Awakening, book 4

11.

Ava's pov

We checked the second floor and ended back in front of the library. Nothing seemed different or out of place. There was no sight of Evelin anywhere.

"We should check the defense building next," I suggested. "Marc, can you quickly go check on the cottage and meet back with us?"

"I guess leaving the kid in charge was weird," he said before leaving.

"I mean... Alfie is there too," I mumbled.

Andre headed towards the defense building rolling his eyes, "oh yeah, can't forget the dog,"

We walked in silence for a little bit listening for any unfamiliar sounds, "you can go home if you want, I know you're trying to stay out of the family drama," I finally said to him.

Andre just waved me off, "it's not real family drama unless all the La Fey children are involved somehow."

"I just feel bad asking you," I admitted. "You were literally flung back into this life. You had to go through puberty twice," Andre got the chills, "Now you're working with family at the ministry. What do you do outside of work?"

Andre thought for a long moment before shrugging and continuing to walk. "It's not that big a deal, I get people my age are married and having cute little babies. But I'm okay where I am. Maybe I'll be like Marc and not meet anyone till I'm super old,"

"I'm only 15 years older then your original age," Marc groaned a he rejoined us. Andre looked down embarrassed. "Everything is okay at the house. El had strengthened the barrier around it before he left. Theo and the dog, weirdly, are standing guard in the living room."

I peeked into my classroom only to see everything how I left it the days before. "My class is clear and my office is enchanted so she isn't in there,"

The boys started talking to each other in French while they decided where to check next. I ran my fingers through my hair while I tried to calm myself down.

I found myself thinking about my dream last night and how the other me couldn't even tell that Evelin was so bad. It was frustrating knowing what I knew and that I couldn't do anything. I felt like my throat was sore from trying to yell at her to not eat the food.

I'm tired.

"Ava," I looked up at the sound of my name being called only to see my sister's ghost in front of me and my brothers gone. "They said they were going to go check the staff dorms," she tipped her head to the side, "are you okay?"

I nodded, "I had a really scary dream.. I think I saw how Sebastian's Ava died.." I started walking up the stairs with her floating beside me. "It was weird... it was like I could feel how weak she was. She had no ancient magic, barely had regular magic. I felt..."

"Mortal?" Giselle asked as we got to the top of the stairs.

"I hated that feeling. Does that make me-"

"Bad? No. Now if it was me... yeah it'd be bad. But I have issues, I'm working on them." She went to pat my shoulder but her hand just kept going through me making her mumble, "fuck I forgot,"

"Why do you still act like  hard ass when others are around?"

She shrugged, "I'm not breaking character for your feelings," she opened her mouth again to say something but stopped and looked around me.