The Gifted (Book 2 of Seer Series)

Chapter 7

My mother pulled away from my hug and cleared her throat after she finished crying. She rubbed her puffy eyes, and there was a look of determination in them that I knew I felt as well. "So, what else do we need to talk over?" she asked. "Or did we go over everything that had happened today?"

Ask if there were any rituals on the bodies that they had recovered, Ruckur said. Tell them that I want to see them.

"Were there any rituals on the bodies you all had found?" I asked. I pointed my head. "Ruckur wants to see if there are some there and take a look at them."

Mom and Michael looked at each other and then at me. Mom nodded her head and stood, and Michael stood with her. "Come," she said, and I stood on command. "We'll show you what we had found." She gestured for me to follow and started to walk that way, and I followed with Michael trailing behind. "You can't say a word to anyone. Is that understood?" She glanced back at me and caught me nodding.

"Yes, Ma'am," I replied. "I won't say anything to anyone," I promised. "I won't even tell Sabian because I am mad at him."

Mom chuckled sadly. "You can tell your fox," she said and gestured for me to catch up to her, and I did what she told me to do and moved to her side. "You know that he is your Familiar, right?" She gave me a pointed look and raised an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes and gave her a deadpanned look, earning a covered up laugh from both Ruckur and Michael. "He is?" I asked and cocked my head. I furrowed my brows and studied both of them, thinking about my Familiar. I shrugged. "I didn't know that he was my Familiar. I just thought that he was a random fox."

My mother snorted and rolled her eyes. "Very funny," she muttered, and a small smile flickered on her lips, amused. "Though, it would have been something that I would have said, especially if I had a fox."

I shrugged. "Well, I am your daughter," I pointed out, and Michal busted out laughing. I smiled innocently and cocked my head while I stared at her. Again, I shrugged and acted nonchalantly. "So, I guess I got my humor from you."

She nodded and chuckled. "Yes," she replied, a small smile appearing on her lips while she agreed with me. "I am sure that you had gotten it from me, and I think Ruckur can agree with that."

Ruckur chuckled, and if he had a head, then I knew he would be nodding. I do, he confirmed. Let your mom know that I do agree.

"Ruckur does agree," I said. I moved my hand through my hair and sighed, feeling exhausted. This whole day had been mentally and emotionally draining, and I had no idea when it was going to end.

My mother nodded and glanced at me from the corner of her eyes. Concern filled her eyes, and I could tell that she knew this whole day was stressful, especially since I learned that I had someone else in my brain and heard the voice of someone from my brother. "After this, I think that you need to take a nap."

I shook my head. "I'm not tired," I said, not wanting to get any sleep before this evening because I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to fall asleep when I was supposed to. "I'm fine."

Mom gave me a pointed look, and I looked away from her. "I know that you are not fine, Alexandria May," she warned, both her mother and Director tone coming forth. "You will get some sleep after we are done with this. Do you understand?"

I bit my lip and nodded my head. "Yes, Ma'am," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to sleep, but I didn't want her to know that.

She nodded, and both she and Michal walked a little faster, both of them discussing things in lowered voices that were not meant for my ears.

I will help, Ruckur promised, and I couldn't help but feel a small bit of doubt because I had no idea how he would be able to do that. He paused, and if he were here with me, he would be studying me, trying to pick up on my emotions. Do you trust me?

Do I have a choice? I asked. You are stuck in my mind.

You do, Rucukr mused. You have a choice of trusting me or not.

I bit my lip and furrowed my brows. Curiosity filled my body, and I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if I didn't. What would happen if I didn't trust him? What would happen to me, to us?

Ruckur shrugged, listening to my thoughts, and I could tell that he was curious and guarded about that answer. I don't know, he replied. But I know that you do trust me. He paused. Even though I need to hear you confirm it.

I sighed and mentally nodded. I trust you, I said, and I felt this weight being lifted off of my shoulders as if it was Ruckur starting to doubt if I did or didn't trust him. I trust you with my life, even though I am afraid. My voice grew softer when I admitted that I was afraid.

I had no idea what it meant that he was in my head, but I knew that he would try to help me with whatever I needed to do, even if it meant that I was putting his life in danger.

Ruckur chuckled, listening in on my thoughts. I'm already dead, Alexandria, he teased. You're not putting my life in danger at all.

Is there a way that I can get you not to hear my thoughts anymore? I asked, mentally scowling, feeling relieved that I wasn't going to be putting his life in danger. That would be super amazing.

Ruckur paused, and I could tell that he was thinking if there was a way or not. There might, he replied, finally. However, I will not say how nor what it is. You will have to figure that on your own and not even use your mother's help.

I bit back a sigh and mentally nodded. Ok, I said, not knowing if I would be able to figure out how to keep my thoughts private and to myself. I bit my lip and stuffed my hands into my pockets while I followed both Michael and my mother, staying silent.

If you are anything like your mother, which I know that you are, I am positive that you will be able to figure it out on your own, Ruckur consoled. I didn't even have to tell your mother how to do it. She figured it out on her own.

Are you sure? I asked, feeling slightly hopeful and bashful that he respected me as much as my mother, even though he hadn't been with me for long.

Positive. Trust me.

I bit my lip and slowly nodded. Ok, I replied, even though we both knew that I sounded a little doubtful. I trust you.