Scattered Souls

Chapter 37 - Enjoy the Ride

I felt significantly more relaxed for the rest of our journey. I think Xypher's somewhat romantic declaration helped calm me down to a certain extent. For the moment, I had decided to ditch over thinking and enjoy the ride.  Literally and figuratively. Somewhere along our journey, I had come to the realization that I wanted to make the most of things with him, for whatever little time he'd remain here for. I suppose road trips were therapeutic indeed.

As he was driving, he placed his hand on my thigh, creating little circles which immediately ignited desire within me. He gave me little smiles here and there.

"You look much calmer now." he pointed out, breaking the comfortable silence between us.

"Someone's observant." I retorted, with a smirk.

"I'm glad." he said with a smile that touched his eyes.

"You are?" I wondered out loud.

"Of course. Seeing you at ease puts me at ease." I could literally hear the grin in his voice as he said those words.

"You're full of cheesy lines today." I teased.

"Ain't I always?"

I simply laughed in response.

"How exactly do you plan on getting your remains from this place?" I changed the subject as the thought suddenly crossed my mind.

It was a legit question after all. I mean he couldn't exactly be like 'hey, I just need to dig up some of your land to collect my remains' now. A statement of that nature would probably land us straight in the loony bin.

"Ah, I forgot to mention, when we arrive there I'd have to call upon the dark souls to help us." he explained.

"How would they help us?" I wondered.

"And if they're going to help us, why couldn't they just bring the remains to you, instead of us having to drive all the way there?" I added on.

"I mean aren't these dark souls supposed to be all powerful?" I pointed out, recalling some of the things he's mentioned thus far.

"I'm assuming they're simply going to help disguise us when we get there,  long enough for us to collect my remains and leave."

"But if they really are as powerful as you make them out to be then why can't they do more than that?" I was genuinely curious.

Working smarter and not harder was definitely my theory. I mean why go to the well if the water can come to you? That part wasn't adding up for me.

"If I enlisted any help beyond that, it would count as a favor. And anything that counts as a favor requires a favor in return. One that I wouldn't be able to refuse." he explained solemnly.

"That makes sense now." I admitted.

"I've done way too many trade offs already. Now it's time to make things right." those words came out as a whisper, I wasn't sure if I was even supposed to hear them.

I was baffled. Was talking to himself becoming his new thing? And what exactly does he have to make right? Why is he talking in riddles all of a sudden? I groaned internally. Only one way to find out I suppose.

"What is it that you need to make right?" I tried to sound as sincere and encouraging as possible.

"It's nothing for you to worry your pretty little head about." the words came out forcefully, and the smile he flashed me looked more like a grimace than anything else.

"You don't look very convincing." I called him out. I wasn't letting him get away with his vagueness this time.

"It really isn't anything you should be concerned about. If it was, I'd tell you." he said.

I didn't believe those words that came out of his mouth, for obvious reasons. I could feel my eyes roll on their own accord. When has he ever been completely open about anything? It's like I have to drag everything out of him. It's like he deliberately wants to be the most mysterious guy on the planet.

"Do you want some coffee?" he asked as he pulled into the garage to fuel up. 

"I could definitely use some." I said eagerly.

I was exhausted. Being woken up so early. The long car ride, which was enjoyable, except for the millions of loose ends I still had running through my mind. Having to rack my brain for ways of getting more information from Xypher and arriving at a dead end almost every time was really doing my head in.

"What favors do the dark souls ask for?" I asked, as I was sipping on my cappuccino when we hit the road again. I figured the question was innocent enough to qualify as small talk. However,  the tension I felt radiating off of him told me otherwise.

I turned to look at him. He looked pained.  Was it that bad?

I placed my hand on his hand, which was now clutching the steering wheel like his life depended on it. I was trying to offer some sort of comfort or support. However, he shrugged off my hand.

"What is it?" I asked. "Xypher, you can tell me. " I tried to encourage him.

"Was it something bad?" I wondered. The expression on his face had shaken me up.

There was a good few minutes of silence between us.

"Xypher, are you okay?" I asked. I gave him a little tap on the shoulder to snap him out of whatever trance he seemed to be stuck in at the moment.

"I think we've established that there's certain things you're better off not knowing, Robyn." his voice was icy cold.

I was so not expecting that response. What happened to sweet and caring Xypher from a little while ago?  The one that got me coffee and cheesecake from my favorite bakery? When and how was he replaced by this stone cold creature that I could barely recognize now?

"Well I'm sorry for being concerned about something that involves me." I tried my best to match his cold tone.

"I wouldn't have so many questions if I wasn't kept in the dark all the time." I made sure to express exactly how annoyed I was.