Deviant (Blendling Trilogy #1)

Chapter Eight

I watched my mum's hope deflate and she sagged against the couch, letting out little whimpers as she sobbed. Bass hugged Gerry as she cried too. I could feel my nose start to bleed again and I closed my eyes in defeat. I had two options, the devil or the deep blue sea, I didn't like those odds. Jacqueline never got over her rejection, even after my dad's death she was still bitter. I ran into her once at the airport. Mum and I had just arrived Sacramento after dad's death and while she was distracted purchasing a drink, I wandered away. I didn't know it then but I could sense auras. I was tracking a decidedly delicious scent in the air when I stumbled into her. I'd apologised but she just frowned at me as if I was a fly in her soup, she apparently recognized me but I'd never met her.

"You're Charlotte's, the best she could do? Wandering around unattended in such a public place" she stated. I decided then that even though she was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen, I didn't like her tone.
"Forgive me if I fall short of your expectations" I said rudely. Here I was, a five year old mouthing off to a total stranger. She laughed a beautiful laugh
"You've got spunk" she said, snatching my hand. Behind her I heard a soft gasp and I turned to see two girls my age, identical twins. The scent was coming from one of them.
"Hi" I chirped, blushing. I didn't know why I was blushing. One of them waved and the other just scowled. The woman was staring intently at my palm as if reading me. I squirmed, snatching back my hand
"Interesting" she said "You have a big destiny, Charlotte will be proud. We'll meet..." whatever she was saying was lost in my mum's shriek of relief. The woman frowned again
"Jacqueline" mum acknowledged
"Hello Charlotte" she replied with a scowl "You killed him like I knew you would" she whispered sadly.
"Please Jacqueline, we're still grieving"
"You're not the only one." The woman, whose name was Jacqueline replied. She turned to me and said "This one will bring you misery, the way you brought me misery. You might have found a way to be a mother, but I promise pain for the joy of motherhood." With that she turned and walked away, twins trailing behind her. One of them paused to wave but the other grabbed her and pulled her away, still scowling at me.

"She cursed my son" mum said in tears
"She didn't" I said
"Regardless, we will not go to her" mum said. Cam stared aghast at her "we'll find another way"
"We don't have much time" Gerry whispered. Mum glared at her.
"Charlotte you need to reconsider" Bass said
"She would disagree just to spite me. Besides, I can't trust her with our secret" mum said
"She's the only witch not in the Council's pocket." Gerry said
"For good reason, no one trusts her. She'd use her daughters for blood magic if it suits her" mum scoffed.
"Please aunt Char" Cameron implored "You don't have to come, we can be back by evening tomorrow if we leave now"
"It's too dangerous" Mum whispered. I was suddenly gripped in a coughing feat. Gerry patted my back softly.
"I don't understand. Why can't I brew the elixir myself? A part of me is wizard" I say dejectedly
"I read once that having more than one ability is like trying to fill more than one bucket the same time it takes someone else to fill one. Having more abilities is like having knowledge of more than one thing but proficiency in none. You have to train your abilities and you have received no training" Bass lectured.
"Then why is my core already decay. You just said I have to practice to master my abilities, I didn't practice, I didn't do anything" I say
"I have a theory. To sustain your life in the belly of a corpse, you must have expended a lot of energy. Either that or you inherited an already diseased core" Bass replied

Mum continued sobbing and Gerry held her. I didn't have to read her mind to know she was blaming herself.
"I say we risk it" Cam said "It's the only option. I won't let him die"
"It's not the only option" Bass said uncomfortably "I'm saying this just to put it out there. I'm not suggesting he does it. The Reaper survives by stealing..." mum didn't let him finish.
"My son is not a murderer. How can you even suggest that! It would make him no better than that monster!" She cried
"It was just a suggestion" Gerry defended
"Well he can keep it" Mum said. I sigh and close my eyes.

***
Later that night as I lay in bed, I couldn't help but understand mum's fear. Jacqueline never did anything to earn her trust. Even if Jacqueline hadn't cursed her, I didn't think mum would still have liked her. Mum's marriage was an arranged on and I believe dad would have married Jacqueline if he wasn't duty bound to wed mum. Mum knew this too and I know she had insecurities about it. I'd looked into her memories during dad's death day anniversary and saw her doubt. Even though they were together close to sixty years, she was never assured of his love. To her, she was his second choice.

As I lay there pondering, I heard my door open softly and Cam entered in all his Whingon glory, clutching the daggers I'd given him in both hands. He eyed me silently and then went to my closet to pull out clothes. I watched as he tossed a pair of jeans and polo shirt on the bed.
"Get dressed" he said quietly "We're going on a road trip" A huge smile bloomed on my face and I got up to quickly dress.

After a few minutes of meditative exercise to get rid of the wings, we packed small bags with cash and Cam's daggers and snuck out. I smiled into the crisp night air as Cam silently pushed his car out of the garage into the street. I supposed it helped to be freakishly strong in some cases. When we turned the corner, we got in and took off. As we sped down the road, I vowed to do whatever it took to survive. I refused to die so young.