Fateful Signs (Ballad of the Seer, Book Three)

Chapter 11 - Back Together

When the red door from her vision opened, Lily's heart swelled, seeing Duncan seated on the broken down, brown suede couch inside. He stood and ran to meet her, wrapping her in his arms. "I was so worried about you." he said, squeezing her tightly. He kissed her face all over before finally meeting her lips. A burst of familiar electricity erupted from his kiss. "I love you."

        She smiled against his lips, giving him another small kiss before pulling back. "I love you, too."

        "Could you bring this love fest inside please?" Tally asked, annoyance clouding her mind and clear in her voice.

        Duncan hung his arm around Lily, leading her inside. He introduced her to Santos, a handsome young man, with large arms, broad shoulders, and a wide well-toned chest, not to mention a truly impressive tattoo collection. "Welcome," the man said, smiling at her. Duncan mentally filled her in on what had happened since they were separated. It took no time at all.

        Tally, in normal clothes, draped on the chair, as she was, popping grapes into her mouth from the bowl in her lap, looked like a supermodel posing at a photo shoot for some high-fashion magazine. The title would be "Chic in the Streets" or something pithy like that. She swiveled her chair back to face the other way.

        "It's nice to meet you." Lily said to Santos, while she examined the room. There were a lot of shelves with many different and strange ingredients. Some were things she had never heard of. Others were things that she wasn't aware existed, such as powdered dragon's tooth. She wondered if that was from a real dragon. That would hardly be shocking anymore. "What sort of potions do you make?"

        "Whatever I get paid for." Santos said, taking up residence in a stained leather chair that was in serious need of a reupholstering. "I don't really have a speciality."

        Lily nodded, deciding that it was probably best left at that, given what Duncan had just told her with his thoughts. She and Duncan sat on the old couch. There was a cigarette burn in the arm beside her, and a questionable dark stain. She kept her hands in her lap, holding onto Duncan's arm, rubbing circles on the back of his hand, glad to be with him again. After so many months of being inseparable, the last several hours were almost unbearable. She didn't know how she would handle it if they got back home and had to live in different houses.

        Not if, when. She mentally corrected herself. She would see her home again. She would not doubt that. She could not doubt it. Otherwise, what was she doing anymore? Without the promise of home, she might as well run off to Paris or Rome with Duncan and never look back. That would be the easier option. If Camilla knew that Lily didn't want her seat on the Council, maybe she would stop coming after her. It was a tempting thought, but she could never give up. Not without putting up a decent fight.

-

        It had taken awhile, but the gym was finally rebuilt, after months of construction to fix the damage done on the night of the homecoming dance. The school had spared no expense - since the wealthy patrons of St. Steven's wouldn't allow them to - in bringing the structure up to a higher standard. The hardwood floors shined in the light from the new fixtures overhead. The stands were completely overhauled, as well. The old stackable bleachers were removed in favor of swankier stadium seats, like a professional basketball team. A state-of-the-art practice track had been built around the top of the gym, so the track team could practice on rainy days. The basketball hoops now worked with hydraulics, as did the brand new ten thousand dollar score board.

        Needless to say, it was over the top - especially for a high school - but everything was around here. Dianna had just changed in the lavish remodeled locker room, which she did appreciate. It was always so hard to stuff all of her things into her old tiny gym locker; now, she had twice the space. She had heard talk that the boys' locker room had been upgraded, too. Including adding a sauna and a new workout room for the football and basketball teams. The girls, however, only managed to get separated showers. It was obvious what the school cared about.