Opposites: The Staff of Light [Book One]

43. Turning Closets

Annabeth

I couldn't identify what else to think from the battle. Too many things happened in one day I almost forgot the battle had only been nearly two hours ago. The first part of my plan fell into place. I exploded the carts in flames, check. The other witches (it turned out the other guys were magic users, but I let them go—I was sure they wouldn't cause destruction in the land) ran off into the woods to find themselves a faraway territory, check. Mitch is safe, alive, and sane, possibly. I was with the other guys, I wasn't expecting that, but check. Combust and Fervor were in full-health, I wasn't expecting that either, but check again.

What was left? It would be meeting the king in a private room and we could talk about... well, our expedition—how everything was a big mistake, how our lives came to this. Some kings in medieval times were actually wise. If only I get to bargain with him, perhaps we could see better daylight by tomorrow morning—maybe even this afternoon. The thought left me relieved. Assuming we survive this, I'll be reading the Bible, God. I'll finish the whole book—I promise. Please, lend us the blessing appropriate for our situation.

I casted my gaze on Colton. He focused his vision on his shoes, probably trying to examine the material used to make it. I couldn't believe myself for telling him I met his mother. He might have been drowning in his own thoughts, trying to figure out the puzzle pieces but always ends up failing due to his own frustration. I never should have mentioned it to him all at once. I made a mental note to never do it again. And Belinda had told me I was his protector. I had to protect Colton from someone. I began guessing if that meant his father, but all Colton knew he was dead. Perhaps that wasn't the real father. Belinda gave them away. I tried to keep that thought away from me. Assuming we could get back to our world alive, that would be a time for me to go crazy, and lose a horrible amount of sleep. There goes my reading time.

My eyes darted toward Mitch, who was trying to find a comfortable position—he sat on his behind, his side, laid down, stood up, slid his back against the wooden door... it was quite obvious the boy was getting bored and hated the way he was being contained.

I looked at Tyler who fell asleep, his head thrown back against the wall. Alice might have done a good choice on you, I thought. To our past experiences, Tyler had never been a bad boy. He'd been occasionally sweet and forgiving (all towards us except Rebecca). It was nice to know that someone could look after Alice if I died. I almost imagined Alice protesting, telling me she wasn't one to be guarded all the time. I could have smiled if life wasn't such a serious matter.

Beside Tyler was Alice whose eyes were shut tight. "No," I heard her say.

"Alice," I called out. "Are you okay?"

She opened her eyes—the same ones I refused to look at for years, the ones which had seen my sins toward her, the ones... well, the ones I made to cry more than thrice. It was until then I realized they were reflecting my own. They both possessed guilt. I was like looking into a mirror, if only my hair was blond. "I'm fine," she said. "How about you?"

"Possibly," I answered.

And there the conversation ended. Sometimes, I felt bad for feeling awkward when we spoke to each other. Shame flooded my heart. How could I have refused to be her sister all those years? How could I have rejected her? Until that moment, I kept looking back to the past. We've never been the best of friends. Belinda (was it rude to call her that being Colton's mother?) came into my mind. "Give them a hug for me and your siblings as well if you have any," her sweet voice echoed through the halls of my brain.

I bit my lip just as I had when I promised to do so. When this whole nightmare is over, I won't fail you, Belinda. I thought about earlier when I asked Alice if she had been bedded over the stay. I gave myself a mental slap. She was with Tyler the entire time. I should have known better than ask. I almost expected the question to aim back at me.