily said as she waved one hand around after shoving me out the door and closing it behind us.

"But I have to-"

"Oh no. Don't say that you have to stay next to that blond lover boy of yours, it'll just cause you stress and worry! You are going out into the garden and staying out there with me, Steve, Dad, Jesse, and Petra. No questions, no arguments!"

With a sigh, I let Lily drag me through the halls and out into a balcony garden. I could make out Petra's hair in the distance and heard Jesse's laughter as Steve was yelling something.

"Nice of you two to join us," Papa said, grinning at us "and Jessica! Your hair looks beautiful, even if it is a bit greasy looking."

I rolled my eyes and plopped down on the bench, looking out over the forest and meadows below.

"Lily dragged me out."

"Well, I think your friend and brother have something for you."

"Oh? and what is tha-" Two pairs of arms picked me up before I could finish my sentence, causing me to screech as I was flung into the pond amid the laughter of the others.

Sputtering, I shouted, "Petra! Jesse! You'll pay for that!"

After a long time of me chasing them and all of us getting soaked thoroughly (and having to return the fish in the pond ten times each), we had to go inside to get food and change. Steve had thoroughly changed in his personality and memory, telling me funny antics that Mom had gotten into before she married Dad.

After eating and Steve falling asleep on Dad's shoulder, I stood to return to the room, with Annabelinda walking with me.

"Good night, Annabelinda," I murmured to the dragon as she lumbered away. "Sweet dreams."

"Good Night, Jessica." I heard her growl softly.

I turned as I closed the door with a soft click. With a sigh, I leaned on the door and looked up to see...

Oops! Cliffhanger! o(*￣▽￣*)o

I am so sorry it took me this long to write this chapter, but I can't seem to write a full storybook. I seem to lean more toward short stories/descriptive writing and I like giving people apologetic stories. I may decide to finish this book in the next chapter, but it will depend on you guys!

Having said that, I hope to see you in the next chapter. I pray that you remain safe, happy, and healthy and I will see you next time!

Soar High, my hybrid fledglings! 💗💖