Beyond (61 page)

Claudia couldn
’
t help but giggle.
They were so cute. She had forgotten there were so many things they didn ’
t know , especially when it came to traditions.
“
Davin and Caleb, both of you are going to be uncle s , ”
Claudia smil e d .
“
And Vivian will be an aunt.
”

Davin smiled from ear to ear, perking up a bit, taking in the news.
“
I am .
Uncle Davin. I like the sound of that. So…does this mean we need to keep this information from the Twelve?
”

“
I ’
m not sure…I mean…we ’
re not sure. Let ’
s just keep this under the radar for now, ”
Michael suggest ed , placing his arms around Claudia, giving her a kiss on the forehead to let her know everything w ould be fine.

“
I think that w ould be a good idea for now , especially since we think…
.
”
Claudia blinked.

“
Yes…
.
”
Davin waited , anticipating her words.

Claudia held out two fingers.

They gasped in surprise.

“
Two?
”
Davin gulped.
“
Did…
you …
say …
two?
Because two is more than one.
”

Claudia and Michael didn
’
t answer. They just smiled.

“
Two?
”
Davin shook his head.
“
Double trouble…y ikes.
”
Then he fainted.

Crossroads
Chapter 3
—Michael ’
s point of view Bonus Chapter

I heard her from the distance. My heart pounded out of my chest. Knowing she was here again made my stomach quiver with nervousness. I didn ’
t understand why I was feeling this way, only that it happened when she was around , or when thoughts of her consumed my mind. As I peered through the only thing between us —endless tall, thick grass —to see her, a feeling of ecstasy shot through me. I gasped hard. It was as if she wrapped herself around my soul, and I knew at that moment I was completely spellbound by her.
But would she finally find a way to cross over? And if she did, what should I do?

She wasn
’
t smiling like the last time; instead, her eyes lit up with determination. As she pushed and shoved to find a way to enter, a gust of wind swept through her long and lustrous aubu rn hair. It shimmered in the light, tousled from the gentle breeze and brush ed softly against her delicate face. She was striking in her simplicity, yet she took my breath away.
A flawless painting was what I saw, and I couldn ’
t believe she was here again putting me under her trance.

A part of me wanted her to give up, but another part of me couldn ’
t wait for her to find a way through.
She never knew I had seen her grow up, and she would never know that I existed if I didn ’
t make it happen. Who knew how much time would pass until her next visit? As I continued to watch her struggle, I thought how easy it would be for me to reach out and touch her fragile small hands. It took every ounce of my willpower to hold back the urge.

When it seemed as though all her energy had been spent, I couldn ’
t hold back any longer. She ’
d won. That was when I parted the grass and walked out. Our eyes locked, and I felt myself float above the ground. Time stood still as she continued to stare back at me. What was she thinking at that moment? I had to know: most likely she was in shock at finding someone coming out through the field. I wasn ’
t sure of the reason, but I would like to think she felt the same connection that I did.
Hello my sweet angel . I had waited for this moment. I wanted to reach out and take her in my arms, but that was not what you did when you first met. She would think I was crazy, and then I would have really blown it.

Suddenly, I realized I had put her in danger of others finding out about her. What had I done?!
Extremely angered at myself for being careless and putting my wants over her needs, I had to react quickly and fix the situation.
“
Don ’
t you ever give up?
”
I said.

She continued to just stare at me. I chuckled to myself. I hoped it was because she thought I was good-looking and not otherwise.

“
Ummm…
.
”
she finally said.

At
th at point, I didn ’
t know what to do anymore. I had crossed the line and I couldn ’
t undo what I had done. I was also afraid Davin could hear us. He was most likely spying on me and hiding somewhere nearby.
“
What are you doing here? Do you want to be sent back like before?
”
I asked, but I thought , w hat a stupid question.

“
First of all, who are you? And what are you doing in my dream?
”
she huffed.

I felt amused by her spunkiness. She had no clue what I was. She didn ’
t even know that what appeared to be her dream was not. I had to refocus and send her back quickly. The only way I thought it might work was if I was rude to her.

“
Your dream?
You think this is a dream?
Think again, ”
I said with a condescending tone. The rudeness in my tone seemed to make her angry. Perhaps my plan wasn ’
t working. She looked more upset, like she did not want to leave. Maybe I needed to try harder.
“
Can ’
t think fast enough?
The answer is not on my face.
”

She turned away and dropped her jaw. She looked even more furious.

I was doing it all wrong. It just wasn
’
t working.

“
I ’m dreaming, and you are not real, ”
she fired back.

“
I ’
m real. There is no doubt about that. And you may think you are dreaming, but you are actually at the Crossroads, somewhere between Heaven and Earth, or between life and death, whichever you prefer.
”

“
That ’
s not true!
”
she argued.
“
There is no such thing, and this is my dream…perhaps a nightmare after meeting you!
”

I gave her a cold stare. Maybe that would work. But now she thought I was her nightmare.
T
h is situation wasn ’
t good at all, and it wasn ’
t going anywhere. What to do? Maybe if I told her that I was leaving, she ’
d leave too.
“
I see; perhaps I ’
ll just disappear.
”

“
No!
Please!
Wait!
Don ’
t go.
I don ’
t understand what is happening.
Could you at least tell me how I got here?
”

I arched my brows.
“
If you don ’
t know, how am I supposed to know?
”

“
Well, I thought…thought , because you seem to live here.
”

“
Don ’
t assume anything!
”
I said sharply.
I heard some shuffling through the grass.
Davin, I know you ’
re there, I said telepathically to him.

“
She ’
s cute, ”
Davin whispered, but only I could hear.
“
W
ai t a minute…she ’
s not suppose to be here. Who is she? You f ou nd an actual human? Can I join in?
”

Be quiet and go away. I got this handled.

“
It sure doesn ’
t look like it to me, ”
Davin chuckled.
“
It looks like she got right under your skin. Michael, you ’
re under her spell. I ’
ve never seen you like this before.
”

I ignored Davin.

“
Is there anyone else I can talk to that may give me some answers?
Perhaps someone...
nicer ?
”

“
Me…me…me, ”
Davin said excitedly.
“
I ’
m much nicer than Mr. Rude you are talking to. He ’
s just in love, but doesn ’
t want to admit it. Talk to me; I ’
ll be the nicer guy.
”

I was extremely irritated at Davin. I wished I couldn ’
t hear him.
“
No.
There is no one else here.
”

“
Really?
”
she fired back, looking extremely baffled.
“
You ’
re telling me that you are the only one who lives here or….or wherever…by yourself…absolutely alone.
”

“
He ’
s lying, ”
Davin spat out.
“
I ’
m here too.
”

Go away. This is not your conversation .

Though she lost her words, she looked so adorable I had to contain myself from pulling her into my arms. But I had to get her out fast.

“
I don ’
t need to tell you anything, but if you must know, my answer is still the same.
”
I paused a few seconds and spoke again with a smirk, “
Labera lege.
”

“
Excuse me?
”
she asked.

I looked her squarely in the eye.
“
Let me repeat what I said in simple language , read…my….lips, ”
I said softly.
“
That ’
s what I said.
”