XXIV. Shadow
I didn't know if she was gone or not. I had no time to check on her. I had to trust that my brother could take care of her while I was gone. I had to trust she would be okay.
"Where are we going?" I mumbled, laying my head on Alex's shoulder her hand rubbing my knee gently. We had been on the road for over an hour and I had been slipping in and out of sleep.
"There's not a name for it, but its basically a safe house." Viola explained, glancing over the edge of the passenger seat to look at me. Daniel had been silent while driving the whole time and I was starting to wonder if I missed something.
I didn't respond, but instead dozed off on Alex's shoulder and snuggled closer to her body.
What felt like hours later, I sat up and glanced around. I noticed that the car had been stopped in an empty parking lot outside of a seven eleven. Daniel and Viola had left the car and Alex and I were alone. It was dark out, the moon shining brighter than I'd ever seen before.
"Do you know where we are?" I whispered to Alex, unable to croak out a normal volume. She shook her head and pressed her lips gently against mine. I nearly melted into her, thankful for the strength of her arms, but I ignored the urge and pulled back with a tight smile.
We stayed quiet until Daniel and Viola returned, Viola taking the wheel. Daniel looked worn out and I didn't want to bother him. I mentally asked Alex if she wanted to lay down but she said no so I took the opportunity to lay across the backseat with my head in her lap and fell back asleep, still worn down.
The second time I woke up, we were barely pulling into the back alleyway of some run down building. I figured from past experiences that this building was like that first one. At the reminder of it, I mentally put down on my checklist to do some research on the dream I had then.
We quietly entered the building and, as expected, it was exactly like the last building. Viola led Alex and I to a room at the far end of some twisty hallway and left without a word. Daniel had abandoned us the moment we entered the hidden portion of the building and I had to resist the temptation to mentally call out and ask what was wrong.
I slept for a solid twelve hours before I finally felt refreshed and ready to function. I left Alex to dream in the bed as I made my way to the end of the hall. I heard the quiet sound of voices talking from behind a door and took a peak, finding the kitchen. Inside, there was Viola, Daniel, and Alex's parents. I was glad they were taken into safety, but a bit frustrated that my brother and Mae were still out there at risk.
"Good morning. What's going on today?" I grabbed a piece of toast from a plate sitting on the counter and leaned on it, gazing at the four.
"Its more important now than ever that we continue training not just you, but Alex too. She will become your new guardian. You must be prepared." Alex's father spoke with such a powerful sound of authority, I found myself agreeing without thinking first.
Alex entered the kitchen just then, itching the side of her head, her hair in a jumbled mess. She shot me a crooked smile as everyone stood up.
"Meet us in the main hall after you finish breakfast and we'll begin." Alex's mother gave me a kind smile before they all exited the room and left Alex and me alone.
"Who was she?" Alex asked, turning away from me.
"Who was who?" I tilted my head in confusion.
"That girl. Mae or whatever her name was." Her voice was clear with an emotion I couldn't decode.
"Mae is someone I've known for a few years. Somebody I love and care about. We went out for a little bi-"
"She's your ex, then." Her voice went from loud and clear to cold and quiet in seconds. I realized that she was hurt, confused as to why I fought so hard to save her. She was afraid I wasn't over her.
"She's in my past when it comes to that portion of my life. She'll always be there, just not as someone I'll share my life with." I spoke with as much kindness that I could put into my tone while being serious at the same time.
"I'm sure." She took a single piece of bacon off the counter and walked out of the kitchen before I could respond. I sighed and followed after her.
"Okay, you two. We're going to split up today. Viola and Juliet will be working with Alex until five. Then, we'll switch." Michael was a powerful speaker and I was curious what he would teach me physically speaking. He'd taught me only book work up until now.
When he said we were going to really need this training I didn't think he meant we'd be working so hard that I'd lose close to twenty pounds in sweat. He was a tough fighter and immensely skilled at hand-to-hand combat.
At five, we all met up in the kitchen, downing a quick dinner and going back to work. I went with Viola and Juliet now, working on my magical abilities. We had to start with the basics, but I learned to control the fires we could create.
"You're so powerful and all of this potential is completely untapped." Juliet mumbled as I slowly built up a fire ball that could take out an entire city if properly directed.
It was well last eleven at night when we were done. I followed Alex back to our room and we layed down. It was silent for a moment before I felt Alex swing her leg over my hip. It was sudden, but her lips were on mine within seconds. She began to grind down on me, nibbling on my lip and groping any place her hands could reach.
We tossed clothing to the side, our sweaty bodies crashing into each other. I was gasping for air when she released my mouth only to continue down my neck and chest with kisses. Her heated lips ghosted across my upper body, tormenting and pleasing me with the same actions.
Eventually we calmed down enough to curl up next to each other and spoon in our naked glory, still refraining from going much further than simple caresses and little kisses across each others' skin.
I slept peacefully that night in her arms. The next morning, I would need it.
I got up and stumbled around the room, searching for a shirt, any shirt. Alex leaned back on her elbows, watching me with a sly smirk spread across her face. She didn't think I heard her when she said it, but I did and I wasn't sure how I felt about it.
Mine.
I tossed her a shirt and we walked down to breakfast together, jokingly teasing each other and bumping into each other. We entered the kitchen and it was empty aside from the plates of food scattered across the counter. I briefly wondered who cooked every morning if everyone else was still asleep.
I sat at the table and Alex brought me a plate with everything I liked. I looked at her incredulously but she simply mumbled 'I pay attention sometimes' and gave me a sheepish smile.
Viola, Daniel, Michael and Juliet all came into the kitchen at the same time, sullen and silent. As soon as they made eye contact with me, their eyes widened and Viola simply left the room. I gave them an odd look and glanced from face to face. Michael followed after Viola at this point, obviously too afraid to say or do anything.
"We'll talk after breakfast. Come on, let's hurry up." Juliet rubbed my back softly as she went by and I shot her a weird look. Alex reached over and rested her hand on the inside of my thigh. I felt her fingers inch upwards and my body reacted instantly. I took a deep breath and gave her a crooked smile. She slipped her hand back down to my knee, giving me a quick squeeze before letting go and standing up.
We all met up in the main hall again, Viola and Michael still nowhere around. Juliet and Daniel directed me to sit with them on the floor and Juliet sat awfully close.
"Look, we don't know for sure, but your brother thinks.. He believes that Mae is gone." My eyes widened as I let Juliet's words soak in.
"He said she passed this morning." Once Daniel's words hit me, I stopped breathing. Gone? How could she be gone?
I couldn't stop the fat tears from falling from eyes, unable to take a proper breath. I gasped for air, collapsing into Juliet's arms. Alex's arms found their way around me and I fisted my hands in her shirt, clinging to her. I felt like the world was falling out from beneath me. She was gone. I'd never hear her laugh again or see her smile. My heart broke at the realization.
Goodbye, Mae.
