DUCHAS (The Drive Within, Book 2 in Baile series)

Chapter 15 Potential

Isla

I woke up on the floor of April's room, the back of my head throbbing from head to floor contact. I groaned and April's face appeared over mine.

"What did you dream about?"

"Do you really want to know?" I sat up, using the side of the bed for support.

"Yes please." She asked with her head beside my own, from her spot on her bed.

With a sigh I told her everything, from my blinding from the sun to being devoured by Alick in April's body.

April was silent as she made her way over to her bookshelf, where the majority of her books were thicker than my arm.

"You weren't wrong about your mother's boyfriend being creepy." I slowly stood up, the pain at the back of my skull fading fast.

"Or a stalker." April held out a book to me and I strode over to her to take it.

I looked at the page she held open to see nothing but a bookmark.

"I keep all my bookmarks in the first page, because I have read each book a dozen times." April explained. "Turns out I'm not the only one who has been reading them."

"What reason would he have to read them?" I handed the book back.

April shrugged. "I never thought he had any interest in my mother, but I always suspected that he had a hidden agenda; an agenda that had nothing to do with my family's money or reputation."

"Are you saying he fancies you?" I was kind of confused.

"Perhaps, or maybe he's trying to get close to me so he can kill you."

I sighed. "Are you kidding me?"

"He clearly has an interest in you if he's appearing in your dreams."

"You can't just suspect everyone for murder." I wandered over to my suitcase.

"I can if they have a motive."

I lifted my eyebrows in question.

"Being an immortal pedophile." She answered as if it were obvious.

I picked out some clothes to change into from my suitcase. "You're paranoid."

"Can't I be concerned for my best friend?" April approached. "I don't want to lose you too."

I looked her way to see that she truly did care and that she was only trying to hold onto our group. I held out my arms for a hug and she rolled her eyes, pretending as if she didn't want one.

"Come on, you know you want to." I smiled, my arms still extended.

April sighed before allowing herself to be pulled into my arms. It really was just the two of us girls now. It was going to take some getting used to.

"Let's focus on the positive."

"What is that?" I asked.

"Your untapped potential."

We got dressed, myself in a pair of black stockings, blue skirt and turtle necked sweater and April with jeggings, long sleeve shirt and a denim jacket. I kept my hair out, lacing up a pair of ankle boots.

"We're getting breakfast in town." April declared as we left her room. I wasn't going to complain.

"Hello girls." My mother greeted us, a steaming mug of tea in her hands.

"Hi." I replied.

"Eliza is staying with one of her friends now." She informed.

"Why?" I found it odd, Eliza usually enjoyed staying over with April and I.