Casters

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

Save Yourself

I had only had four hours of sleep. It was eight in the morning when I got out of the lumpy and very uncomfortable bed. I didn’t know when was the next time I was going to be able to get a shower so I took my second one in a day and put on the clothes I’d slept in. I wanted to save clothes I had been able to pack because there wasn’t that many. Once I’d made sure I’d packed all of my stuff into the backpack again I returned the key to the front desk and headed out to my Jeep. I could feel a pair of eyes on me, but I knew who it was. He’d found me.

“Robert?” I said normally. Knowing wherever he was he could hear me. I felt a gush of air behind me and then knew exactly where he was.

“You can’t just run away.” He mumbled. He sounded defeated in a way.

“I’m not running away Robert.” I said still not facing him. If I saw him I don’t think I’d be able to leave him again.

“What do you call it then?” He asked. He sounded so beat up, it was killing me not to hug him.

“I call it protecting you.” I replied.

“I can protect myself Carmen.” He said, his voice still sounding empty.

“No, you can’t. Save yourself Robert. Go home and protect Viola. I’m sorry I did this to you.” I said feeling like I was going to cry for the zillionth time.

“Don’t apologise Carmen! Stop apologising, I caused this. I should have never have gotten involved in your life.” I couldn’t stand it any longer I had to look at him. I span around to see him looking even worse than I could have ever imagined. He looked so pale, thin and exhausted. I couldn’t even imagine what he’d been through.

“I’m not going to stop Robert! Look at you I did this to you! You have to look after yourself and move on from me. Just give up on me, us.” I shouted back at him tears falling from my eyes.

“I’m never going to give up on us.” Robert said before closing the space between us and crushing his lips onto mine. That kiss was the most perfect thing that had ever happened in my life. I couldn’t let him leave me now even though that was the most selfish thing I could ever do. I wouldn’t be able to live without him now. He was my life.

****

“Are you sure Viola’s safe?” I asked still nervous for her safety.

“I wouldn’t have left her if I wasn’t sure.” Robert answered squeezing my hand.

“This is so selfish of me.” I groaned as I sank down in the passenger side of my jeep. It was selfish of me to be honest. Making him choose me over his family.

“No, it’s not. I love you and I go wherever you go.” He smiled. Even though he was still a little pale he looked a lot better since he’d drank some of my blood. And I had to admit the Ray Ban’s he was wearing did make him look impossibly more gorgeous. “Plug my phone in and play some good music.” He said passing me his iPhone.

After scrolling through at least two hundred good songs I settled with Daft Punk’s ‘Get Lucky’. Which I thought would lighten the mood a little. The spring was finally here and the sun was shining in the sky and the sun roof was down. It was abnormally hot for a spring day.

“So what’s yours and Amelia’s plan?” He asked curiously turning down the music.

“I should talk to her actually.” I said suddenly realising I hadn’t spoken to her.

“Go for it. I’ll be waiting here.” He grinned at me.

“Amelia?” I called through our connection.

“I am here Carmen. You must travel to New York. Find a bar called Breeze Block and your find some witches ready to help you. They’ll tell you what to do next.”

“Thank you.”

“We’re going to New York.” I said, making Robert spin the car around and head in the other direction.