The Protectors: New Generation Book 1

7 - Unexpected Visit - Tallulah POV

Halfway home I slow my pace to contemplate how my family and Danny will react to the information I was just given. Will they be upset? Will they think it's a good idea to go train to be a Protector? What would they do in this situation? I'm really leaning towards going with her. What could it hurt?

If I don't succeed, I come back home, sign up for college, and start a new life. If I do succeed, I have the opportunity to go to my home country, see where my parents were raised and where their final resting place is; basically start to understand my heritage. But so many other factors jump out at me too. I'd be leaving the people I love behind - my parents, Spencer, Kaitlyn, Jared, and Danny. I'd be leaving a familiar home and place to live for something unfamiliar and uncertain.

"What's going on, Tally?" Danny asks. Ah, I should have known the questions would start immediately.

"I'm thinking of going with Miriam."

Danny's eyes widen, and he freezes his movement to sit on the bed. "You're doing what?"

"I'm thinking of going with Miriam."

He starts pacing. "And why would you do that?"

"Because I want to know where I come from."

He stops and looks at me. "You are home. This is your home. This is your family."

Knowing I would press a button, I still proceed - he needs a wake-up call. "Regardless of what happened with your birth parents, they've had the chance to get to know you and spend time with you."

His shoulders tense at my words as he walks away from me, only to move back again. He paces several times before taking a deep breath and stopping. He keeps his eyes on the ground as he speaks. "You're willing to leave your family?"

"It won't be like I won't see them again. They are going to support me, no matter what I choose."

He continues. "You know I support you, but I don't understand. Haven't you had a good life here? "

"Daniel, don't twist things up. This might be my only chance to get to experience even a part of my birth family. You see these necklaces? These were worn by my birth parents once. These are some of the only pieces of them I have left." A tear leaves my eye, as I feel the metal against my skin. "Why would you try to deny me the right to experience what is left of my birth family?" Another tear leaks out at the thought of the years I lost with my parents.

He frowns. "I'm not denying you. I'm not going to do anything drastic to keep you from going."

A slight amount of heat travels through my body; he must be getting angry. "Don't be melodramatic. You forget we can feel each other's emotions. You are angry with me and sad, and I want to understand why."

"And I don't want to talk about it right now." He states and marches out.

Even though I may hurt his feelings, I have to make a decision that's right for me.

The days rush past, and I'm no closer to coming up with a decision. I want to know who I am, but is leaving going to answer that question? I don't feel like I belong in Applewine, but will I feel like I belong if I go to a new country? It would be good to see where I was born, but I would have to leave everyone behind. Although, there are some people in this town I would gladly leave behind.

I've been visiting Miriam in her shop. I might as well take advantage of the fact she runs a healing shop in Applewine. On one of these visits, she's fidgety. She keeps messing with her necklace and pacing.

As I walk to the back, Miriam takes me by the hand.

"Tallulah, please come with me. Everling and the Elders need all of the help they can get. Your parents died protecting that item."