Haunting Shadows (Book 2)

Chapter 39

I sagged down on the mat of the living room after the intense magic lesson with James. The sky outside had been yellowing, indicating we were well into the afternoon. Exhaustion filled every muscle in my body. I leaned my head back against a chair and close my eyes.

Natalia came in a while later, carrying a bowl of fruit. She placed it next to me, and sat down so she could face me.

We stared at each other for what felt like hours before she spoke. “A peace offering,” she said gesturing to the fruit. “It helps bring your energy back up after lessons.”

I eyes the bowl filled with apples, bananas, grapes and even a stray mango, half-expecting it to be poisoned. I grabbed an apple and hesitantly took a bite. “Thank you,” I said, after swallowing.

Natalia fidgeted with the hem of her dress, her gaze scouring the room and resting everywhere but on me. I waited. Clearly she had something she wanted to say.

“I’m not used to having a sister, in case you haven’t noticed. It’s hard for me to except that I have one now after growing up my whole life believing I was alone in the world.”

“That doesn’t explain why you treated me like crap.”

“Please, let me finish. I have to say this now or I’ll lose my nerve.”

I nodded and she continued talking. “I was daddy’s little girl, you know? The only person that ever received his affection. At first the prospect of a sister excited me. Finally I would no longer be alone… but the more I saw you, and the way my father looked at you, the more jealous I grew. I quickly realized that you are everything I’ll never be.”

“It’s funny you mention that, because that’s exactly how I felt when we first met. Natalia, don’t you see? We are different people, and there is always going to be something that one of us has that the other doesn’t.”

She bit her bottom lip. “I know, I have come to realize that, and that’s why I’m trying to make amends. Please, Lana, could we perhaps start over?”

I smiled. “Of course.”

Natalia was just about to hug me when James walked into the room, his face set into a stern scowl. “We have guests, again.”

Natalia and I got from the floor and walk follow him to where the guests were congregated. I froze in my tracks as the familiar faces get into few. I recognized every single one of them, except one. My eyes rested on him as I tried to size him up. Who was he?

His hair was dark blond with a slight curl at the tips, his eyes a curious shade of grey, with tiny flecks of purple in them, and they were regarding me with a sort of fascination I couldn’t place. He was tall, but shorter than Andreas. His stance was confident, and built a lean muscular, and he smiled as he walked toward me, one hand extended in greeting.

I took it hesitantly. “So you are the girl that has my very dear friend completely infatuated. It’s an honor to finally meet you.”

My mouth gaped open and I stared at him completely dumbfounded. “I’m sorry, what?”

“You are Lana Eleanor, correct?”

“Just Lana.”

He grinned even brighter, his eyes scrutinizing every details of my body. I felt self-conscious under his intense gaze. “I’m Casian Terra, a very close friend of Andreas.”

“I wasn’t aware he had any of those. He didn’t mention you while I was living with him.”

“I’m not surprised given the fact that I was dead until a couple of days ago.”