Statera - The Balanced One

Chapter Seventeen

Loud screaming and yelling from downstairs startled me awake from a sound sleep. Complaining, I threw the covers back and sprang off the mattress. Again, screaming reached me, and when I recognized it was one of the cubs, Morgan, fear shot up like a hot steel rod.

I was out of my room, passing through the hallway and downstairs in moments. Then, coming to a screeching halt in front of the family room door, I paused to assess the sight before me.

The four cubs I saw as my own were wrestling on the floor with a young man who had me doing a double-take. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was as if Noah had risen from the dead. Cautiously, I entered the room to see Dahlia and my father sitting on the loveseat, watching and laughing hysterically at the grown man being dominated by four young children. Christian let out a blood-curdling scream as the man tickled him mercilessly. Seconds later, Zora barreled into me from behind, landing both of us on the floor.

"I'm so sorry!" Zora said as she picked herself off the floor. She offered a hand down to help me to my feet.

We both turned in unison to see seven pairs of amused eyes. Zora was the first to recover her composure.

"You guys scared me! What's going on?" she asked.

Dahlia got to her feet and started apologizing.

"I'm so sorry, girls; we didn't mean to alarm you. This is Eric. He got in at about six. Owen and I were in here watching the news when he showed up. So naturally, when the children got up and came in to watch their cartoons, they went ballistic at the sight of their uncle."

Dahlia motioned toward Eric, and I nodded my acknowledgment, rolled my eyes, and went back to bed. It was too damn early to deal with rambunctious kids!

***

(Zora)

I stared after Samantha's agitated form, then faced Eric, shaking my head in disbelief. I couldn't get over Samantha's less-than-hospitable actions.

I crossed the room to where the man who had just been dogpiled, literally, now stood, free of his attackers. Eric wore a flushed smile on his face, and the morning's joy clearly reached his eyes, eyes that were as clear and blue as the purest ocean waters. Eric was no small man. He towered over me with broad shoulders and a medium build. While he was not as big as Owen, he was still formidable.

His hair reminds me of the off-white sands I saw years ago in New Zealand when my family went on vacation for a couple weeks during Christmas.

Eric's voice snapped my wandering thoughts back to the present.

"What a beautiful memory. How old were you?" he asked.

I stared, my mouth hanging open momentarily before Dahlia and Owen keeled over with laughter.

I felt my cheeks flush what must have been brilliant red. Then, perturbed, I returned my gaze to Eric.

"It's nice to meet you, Eric, but do me a favor and stay out of my head," I demanded.

Eric glowered in a frown that looked almost like a scowl. "But it wasn't intentional...."

He stopped, looking confused as he stared at me, then said, "What's your name?"

"Zora," I replied in a cold, clipped tone.

"Zora. It is not a trait I can control on that level. I am open to all thoughts. I can't turn it off or on. Some thoughts are louder than others."

I sighed in resignation.

"It's okay, Eric. I shouldn't have assumed that you intentionally invaded my privacy without giving you a chance to explain."